The smell of the past
History of café 't Gasthuys in Amsterdam
Why are so many people eager to immerse themselves in the cosy atmosphere of a café? Because there is no other place where the senses are stimulated so intensely: the sight of a colourful crowd of guests; the buzz of conversations mixed with the rhythm of the music; the smell and taste of the food and drinks being enjoyed. Whoever wants to stimulate their senses is at the right place at 't Gasthuys. On top of that, both in the building and in its surroundings, you can breathe in the smell of a rich past.
14th century
The Grimburgwal
In the 14th century a fortification was built along a natural watercourse in the Grimburgwal (grim comes from 'grimmig', meaning cold and wet), which formed the southernmost city limit until 1425.
In 1546 the Grimnessesluis lock was built in line with the Nes, to close off the Grimburgwal from the Amstel river. The lock, which was also sketched by Rembrandt, existed until it was demolished in 1868. Seven years earlier a bridge had been built over the Grimburgwal (now part of the Oude Turfmarkt, at the statue of Queen Wilhelmina). The Nes still runs between the buildings all the way to the water, a reminder of the former lock.
Until 1578
Monasteries
Until the 17th century, the lively nightlife area around the café was called 'the Silent Side', because well into the 16th century it was mainly home to monasteries. The alley right next to the café, 'Het Gebed zonder End' (the prayer without end), still reminds us of a time when the praying never seemed to stop.
When Amsterdam changed from a Catholic into a Protestant city in one fell swoop in 1578, the monasteries, monks and nuns were no more. Although around the Oude Kerk there are still many women who devotedly offer their services to 'the gentleman'. Their devotion does have a somewhat more physical character than that of the virgin 'brides of Jesus' from days gone by.
Gasthuis = hospital
The Binnengasthuis
Everywhere in Amsterdam, the monasteries made way for houses, workshops and public buildings. Café 't Gasthuys owes its name to the 'hospital' that was established on the Grimburgwal at the time, the so-called 'Binnengasthuis', which is still there today.
Since the end of the 20th century it has been part of the University of Amsterdam. Given that students use alcohol quite differently from nurses, a good development for 't Gasthuys! Speaking of alcohol: since the Middle Ages a lot of beer has been imported into Amsterdam. At the 'bierkaai' (beer quay) near the Oude Kerk, a stone's throw from the Grimburgwal, barrels of German beer were unloaded by burly men you'd better not pick a fight with. The Dutch language still has the expression 'vechten tegen de bierkaai' (fighting the beer quay) for a fight that is hopeless from the start.
1870 · 1900 · 1930
The building in three parts
The oldest part of 't Gasthuys, at Grimburgwal no. 7, dates from around 1870. Later the middle section (around 1900) at Gebed Zonder End no. 8 and the rear section (around 1930) were added. Around that time the tobacco industry had gained a foothold in the area around the building. Where prayers once rose to the heavens, the smell of tobacco now drifted up to the blue sky.
In the back of the present-day café, tobacco leaves were checked for colour, making good use of the even light on the north side of the building. Meanwhile, the whole tobacco industry has 'gone up in smoke'.
Since 6 November 1977
The present
Piet Römer, one of the best-known actors in the Netherlands, was the first owner of the café. On 6 November 1977 he received a liquor licence from the municipality and permission to have staff work behind the bar. It can still be seen in a place of honour at the back of the café. Rightly so, because what is a café without these two things? Then it would look more like an, uhm… monastery!
In 1979 the café came into the hands of the previous owners, and since January 2025 it has been run by three former colleagues who hold the café close to their hearts. It has grown into a cosy home base for students, theatre-goers, tourists and other guests. You can enjoy both food and drinks, and ever since the first dish of the day was introduced in 1986, 't Gasthuys has had a reputation to uphold as an eetcafé.
It's a great place to be all year round: in winter when the stove is burning, and in summer on the terrace in the bright sunshine. And one thing hasn't changed in over forty years: on the Grimburgwal, in the heart of the old city, you'll find one of the cosiest cafés in Amsterdam!