NL Roef Amsterdam is a café-restaurant located on Middenweg in Watergraafsmeer, featuring a seasonal menu, Dutch product lines, and coffee from White Label Coffee.
About Roef Amsterdam
Roef Amsterdam: A café-restaurant with a coffee offering in Watergraafsmeer
Roef Amsterdam is located at Middenweg 35 in Watergraafsmeer, in Amsterdam East. Public records primarily describe the establishment as a café-restaurant or restaurant-bar. As a result, Roef does not fit the typical image of a standalone specialty coffee bar. Coffee is, however, part of the offering, alongside lunch, terrace drinks, and dinner.
History and Concept
According to public records, Roef opened in September 2025, or at the end of that month. The name refers to Roelof, the grandfather of owner Eshwin Boetting. He had a vegetable and herb garden. This reference aligns with the current concept, where herbs and flavorings from a private herb garden play a significant role.
Boetting grew up in Drenthe and worked on an organic farm as a child. He later gained experience at De Groene Lantaarn. He studied at the Hogere Hotelschool in Leeuwarden and completed internships in Ireland and South Africa. He subsequently worked as a general manager and co-shareholder at De Kop van Oost before becoming its owner.
The concept of Roef is broader than just coffee. The establishment’s own description mentions coffee, lunch, drinks on the terrace, and dinner. The food is served seasonally. The kitchen works with local and Dutch products, with influences from both the Netherlands and France. Mention is also made of dishes intended for sharing.
Coffee and Brewing
For coffee enthusiasts, it is particularly relevant that Roef offers coffee within a restaurant context. Instagram mentions that visitors can come on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for lunch or a cup of coffee from White Label Coffee. White Label Coffee describes itself as a specialty coffee roaster from Amsterdam.
More details about the coffee program are not publicly documented in the information reviewed. No complete coffee menu was found listing espresso, filter coffee, batch brew, pour-over, or other brewing methods. Specific coffee drinks are also not named, other than the general terms “coffee” or “cup of coffee.”
This makes Roef’s position within the coffee sector limited but recognizable. The establishment works with an Amsterdam-based specialty coffee roaster but does not present itself as a coffee bar with a detailed public coffee profile. This distinction is important for an accurate assessment.
Menu, Origins, and Seasons
The restaurant menu is described as seasonal and changes regularly. The menu notes that vegetables are sourced from the Beemster. For fish, Roef collaborates with Wild ’n Zilt. This initiative is described as focusing on sustainable North Sea fishing with a small ecological footprint.
It is also noted that nearly all main ingredients come from the Netherlands. Herbs are largely sourced from the restaurant’s own garden. Cheeses, meat, and most vegetables are also described as Dutch. The publicly listed suppliers and origin lines include White Label Coffee for coffee, Wild ’n Zilt for fish, vegetables from the Beemster, and Dutch cheeses.
Groups and Activities
Roef has a separate space for groups of up to 50 people. This includes private dining, team drinks, wedding receptions, and birthdays. This group function fits the restaurant character of the location.
Thematic events are also described. For example, a winemaker’s dinner was announced, featuring a single wine producer with a matching menu from the kitchen. Themes such as Valentine’s Day are also utilized. Coffee-specific workshops, cuppings, tastings, or exhibitions are not publicly documented.
Press and positioning
Roef has received attention from various Dutch hospitality media and local platforms. Oost-Online wrote about the opening on Middenweg on February 5, 2026. Food Inspiration published an article on May 11, 2026, covering the concept, the owner’s background, the menu, and the origin of the products.
Entree Magazine also covered the opening in Amsterdam Oost and the use of a private vegetable garden. De Buik van Amsterdam lists Roef as a restaurant in Amsterdam Oost with a Dutch-French kitchen. Culi Amsterdam published articles about Roef in September 2025 and May 2026.
No formal awards, reviews, or competition results were found in the researched information. The available data primarily depicts a café-restaurant with a seasonal menu, Dutch product lines, and a limited but named coffee role via White Label Coffee.