Amsterdam’s restaurants have been open for two weeks so far, and we’ve all been getting used to the new rules of dining. Sitting a metre and a half away from other diners, answering a series of health-check questions, communicating with serving staff through their masks… It feels strange at first, and then suddenly very normal – like we can’t remember a time when we did used to kiss our friends three times on the cheek.
My first reservation in Amsterdam was at A-Fusion: an old favourite of mine since 2008, and a restaurant I desperately hope will make it through this crisis. But my first dinner somewhere new was at Kop van Oost – a lockdown favourite of two good friends of mine (they highly rated their takeaway meals) and a location with possibly the best terrace in Amsterdam.