Waag is a restaurant and café inside the medieval building on Nieuwmarkt, once a gate in Amsterdam’s city walls and later a weighing house. Its candlelit interior, vaulted spaces and historic details make lunch or dinner feel different from a meal in a modern dining room. The menu includes European and Dutch dishes, with options such as eggs Benedict, steak tartare and sea bass. You can also stop for coffee or drinks. Book ahead for a table, and consider ordering individual dishes instead of a group menu.
From city gate to restaurant
The building on Nieuwmarkt began as part of Amsterdam’s defensive walls, with an entrance through the city gate. It dates to the 15th century and later became a weigh house, where goods could be weighed. That role gave the building its name: a waag is a weighing house.
Its uses changed over the centuries. The building also housed guilds and served as a museum, fire station and anatomical theatre. It is now among Amsterdam’s oldest surviving non-religious buildings, and its castle-like outline still makes it easy to pick out on the square.
A meal inside the Waag
Restaurant-café In de Waag occupies the historic building. Inside, vaulted ceilings and chandeliers lit with candles set the mood for lunch, dinner or a drink. The setting is a major part of the visit: you can sit within a building that once formed part of the city’s fortifications, rather than simply view it from the square.
The menu spans Dutch and European dishes. Listed choices include steak tartare, sea bass, smoked salmon, poutine and eggs Benedict, with coffee, beer and wine also available. Menu items and seasonal dishes can change, so check the current menu when choosing what to order.
Planning your visit
Waag is at Nieuwmarkt 4, on the square of the same name. A reservation is a sensible choice if you want to secure a table. For larger parties, the restaurant has been used for group meals, though the set group menu has drawn mixed reactions. Ordering individual dishes gives you more choice.
The building’s historic rooms suit a meal when the setting matters as much as the food. If you are mainly looking for a quick bite or a particular dish, compare the menu with other nearby options before booking. For a slower visit, choose a quieter time rather than a busy period on the square.
Häufige Fragen
Where is Waag in Amsterdam?
Waag is at Nieuwmarkt 4, on Nieuwmarkt square in Amsterdam.
What is the history of the Waag building?
It began as a 15th-century city gate, then served as a weighing house. It was also used as a guildhall, museum, fire station and anatomical theatre.
What can you eat at Waag?
The menu includes Dutch and European dishes. Listed options include eggs Benedict, steak tartare, sea bass, smoked salmon and poutine.
Should I reserve a table at Waag?
Booking ahead is a practical way to secure a table, particularly if you are planning a group meal.
