There are few places in the city’s vicinity where you can literally enjoy a glass of wine right among the vines. The Amsteltuin makes this possible every weekend from May through October, on a plot of land spanning one and a half hectares that is home to more than 3,500 vines. This is not a decorative vineyard serving as a backdrop for a wine tasting. It’s an active production site that yields approximately 3,500 bottles of North Holland wine each year.
Jan Schake and his partner Tieke Roose run the business together with a team of volunteers. Schake grows five grape varieties: Solaris and Johanniter for the white wines, Souvignier Gris for a gray wine, and Pinotin and Cabernet Cortis for the reds. These aren’t names you’ll find on your average supermarket shelf, but they’re varieties that thrive in the Dutch climate and produce wines that, according to Schake, can compete with those from traditional wine regions like France and Italy. That’s a bold claim, but the location speaks for itself: this is serious viticulture, not a hobby.
The property features a terrace, a wine cellar, and a glass house—’t Glazen Huis—which serves as an event space for pop-ups and gatherings. The atmosphere is green and peaceful—far enough from the city to really feel the difference, yet close enough to get there easily. On the terrace, you can join us for a “high wine” experience, featuring wines from De Amsteltuin in North Holland. It’s the perfect way to enjoy wine while taking in the view of the countryside where the grapes are grown.
You’ll be dining literally surrounded by the Solaris, Johanniter, Souvignier Gris, Pinotin, and Cabernet Cortis that you’ll later enjoy in your glass.
What also sets De Amsteltuin apart from other outings outside the city is that the vineyard provides daytime activities for people with cognitive disabilities. Some of the volunteers who tend the vines are people who find structure and work here. That gives the place a different significance than a typical event venue. The Amstelland region is already beautifully green, but this little spot has a bit more to offer than just a walk.
Lifestyle