There’s a new place in Amsterdam where you can settle in, take your time, and enjoy seriously good wines without any fuss: Vermeer’s Wijnkamer, tucked inside the NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace. If you love intimate wine bars, relaxed ambience, and small bites that match the glass in front of you — this is one to bookmark.
A Relaxed Setting With High-Quality Wine
The concept is simple: good wine, good bites, good people — no pretension. You sit surrounded by bottles from Restaurant Vermeer‘s cellar, many of them rare or reserved for special occasions. The atmosphere is calm and intimate, with soft lighting and quiet conversations — the kind of space where you instantly feel at ease. It’s the perfect place to go for a date or girlsnight if you ask me.
We booked the High Wine, and it was exceptional: generous pours, thoughtful pairing, and a line-up moving from Champagne to Sauternes with real gems in between.
What We Tasted at Vermeer’s Wijnkamer
- Lequien & Fils – La Rencontre Brut Tradition (Champagne) with eggs and caviar
A crisp, lively opener. The caviar pairing was perfectly balanced. - Chicken Broth Pie + Skerpioen 2019, Swartland
Straight from Vermeer’s kitchen — warm, savoury, and unexpectedly refined. The Skerpioen 2019 was mineral, salty, and full of personality. - Steak Tartare Toast + Smoked Ox Sausage
Classic Vermeer-style flavours: elegant, perfectly balanced, and deeply savoury. - Celery “Ham” (vegan) + La Grange Terroir Syrah
The peppery syrah met the earthy celery in a way that genuinely surprised me. A clever pairing that really worked. - Remelluri Blanco (Labastida de Álava), White Rioja
Dannis handed us a glass blind. I was genuinely confused — kept trying to place it. When he revealed it was a white Rioja, I wanted to take a bottle home immediately. It’s full of character and changed how I think about the region. I’d order it again and again. It’s. good excute to come back to Amsterdam – and walk straight to this wine bar;) - Bandol, Domaine Tempier “La Migoua” 2012 Earthy, refined, deep. A bottle that stays with you.
- Château Simon Barsac 2015 (Grand Vin de Sauternes)
Golden, silky, balanced — the kind of dessert wine that ends the evening softly.
The Sommelier Makes the Night
Dannis was present the entire evening — warm, patient, generous with knowledge, and able to explain complex wines in a simple, engaging way. He never overwhelmed, only enhanced.
A Nice Touch
Guests can write notes on the bottles they enjoyed — little memories left behind on the shelves. It makes the space feel alive and bubbly.
Worth the Visit
Whether it’s a date night, a solo evening, or visiting Amsterdam, Vermeer’s Wijnkamer delivers thoughtfully curated wines at a good price, beautiful pairings from Vermeer’s kitchen, and personal guidance that makes the evening feel effortless. In other words – you should go asap.
Looking for more (wine) experiences in Amsterdam? Check out our other wine & dine recommendations.
- Book at Wijnkamer Vermeer
- Read more about our dinner experience at Restaurant Vermeer in our review
Hi, I’m Lisa, the Dutch blogger behind Dutchbloggeronthemove — a luxury slow travel platform built on the belief that the best journeys happen at a pace that lets you actually remember them.
She has lived in Mallorca for over three years, visited Lake Garda 35+ times since childhood, and spent years exploring South Africa’s wine regions until she knew them the way locals do. She travels with her partner and her Labrador Buddy, and she still returns to her favourite destinations four or more times a year — because one visit is never enough to write about a place honestly.
Everything published here starts from personal experience. That’s the only kind worth reading. ♥
