The Sluishuis opened in July 2022 and was designed by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group - together with Rotterdam-based Barcode Architects. On the waterfront, the volume is raised so that boats can enter the courtyard. On the IJburg side, the building steps down into a series of overgrown terraces. In the plinth from the beginning, space was reserved for catering. That spot stood empty for years - visible, conspicuous, unused.
Écluse now has that spot. The café sits directly on the Buiten-IJ, with the jetties of the Sluishuis as an extension of the terrace. Whoever sits there looks out over open water - no quay with parked cars, no busy street, but the IJmeer with houseboats and passing ships.
Own bakery, chef's lunch menu, drinks on the dock
Écluse works with three moments in a day. In the morning, the in-house bakery runs: homemade pastries, fresh daily, with coffee or to take away. Those who want breakfast do so at the table. The lunch menu is curated by the chef - dishes prepared fresh daily, no standard sandwich offerings.
In the evening, Écluse shifts to drinks: drinks and snacks, with the Buiten-IJ as a backdrop and the jetties within walking distance of your table.
Friday and Saturday the café is open until 10:00 pm. Thursday until 8 p.m., Sunday until 7 p.m. That rhythm suits a place that is both neighborhood restaurant and work location: functional during the week, a little longer from the table on weekends.
Meetings with a view, or rent the entire cafe
In addition to its regular catering function, Écluse has a separate meeting room for meetings, presentations and small-scale events - with views over the Buiten-IJ and direct access to the jetty. For larger occasions, the entire café can be rented exclusively: from intimate dinner to elaborate drinks, tailor-made to suit your needs.
Steigereiland as a location
Steigereiland is located at the entrance to IJburg, on artificial islands in the IJmeer. The Sluishuis is the iconic building on that site. In 2016, the municipality of Amsterdam launched a competition for a landmark building at that location; the design by BIG and Barcode Architects won that competition. Surrounding the building are jetties with moorings for residential and pleasure boats. Écluse sits in the middle of that - not as a remote lookout, but as a café that is part of that waterfront.