Peter van der Arend

Peter van der Arend, owner of the Arendsnest Café in Amsterdam and a certified beer expert, was named the outstanding café entrepreneur of 2005. His café remains the only one in the Netherlands that serves only Dutch beers and serves all of the Dutch beers.

Where do you live and why?

I live in Amsterdam because that’s where my work is.

What advice would you have for tourists? What must they do?

They must visit some of the traditional Amsterdam cafés. These are the comfortable places where you can relax, enjoy the atmosphere and, if you are interested, have a conversation with one of the local people.

What advice would you give visiting businesspeople?

There are plenty of good cafés and restaurants in Amsterdam. They should enjoy what we have here.

What was your most memorable meal? That must be Chez Georges. I don’t say that because it is close by. I think the quality is outstanding at the price. Its only problem is that you must reserve a table far in advance.

Where do you take clients to impress them? Actually I like to take them anywhere that they don’t expect.

What do you miss about Amsterdam when you’re away?

I miss the local cafés— the beers, the jenevers, the liqueurs, the personal contact with the people there. You only find this in Amsterdam!