You can expect anything at the edge of the Nieuwe Meer: walkers, water, maybe a heron. What you don't necessarily expect is a glassed-in brasserie that has been there for more than three decades and has since earned a spot in the MICHELIN Guide. The Bosch has been doing things its own way all these years: classic French cuisine, a beautiful view, and no frills.
Behind the restaurant is Ferry van Houten, who founded it more than 30 years ago and is still at it. Meanwhile, his son Danny has joined him as Maître Sommelier. Two generations of Van Houten, one restaurant. You don't hear that much anymore in the Amsterdam hospitality industry, where the average lifespan of a business is measured in years rather than decades. It says something about the quality, but also about the conviction with which the family business is run.
The building itself demands attention even before you are inside. JagerJanssen Architects and DREISSEN architects designed a glass pavilion that completely blends into its surroundings. Water on three sides, large windows that leave nothing to the imagination. Inside it is just as sleek as outside: no dark café atmosphere, but light, space and a direct connection to the landscape on the Nieuwe Meer. When it's beautiful outside, you notice it at the table. If it rains, too.
Thirty years of surviving in the Amsterdam hospitality industry doesn't happen by accident. The Bosch knows exactly what it is, and you can tell.
The Bosch is located outside the busy downtown area, in a wetland setting on the south side of town. There is private parking, which is no luxury in this corner of town. The feeling is that you are out of the city for a while, while just being in it. Thirty years of surviving in the Amsterdam hospitality industry is not something you do by accident. The Bosch knows exactly what it is, and you can tell.