On June 3, a wonderful group of local residents joined us to discover three hidden gems in De Plantage.
We started at HOUSE of GASSAN on Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat, a family business that has been around for 80 years. Many participants told us they had cycled past the building countless times but had never stepped inside.
And that is exactly why we created the Hidden Gems Walks!
During a guided tour of the beautiful building, we learned about both the history and future of GASSAN. We discovered how multiple generations of the family are involved in the business, each focusing on their own area and audience.
We also gained insight into how diamonds are sourced, watched diamond polishers at work and learned how a diamond’s value is determined based on the famous four criteria: colour, cut, carat and clarity. We were amazed to see one diamond valued at €198 and the next at €37,000!
Our second stop was Splendor, located directly opposite GASSAN. Once again, many participants admitted they had never been inside before.
Splendor is a unique music venue founded by fifty leading musicians and their audience. It is a concert hall, clubhouse, meeting place, musical laboratory and much more.
Inside the historic building, we were welcomed by Emine, who plays the kemençe, a traditional Turkish string instrument that is exceptionally difficult to master. There are fewer than thirty professional kemençe players in the world, and Emine is one of them.
In one of the smaller halls, a pianist and singer happened to be rehearsing and treated us to a beautiful song.
For just €10 per month, you can become a member of Splendor and attend up to 55 concerts per year free of charge. In addition, there are concerts almost every day.
From Splendor, we walked along Jodenbreestraat and past the Hortus to our final destination: De Pizzabakkers on Plantage Kerklaan.
Following a fire, the restaurant had been closed to the public for quite some time. Renovations took longer than expected, but they are now almost ready to reopen.
We were among the very first visitors to see the renewed interior. The layout has been redesigned, with seating near the entrance, a new downstairs bar with bar stools, a cosy mezzanine level with long communal tables and a completely renovated kitchen. Of course, the beloved outdoor terrace is still there as well.
We expected to receive a single pizza slice, but instead we were spoiled with no fewer than eight pizzas to share, accompanied by a glass of prosecco.
And the pizzas were outstanding. Thin, crispy bases with original toppings such as ricotta with pistachio pesto and tomato, and pancetta with mushrooms. A delicious ending to a memorable walk.
De Pizzabakkers officially reopens on June 15, so don’t miss the opportunity to visit.
Call for members
Do you have a special location in De Plantage that would be fun to share with local residents? We’d love to hear from you.
We’re always looking for new venues for future Hidden Gems Walks, so together we can continue discovering the many hidden treasures of the neighbourhood.
The next walk is planned for the end of September.
Interested in participating as a location? Please contact our community manager: