I amsterdam - Best Cultural Café

Deliberation
De Balie provides an authentic alternative to the more commercial atmosphere of the Leidseplein. Formerly a real ‘balie’ (court of justice) dating back to the nineteenth century, De Balie was transformed into a cultural centre in 1981 when 28-year old itellectual Felix Rottenberg decided it was time to create a haven for the city’s bubbling intellectual energy. He wanted to provide an informal atmosphere for public debates on current issues  - and this is exactly what De Balie has been doing ever since.

Wining & Dining
De Balie is quite a decent eating establishment, offering standard lunch menus with an international twist and reasonably priced evening menus providing a small selection of variations on favourites from the southern hemisphere. The restaurant provides 'modern yet classic' menus from Head Chef Michiel van Berge, served in a semi-private entresol for more intimate dining. Wines from the carefully selected wine menu also add to the ambience. And 'Midweek Balie', the mid-week festivities added in the summer of 2005, offers DJ's, board games and special drinks as a tempting alternative for spending the evening on the couch. 

Talk with your mouth full
But one really goes to De Balie for the atmosphere. Convivial and accessible (with wheelchair lift!), the Grand Café has an inviting vibe, with its tall ceilings and windows, wide rooms and ever-changing photographic exhibitions reflecting cultural and social atmosphere it decorates. It is the perfect choice for meeting up with a friend before a film, leafing through a newspaper, eating a pastrami sandwich, unabashed eavesdropping, or - better yet - blatantly joining in discussion with the table next to you. And these discussions intensify in the evenings, when coffees are joined by beer, wine & cocktails and the normal sounds of chit-chat become music to your ears. 

Pro Bono Publico
While the grand café may provide a great backdrop, the real heart of De Balie beats in its theatres and meeting halls. The grand café transforms into a cinema, theater, salon, media centre or publishing house on any given week. Around 450 events are held annually, focusing on political, cultural and social issues designed to stimulate open discussion. Past programmes have included ‘Adopt an Artist’ (where you could pledge to support an up and coming artist), ‘Vrouwenmoskee’ (when the Balie was turned into the city’s first female mosque), the Transgender Film Festival, and ‘How Globalized are You?’ (A program designed to make you examine your daily consumption). On any given night you will find yourself surrounded by a mix of writers, politicians, artists, intellectuals and everyday people alike. Many influential speakers and thinkers made their names at De Balie, and they continue to return to this day. 

A haven of mental stimulation, De Balie is a cultural melting pot accessible to everyone, from all walks of life - whether you want to engage in the hottest, most controversial topics, or start your own revolution over a cup of coffee.  

De Balie
Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10
Tel: +31 (0)20 553 5100
Website: www.debalie.nl 
email: balie@balie.nl 
Transport: Tram 1,2,5,6,7,& 10 (Leidseplien)
Cafe: Daily 10:00-02:00
Restaurant: 18:00-22:00