A Beautiful Summer Lunch Escape for Families That Feels a World Away from Amsterdam
The Lowdown
When the sun is shining and the city starts to feel a little crowded, De Eendracht in Blaricum is exactly the kind of place we find ourselves craving. Just 30 minutes from Amsterdam by car, this beautiful restaurant sits between woodland and heathland in the heart of ’t Gooi, with a spacious terrace overlooking a wide-open nature reserve. Part of the experience is taking time to explore the heathland before lunch and, if you're lucky, you may even spot Scottish Highlanders and sheep roaming freely across the landscape.
The setting is stunning, the atmosphere calm and stylish, and the elevated Dutch brasserie fare reminds you that family-friendly needn’t mean compromising on quality.
An institution among local families, it’s the kind of place that makes leaving the city behind feel entirely worthwhile.
The Vibe
The crowd at De Eendracht is a mix of local families, friends catching up over lunch and grandparents enjoying a day out with younger generations.
On warm days, the terrace comes into its own, with plenty of space for little ones to play, wander and enjoy the open-air setting, while adults linger over coffee and rosé on the outdoor lounge seating or enjoy leisurely lunches beneath the crisp white umbrellas.
Despite its family-friendly credentials, the atmosphere remains calm, stylish and distinctly grown-up — exactly the sort of place where everyone feels looked after.
What are we Eating?
At first glance, the menu reads like a celebration of Dutch brasserie classics, kids options included (hello hagelslag). But don't mistake familiar dishes for ordinary ones. The execution is a cut above, from the succulent Eggs Royale to the deeply flavourful tomato soup. The service here is polished and every dish arrives beautifully presented, with a level of attention to detail that elevates even the simplest plate.
And if you're wondering whether this place is genuinely child-friendly or simply tolerant of children, allow us to present Exhibit A: the children's hamburger. Perfectly sized for little hands, it arrives looking every bit as considered as the grown-up plates, accompanied by a colourful crudité selection that appears to have been designed by someone determined to persuade children that vegetables might, in fact, be quite appealing. Whether that particular mission succeeds will depend on your child, but we admire the effort.
Worth the Hype?
We love a summer terrace lunch in Amsterdam, but when the city heats up, there’s something undeniably refreshing about swapping canal views and passing bicycles for wide open heathland and space for children to play. De Eendracht may not be in the city, but for just half an hour in the car, it feels like a world away — and completely worth it.
