Picture this: you're having coffee in a building from 1517. Not in a hipster interior that looks like it's old, but simply in an actual historic sacristy attached to The Old Church on Oudekerksplein. That's exactly what The Coffee Kitchen is. Owners Job and Anne opened the business in 2013, in partnership with the Oude Kerk Foundation, which manages the historic building.
The sacristy dates back to 1517, making it part of the city's oldest building. That sounds heavy and museum-like, but inside it actually feels intimate. The interior has a cozy atmosphere that matches the centuries-old walls. No large groups, no crowds, no reservations. You just walk in, if there's room. Groups of eight or more are not welcome, by the way, which keeps it pleasantly quiet.
The coffee is of the specialty variety, and artisan fresh-baked cake comes as standard. You can also get a variety of hot and cold drinks. The menu is small and uncluttered. Nor is that the point here. The point is that you stop for a moment, in an environment where time literally goes back centuries, while outside the Red Light District goes about its normal business.
You sit drinking coffee in a real historic sacristy, attached to The Old Church on Old Church Square.
The Oudekerksplein location is in the heart of the Red Light District, the city's most visited neighborhood. Yet De Koffieschenkerij manages to keep the flow of tourists at bay, perhaps precisely because it sits so inconspicuously. The establishment is open seven days a week, from nine to six. Walk-in only, no reservations. Stop by when you feel like it, not when you want to schedule a meeting. That approach suits the place exactly: no fuss, just a good cup of coffee in a space that's been around for five centuries.