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Shot by a City Insiders curator.
Flying Dutchman
★ 4.0(1 review)Bar
cozyunpretentiouslocal-crowd
About the Vibe
This is the kind of brown café that hasn't been prettied up for Instagram, and that's precisely its appeal. Tucked away on the narrow Martelaarsgracht just steps from Central Station, The Flying Dutchman serves up Dutch beers on tap, a pool table, darts, and the kind of easygoing conversation with the owner that makes you forget you planned to leave after one pint. It's unpolished, unpretentious, and exactly what you want when you're looking for the real Amsterdam pub experience.
Why it's worth it
An unpolished old-school brown café near Central Station where Dutch beers, pool, and the friendly owner keep you staying far longer than planned.
Highlights
Dutch beers on tappool tablefriendly staffnear Central Station
Before you go
Go on a weekday afternoon for a quiet seat and a chat with the bartender — weekends get busy with travelers passing through to the ferry and train.
Known For
- •Dutch beers on draught
- •pool table and darts
- •classic brown café interior
- •friendly owner who chats with regulars
Best For
casual after-work drinksa pint before catching a train or ferrylow-key weeknight hangout
1 review
City InsidersEditorialMarch 31, 2026
Authentic Brown Café Near Central Station
If you're looking for the Amsterdam that locals actually frequent, The Flying Dutchman is your spot. This is a proper old-school brown café — dark wood paneling, dim lighting, no fancy cocktail menu — sitting quietly on the Martelaarsgracht, just a short walk from Central Station. The regulars know the bartenders by name, and you'll quickly understand why: the staff here, including the much-praised Tinika, are funny, knowledgeable, and genuinely happy to chat while they pull your pint.
What you get is straightforward and honest. Dutch beers on tap, a pool table if you're feeling competitive, a darts board for good measure, and enough space to settle in. There's no kitchen turning out small plates, no curated playlist trying too hard — just the comfortable hum of a real neighborhood pub. Weekdays are quieter and you'll easily find a seat; weekends pick up with a mix of locals and travelers passing through on their way to or from the ferry or train.
It's not the most photogenic bar in Amsterdam, and it won't show up on any trendy list. But that's the point. This is the kind of place where you come for one beer and end up staying three hours, reminded that the city's café culture — the gezelligheid the Dutch love to talk about — is best experienced in places exactly like this.
Lire en français
Si vous cherchez l'Amsterdam que fréquentent vraiment les locaux, The Flying Dutchman est votre adresse. C'est un véritable brown café old-school — lambris sombre, éclairage tamisé, aucune prétention — posé tranquillement sur la Martelaarsgracht, à deux pas de la gare centrale. Les habitués connaissent les barmans par leur prénom, et vous comprendrez vite pourquoi : l'équipe, dont la très appréciée Tinika, est drôle, compétente et toujours prête à discuter pendant qu'elle tire votre pinte.
Ce qu'on y trouve, c'est simple et honnête. Des bières hollandaises au tirage, une table de billard, un jeu de fléchettes, et assez d'espace pour s'installer confortablement. Pas de cuisine élaborée, pas de playlist étudiée — juste le brouillard rassurant d'un vrai pub de quartier. En semaine, c'est plus calme et vous trouverez facilement une place ; le week-end, l'ambiance se anime avec un mélange de locaux et de voyageurs de passage vers le ferry ou le train.
Ce n'est pas le bar le plus photogénique d'Amsterdam, et il ne figurera sur aucune liste tendance. Mais c'est justement le but. C'est le genre d'endroit où vous venez pour une bière et où vous finissez par rester trois heures, en vous rappelant que la culture des cafés amstellodamois — la fameuse gezelligheid — se vit vraiment dans des endroits comme celui-ci.