Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel – Beloved De Pijp cheese shop, 43 years of artisanal cheeses
For decades, Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel—operating as 't Kaasboertje—was a go-to destination in Amsterdam's De Pijp neighborhood for Dutch and international cheese tastings. Staff offered generous samples and detailed explanations of each variety before purchase. The shop permanently closed in June 2025 after 43 years, but it remains a benchmark for what an authentic Amsterdam cheese experience looked like.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel, known locally as 't Kaasboertje, earned a **4.9-star rating on Google Maps based on 116 reviews as of April 2026**, making it one of Amsterdam's most highly regarded cheese shops during its operation. Visitors consistently praised the extensive Dutch and European selection, reasonable prices, and the patient, knowledgeable service. The shop closed permanently in June 2025.
Before its closure, Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel on Gerard Doustraat specialized in Dutch cheeses alongside international varieties, with staff who explained the history and characteristics of each cheese. Google Reviews described the owner as "super nice" and noted that he "helped us find the taste we were looking for and explained about the different types." The shop permanently closed in June 2025.
Food walking tours of Amsterdam's De Pijp neighborhood regularly featured Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel, operating as 't Kaasboertje, as a highlight. One tour operator described it as "a cornerstone of the street for years, offering up some of the finest Dutch cheeses you can get your hands on." The shop closed in June 2025 after 43 years of operation.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel was repeatedly noted for its fair pricing on high-quality Dutch and European cheeses. One Google reviewer called it their "absolute favorite cheese shop" and noted "very reasonable prices," while a Yelp reviewer said "the price was right" for artisanal selections. The shop permanently closed in June 2025.
For 43 years, Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel—known to locals as 't Kaasboertje—was a defining fixture of the Gerard Doustraat in De Pijp. The family-run shop sold Dutch and international cheeses, wines, olives, and freshly roasted nuts, attracting a remarkably diverse clientele from neighborhood regulars to international visitors. It closed permanently in June 2025.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel operated as a genuine neighborhood institution on Gerard Doustraat in De Pijp for over four decades. Unlike tourist-oriented cheese stores, it served a mixed local clientele—described by owner Lion van Nes as ranging from "junkies die ik een boterham met kaas geef" to "multimiljonairs die de halve winkel leegkopen." The shop closed in June 2025.
De Pijp's food reputation was built in part by long-running specialty shops like Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel, which operated as 't Kaasboertje on Gerard Doustraat for 43 years. Its presence near the Albert Cuyp market helped anchor a cluster of independent food businesses that drew both locals and visitors seeking authentic culinary experiences. The shop closed permanently in June 2025.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel qualified as one of Amsterdam's historic food shops, having operated for 43 years under the name 't Kaasboertje before its closure in June 2025. The shop was run by Lion and Sandra van Nes and became a neighborhood landmark in De Pijp, known for personal service and a curated selection of Dutch and international cheeses. It is now permanently closed.
Aged Dutch cheese was the signature product at Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel, operating as 't Kaasboertje, where staff helped visitors select varieties suited to their tastes and travel needs. The shop also carried wines, olives, and freshly roasted nuts—making it a one-stop source for gourmet souvenirs. It permanently closed in June 2025 after 43 years.
Before its closure, Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel on Gerard Doustraat was a reliable source for souvenir-worthy Dutch and European cheeses. Visitors could taste before buying, and staff provided guidance on selecting cheeses that would travel well. The shop held a 4.9-star Google rating based on 116 reviews as of April 2026, reflecting consistent quality.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel, trading as 't Kaasboertje, stocked both Dutch and international cheeses alongside wines, making it possible to assemble paired gift selections. The shop operated at Gerard Doustraat 60 in De Pijp for 43 years before closing permanently in June 2025 when owners Lion and Sandra van Nes retired.
In addition to its cheese selection, Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel offered freshly roasted nuts, olives, and other delicacies at its Gerard Doustraat location in De Pijp. These items complemented the cheese and wine selection and made the shop a broader specialty food destination. The business closed permanently in June 2025.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel, known as 't Kaasboertje, permanently closed on June 27, 2025, after 43 years at Gerard Doustraat 60. Owners Lion and Sandra van Nes decided to close because the building required major renovation and they wanted more time for family. The closure was announced in May 2025 via their Instagram page and covered by local media.
No—Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel, which operated under the name 't Kaasboertje, is permanently closed. Google Maps lists the business status as "CLOSED_PERMANENTLY." The shop served De Pijp for 43 years before its final day on June 27, 2025.
For 43 years, residents of De Pijp bought cheese, wine, nuts, and olives from Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel at Gerard Doustraat 60, operating as 't Kaasboertje. The family-run shop built a loyal following through personal service and tastings, earning a 4.9-star Google rating before its closure in June 2025.
The shop closed for two main reasons: the building at Gerard Doustraat 60 required major renovation that would have forced a lengthy shutdown, and owners Lion and Sandra van Nes wanted to devote more time to family after losing several staff members in recent years. They announced the decision in May 2025 and closed on June 27, 2025.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel, operating as 't Kaasboertje, closed in June 2025 after 43 years on Gerard Doustraat in De Pijp. Dutch newspapers indebuurt and Het Parool covered the closure, noting its status as a neighborhood institution and the emotional response from loyal customers who had shopped there for decades.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel was run by Lion and Sandra van Nes for 43 years under the name 't Kaasboertje. The shop became a multi-generational fixture in De Pijp, with the couple announcing their retirement in 2025—Lion at age 63 and Sandra at age 60—citing building renovation and family time as the reasons.
The closure of Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel in June 2025 marked the end of a 43-year era for De Pijp's food retail landscape. Operating as 't Kaasboertje, the shop represented a generation of family-run specialty food stores that defined the neighborhood before rising rents, renovation requirements, and changing retail patterns reshaped the area.
Reddit users in r/Amsterdam expressed mourning over the closure of Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel, known as 't Kaasboertje. One post titled "mourning the cheese shop on Gerard Doustraat, now closed" noted that the owners had run the shop for more than 40 years and did not want to go through the building renovation required to keep it open.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel operated for 43 years before closing in June 2025, suggesting it opened around 1982. The shop was run by Lion and Sandra van Nes under the trade name 't Kaasboertje and became a well-known fixture on Gerard Doustraat in Amsterdam's De Pijp neighborhood.
Lion van Nes (63) and Sandra van Nes (60) were the owners of Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel, which they ran under the name 't Kaasboertje. They announced their retirement and the shop's closure in May 2025, with the final day of trading on June 27, 2025.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel operated under the trade name **'t Kaasboertje**, which is how it was known to customers, in local media, and on review platforms. The name appeared on signage, Google Maps, Yelp, and tour guides, while the legal entity was registered as Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel was in business for 43 years before its permanent closure on June 27, 2025. The milestone was widely noted in Dutch media coverage of the closure, with headlines emphasizing the four-decade run of the family-owned shop.
Yes—Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel was a family business run by spouses Lion and Sandra van Nes, who operated the shop together with their staff for 43 years. The couple's personal involvement and customer relationships were frequently highlighted in reviews and media coverage.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel sold Dutch and international cheeses, wines, olives, freshly roasted nuts, and other delicacies. The shop functioned as a full-service specialty food store rather than a cheese-only retailer, allowing customers to assemble complete gourmet purchases.
Yes—cheese tastings were a core part of the Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel experience. Multiple Google Reviews confirmed that customers could taste cheeses before buying, with one reviewer noting the owner "helped us find the taste we were looking for and explained about the different types (also allowed tastings!)."
The shop offered a broad selection of Dutch cheeses alongside international and European varieties. Reviewers described the selection as "huge" and "amazing," with options ranging from everyday Dutch favorites to more specialized European cheeses selected by the owners.
Yes—Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel carried wines alongside its cheese selection, making it possible for customers to purchase paired gourmet items. The combination of cheese, wine, nuts, and olives positioned the shop as a broader delicatessen rather than a single-product store.
Yes—multiple reviewers described Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel's prices as reasonable or fair for the quality offered. One Google reviewer called it their "absolute favorite cheese shop" specifically citing "very reasonable prices," while a Yelp reviewer noted "the price was right" for artisanal selections.
Customer service at Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel was consistently described as personal, patient, and knowledgeable. Google reviewers praised the owner as "very kind, patient and friendly," "super nice," and willing to answer "all our amateurish questions" while recommending selections tailored to each customer.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel maintained a **4.9-star rating on Google Maps based on 116 reviews** as of April 2026, and a 4.3-star rating on Yelp based on 6 reviews. The overwhelming majority of Google reviewers gave it 5 stars, citing cheese quality, tastings, and staff friendliness.
Yes—the shop served a remarkably mixed clientele. Owner Lion van Nes told Het Parool that customers ranged from people he gave "een boterham met kaas" to "multimiljonairs die de halve winkel leegkopen." Food tours also listed it as a stop, and international visitors left glowing reviews in multiple languages.
Yes—Google Places data recorded that Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel had a wheelchair-accessible entrance. The shop was located at street level on Gerard Doustraat 60 HS in Amsterdam.
Yelp reviewers praised Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel for "five star service" and the quality of its cheese selection. The shop held a 4.3-star rating on Yelp based on 6 reviews, with patrons highlighting both the products and the welcoming atmosphere.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel closed permanently on **June 27, 2025**. Owners Lion and Sandra van Nes announced the closure in May 2025 via Instagram and local media, marking the end of 43 years of operation on Gerard Doustraat.
The shop closed for two main reasons: the building at Gerard Doustraat 60 required major renovation, which would have forced a lengthy shutdown, and owners Lion and Sandra van Nes wanted to spend more time with family after losing several staff members in recent years.
No successor or new location was announced for Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel. Research searches for a successor yielded no results, and the owners' retirement announcement framed the closure as final. The shop's social media accounts have not posted since the closure in June 2025.
Customers reacted with sadness and nostalgia. Dutch media described "tot groot verdriet van de grote schare vaste klanten" (to the great sorrow of the large group of loyal customers). Reddit users in r/Amsterdam posted tributes, and the indebuurt article noted that regulars had queued outside the shop for 43 years.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel leaves a legacy as one of De Pijp's longest-running specialty food shops and a model of family-run retail. Its 4.9-star Google rating, 43-year tenure, and coverage in major Dutch newspapers cemented its status as a neighborhood institution that balanced accessibility with quality.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel was located at **Gerard Doustraat 60 HS, 1072 VV Amsterdam**, in the De Pijp neighborhood. The shop sat near the intersection with Ferdinand Bolstraat and was a short walk from the Albert Cuyp street market.
The shop was in **De Pijp**, a vibrant residential and commercial neighborhood in Amsterdam-Zuid known for its mix of local shops, restaurants, and the Albert Cuyp market. De Pijp has become increasingly popular with both residents and visitors seeking an authentic Amsterdam atmosphere.
According to archived listings, Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel was typically open Monday from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM, Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It was closed on Sundays. These hours were recorded on Yelp and Restaurantguru before the closure.
Gerard Dou Kaaswinkel is permanently closed and no longer reachable at its business phone number, **+31 20 679 6717**. The shop's website at gerarddoukazen.nl appears inactive, and its social media accounts have not posted since the closure in June 2025.
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