Community kitchens in Amsterdam: The right to affordable food (an overview)

Eating out in Amsterdam has become an expensive and largely inaccessible privilege, reserved for a selected few. The proliferation of restaurants catering primarily to tourists and wealthy clientele has significantly reduced the availability of fresh, seasonal, and sustainably grown food in the city. Much of what is served is made with mass-produced ingredients, which contributes to unnecessary food waste and undermines community efforts towards sustainable food consumption. However, beneath the surface of an increasingly inaccessible and elitist city, sustainable and affordable places take root. Dozens of alternative community kitchens exist and flourish, creating spaces in which food remains a basic right for everyone. 

Run mostly by volunteers, these non-commercial spaces actively fight against food waste and climate change. Over one third of all food produced globally ends up in the trash, wasting not only food but also precious resources such as water, soil, and energy. Many of these community kitchens use ingredients that would’ve otherwise been thrown away, transforming them into healthy vegetarian or vegan dishes that are seasonal and adaptable. 

Rooted in Amsterdam squatting and grassroots culture, these spaces welcome everyone; they’re hubs of solidarity, activism, and community. In an era of loneliness and social connection, they offer a place for something real.

We visited some of these kitchens and asked their volunteers or customers to describe them in three words. Here is a comprehensive overview of community kitchens in Amsterdam (Be sure to check them out!)

BuurtBuik (West)

BuurtBuik Amsterdam West is a part of the large BuurtBuik chain operating in 21 locations, scattered across Amsterdam, Leiden, Weesp, Utrecht, and Rotterdam. Each of these kitchens offer a slightly different experience, but they all focus on preventing food waste by preparing food from items discarded by the grocery stores or restaurants in their area. In Amsterdam West, they even donate used vegetable and fruit peels to the Westerpark petting zoo (Boerderij Westerpark).

This kitchen has a large shared table where the neighbourhood can eat together, have a conversation, and meet new people. When I visited the place, the community of diners was very welcoming, mostly consisting of older people who have been regular BuurtBuik visitors for years. The day’s menu was introduced to us by one of the volunteers: mixed salad, guacamole, and toasted bread for starter, pasta in pumpkin sauce with mushrooms and chestnuts as a main course, and a fruit salad with smoothie for dessert. Each delicious course was brought to us over the next hour. At the end, we were given a take-away bag of leftover food.

Taste Before You Waste (Oost)

Taste Before You Waste is a volunteer-run foundation that aims to reduce food waste in Amsterdam and foster a responsible, waste-free, and sustainable consumption culture. Every Wednesday, the team rescues fresh food from all over the city, and organizes a “Wasteless Dinner”. Everyone is welcome to join and eat a delicious three-course meal. The team also organizes many other donation-based events, including educational workshops on food preservation and foodcycle markets.

As you step onto the ground floor of Plantage Dok, you are immediately embraced by the  warm spirit of community. Large wooden tables fill the room, inviting friends, family, and even strangers to sit and eat together. A small group of enthusiastic volunteers welcomes the guests at the entrance and brings them food directly to their table, which makes the experience feel personal and special. When I visited, the day’s menu included roasted seasonal vegetables served on a homemade tzatziki sauce, a black bean chili, and a slice of banana bread. The food was delicious and the experience truly heartwarming. It is a community space that I recommend to anyone in need of a comforting dinner shared with like-minded people. 

Robin Food (West) 

Robin Food is a volunteer-run project committed to promoting affordable, healthy, and community-driven food culture. It is housed in the back of the socio-cultural center De Nieuwe Anita. In addition to weekly dinners, every Wednesday there are donation-based Guerrilla Kitchen nights, where delicious vegan dinners are prepared using rescue food from all over Amsterdam. Ideas for workshops, classes, and social events around sustainable food culture are always welcome!

The space is small, cozy, and very welcoming, made special by a diverse array of food-related paintings and plants on the walls and ceiling. When I visited, guests mostly consisted of young students, a few families, and neighbors. The day’s menu included a delicious lentil soup as a starter, pasta with a spinach dressing and roasted vegetables as a main course (they even made gluten-free pasta for me!), and an oat-flavoured cake for dessert. Robin Food is a cozy, intimate and heartwarming space I recommend to anyone in the mood for a good chat and fresh food shared with caring people.

VokuVepo (Venserpolder)

VokuVepo is a small community kitchen based in Venserpolder that is committed to promoting affordable shared meals and community building. Everyone is welcome to join! Check their website for the next events on the agenda.

Het Groene Veld (Noord)

“The Green Field,” located at the northern edge of Amsterdam, is a small space with a large open kitchen, a bar, and an old-fashioned fireplace to keep all visitors warm during winter. In my experience, most people arrived around 19:00, and the place got busy soon after. Upon arrival, the volunteers gave each of us a token used to receive food. The restaurant works on self-service.

Het Groene Veld uses food from organic farmers and supports the farmers economically. They have their own garden where they grow fresh ingredients for cooking. When I visited, the menu included vegetable and potato soup, rice with vegetables, mushrooms, pumpkin, and beans, and apple cake with raisins and lemon sauce. This community space hosts weekly events. There’s coffee for the neighbourhood every Sunday from 13:00 to 18:00 with board games (and a ping pong table!). The agenda also lists movie nights, garden workshops, or even a Feminist Library event.

Café Gilde (West)

Café Gilde, at the heart of Amsterdam Alternative, has a stable menu serving affordable snacks, sandwiches, soup, salad, pancakes, and more. The space is cozy, and board games are available for added fun. 

Read more about Café Gilde

Kaskantine (Slotervaart)

Although Kaskantine’s community kitchen only operates a few times a year, they host many exciting events, such as vegetable gardening courses, a compost club, and a food rescue market. They aim to provide organic food while preventing food waste. The off-grid venue runs on solar-energy, and its volunteers even collect rainwater to do the dishes.

MKZ (Zuid)

MKZ is a part of the Binnenpret complex, a legalized squat that is home for different cultural and political projects (including the concert hall OCCII, an anarchist library, and other initiatives). All the profits they make go to humanitarian projects. The space is cozy, yet quite lively. There’s an open second floor, sitting tables, a bar, and a large open kitchen. In my experience, most of their customers are young people in their twenties. 

The restaurant works on self-service and you are expected to do your own dishes. When I visited, around 19:30 pumpkin soup was served with croutons and cream. The main course consisted of rice with cooked vegetables, potato, and a chickpea sauce, and was ready around 20:00. For dessert, I had delicious sweet oatmeal with a lot of fruit, which was served to us around 20:30. Don’t worry if you can’t arrive on time, late-comers are still able to get all the previously served courses!

Joe’s Garage (Oost)

Joe’s Garage is a political and social center squatted twenty years ago which exists on the basis of mutual-aid and solidarity. They organize many events throughout the week, such as debates, movie nights, and live music. Every Monday and Thursday, they host the Volkseten Vegazulu, a vegan community kitchen open to the public. The dinners are often organized in parallel to social, cultural, and political events in which topics such as accessibility, solidarity, and mutual aid are at the forefront.

Joe’s Garage is a space filled with joy, community and life. It is made special by a group of very enthusiastic volunteers that kindly explained to me how the space worked. When I visited, the dinner included a plate of asparagus risotto, roasted vegetables, organic lentils, and for dessert: and a delicious piece of banana and pineapple cake. The event was organized as a fundraiser for a comrade in Italy having severe medical consequences due to cops’ brutality during a Palestinian demonstration. It was a true privilege being able to be there, surrounded by like-minded people.
Tips: You are kindly asked to not take pictures and wash your dishes after you are done eating!

Vrankrijk (Center)

Vrankrijk is an old political cafe located in the heart of Amsterdam which was originally squatted and eventually legalized. Every Wednesday, they organize Queer Voku evenings with delicious vegan food. Everyone is welcome to join and stay for the after party at 22:00!

De Sering (Sloterdijk & Centre)

De Sering is a lively community center, kitchen, and public space dedicated to bringing people together through food, culture, and shared purpose. Since 2019, De Sering has offered affordable, vegan, three-course meals and created an inclusive environment that empowers local and sustainable initiatives. They also organize a wide range of other social and cultural activities, such as the Tuesday’s Taalcafe where everyone is welcome to practice their Dutch with volunteering teachers.

When I visited, the menu was truly amazing. It included a warm lentil soup (with a wide variety of toppings), a choice of two main courses: pasta with a dressing of blended cashews and vegetables or a rice curry, and one of the most delicious and nourishing home made breads I have ever tasted. At De Sering, talking and connecting with like-minded people is easier than ever, and everyone is kindhearted and welcoming. I recommend this space to anyone in need of a warm, cozy meal and nice conversation.

Early November, a new location of De Sering opened! It’s located at Dijksgracht 6, and serves affordable, delicious lunch every day from Monday to Friday between 12:00-14:00 for 7,50 euro. The cafe is open Monday to Saturday between 9:30-16:00.

Molli Chaoot (De Pijp)

Molli Chaoot is a legalized squatbar that has existed since 1979. Every Tuesday, they cook with ingredients saved from a market. They offer customers to take home what is left (I received a pineapple and an avocado). The place contains a small room with a bar, a few tables, a couch, and board games. It gets filled early with people of all ages, making the place lively.

I had a delicious bean and lentil soup that was served around 19:00. As a main course I enjoyed couscous with beans and vegetables served around 19:30. For dessert, there was a chocolate cake with apples ready around 20:15. The restaurant works on self-service. Other events that are organized by Molli Chaoot include: open mic evenings every Wednesday, vinyl music nights on Thursdays, and movie nights on Fridays.


Become a volunteer!
These community kitchens are always looking for ambitious volunteers, so if you’d like to contribute to sustainable culture and meet kind and like-minded people, don’t hesitate to apply! Or if you simply want to enjoy healthy, affordable food in a warm atmosphere, you can support the restaurants by visiting them. We hope you’ll have a very positive experience just like we did. 
And let us remember: affordable and sustainable food is a right, not a privilege!