Weeping Tower (Schreierstoren)

The basics

Cozy and atmospheric, the Schreierstoren café serves up a simple menu of hearty Dutch fare. Think pancakes, waffles, apple pie, and bitterballen (deep-fried croquettes), plus beers, soft drinks, hot drinks, and their own house genever, a juniper-based liquor. The two spacious waterfront terraces—one with boat access—are the places to be in summer, and offer lovely views down the Geldersekade canal. However, the dark wood and exposed brick of the tower’s interior gives a real sense of history, particularly when the candelabras glimmer.

Things to know before you go

• While not a gourmet option, the Weeping Tower (Schreierstoren) is a good choice for anyone who wants a bite or a drink with a side of history.

• The café has a few vegetarian options but it’s no place for vegans.

• The Weeping Tower is not wheelchair accessible as there are steep steps up to the front entrance.

How to get there

The Weeping Tower sits in the heart of Amsterdam, right across the water from Amsterdam Central Station. Most travelers walk, cycle, or take the metro: Amsterdam Central Station is on Line 51, Line 53, and Line 54.

When to get there

The café is open 9am–8pm Sunday through Wednesday and 9am–9pm Thursday through Saturday. Although it does serve alcoholic drinks, it’s more of a daytime venue than an evening venue.

Tracing Amsterdam’s medieval city walls

The Weeping Tower is one of the last remnants of the city walls that once encircled central Amsterdam, but it’s not the only one. You can see The Waag from the Weeping Tower: Once a city gate, it became a weighing station and today houses a restaurant and an intellectual society. A little further afield, the Mint Tower (Munttoren) also began its life as a medieval city gate.