“De Kas” , a large restaurant and nursery, is located in a former greenhouse on the outskirts of Amsterdam...
In the midst of the green heart of Amsterdam, in the 17-th century Franckendael Park, we find De Kas (The Greenhouse), a unique restaurant worthy of its name. In 2001, top chef Gert Jan Hageman, who had earned a Michelin star in Dutch haute cuisine, found a new direction for his own career and a new purpose for the old greenhouse, growing their own vegetables and herbs in the organic garden, which is in Ilpendam. He can be found there every day, working the soil, planting, weeding and harvesting the finest herbs and vegetables for the kitchen. De Kas has marked its 10th anniversary in January last year.
The international design company Piet Boon®, has designed the interior of the Restaurant “De Kas”. The middle section of De Kas seats 120 diners and is 12 metres high. Apart from a view of the open kitchen with all its activity, the guests can look out at the sizeable greenhouses where vegetables and herbs are grown all year round.
The choice of furnishings, sturdy oak tables and comfortable chairs, make this large transparent space warm and cosy. Big sofas are set against the walls and a generous open fire has been built near the bar on the other side. This is an agreeable spot for your aperitif or to enjoy a coffee after the meal.
“A kitchen surrounded by fertile soil where vegetables and herbs thrive… Where daylight shines in from all sides and where the chefs are free to express their creativity daily using the best the season has to offer. It seems an obvious concept, but I spent twenty years surrounded by white tiles under fluorescent lighting before I came up with it.” - Gert Jan Hageman
At De Kas they firmly believe that food tastes best when it is prepared using the freshest ingredients, grown and harvested with respect for nature. If you are in Amsterdam and you like fine food then De Kas is definitely worth checking out…
Location: Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, Amsterdam; Designer: Piet Boon®
Photography: Jet van Fastenhout & Ronald Hoeben
