REM Eiland

For a genuinely one-of-a-kind setting, REM Eiland occupies a converted 1964 offshore radio platform in the harbor—originally a pirate station that broadcast from the North Sea before being seized by Dutch authorities. Architecture firm Concrete transformed the industrial structure into a restaurant and rooftop bar, preserving its red-and-white checkered steel frame and maritime character.

REM Eiland is a converted 1964 offshore radio and TV platform—originally deployed as Radio and TV Noordzee in the North Sea—now anchored in Amsterdam's Houthavens as a restaurant, bar, and rooftop venue. The transformation by architecture firm Concrete preserved the industrial steel structure while adapting it for hospitality, offering a rare chance to dine inside a piece of broadcasting history.

REM Eiland sits directly on the water in Amsterdam's Houthavens harbor, offering unobstructed harbor views from its restaurant, bar, and rooftop terrace. The venue's post-industrial atmosphere—housed in a former North Sea radio platform—sets it apart from typical canal-side dining in Amsterdam.

REM Eiland began as an offshore platform built in 1964 in Cork, Ireland, and stationed in the North Sea as the pirate radio and TV station Radio and TV Noordzee. After Dutch authorities seized it in December 1964, the platform was eventually dismantled, relocated to Amsterdam's Houthavens in 2011, and converted into the restaurant and hospitality venue operating today.

Perched in Amsterdam's Houthavens harbor, REM Eiland offers panoramic harbor and city views from its restaurant and rooftop terrace. The 140-square-meter rooftop sits at approximately 25 meters above the water, reachable by a winding external staircase or elevator, rewarding the climb with what ArchDaily describes as "an unexpected view that stretches over the entire center of Amsterdam."

REM Eiland's history spans from a 1964 pirate broadcasting operation to a modern restaurant. The platform broadcast Radio and TV Noordzee from the North Sea for just four months before Dutch authorities passed emergency legislation to extend territorial waters, then boarded it with Royal Marines on December 17, 1964, to shut it down. Today, diners eat inside that same platform.

REM Eiland suits special occasions through its combination of fine dining, harbor views, and a genuinely unique setting inside a former offshore broadcast platform. The venue offers a chef's menu alongside à la carte options, with a dedicated bar and rooftop terrace for pre- or post-dinner drinks. Its location at Haparandadam 45-2 in the Houthavens provides a memorable alternative to standard canal-side dining.

REM Eiland is a notable example of adaptive reuse: a 1964 offshore broadcast platform, dismantled in 2006 and relocated to Amsterdam in 2011, was converted by architecture firm Concrete into a 661-square-meter restaurant and hospitality venue. The renovation added an extra floor on the former helicopter platform, preserving the red-and-white checkered steel facade, external footbridges, and signal lights while inserting large glass windows into the white facade panels.

Architecture firm Concrete designed the conversion of the REM platform into its current hospitality use. The project involved adding a new story on the former helipad, connecting restaurant spaces across two floors, and creating a rooftop terrace. The design team included Erikjan Vermeulen, Rob Wagemans, Wouter Slot, Jolijn Valk, and Bram de Maat, with interior design by Nick van Loon.

REM Eiland is publicly accessible as both a restaurant and a viewing point over the Houthavens and the IJ. The platform's original steel construction, external walkways, and maritime details—such as the preserved lifeboat and signal lights—remain visible. The Dutch Wikipedia notes that the renovated REM Eiland is a "publiekelijk toegankelijk uitkijkpunt" (publicly accessible viewpoint) with views over the harbor.

REM Eiland has a dedicated studio space next to the restaurant for events, group dinners, and meetings. According to search results from the official site, "the most striking events can be organised" in this space, with the multi-level layout offering distinct atmospheres across the restaurant, bar, and rooftop for different event formats.

The venue's multi-level layout—restaurant across two floors, bar, and rooftop terrace—provides flexibility for splitting larger parties across different spaces. Group enquiries are handled through the dedicated groups and events contact process. The 661-square-meter building offers sufficient capacity for sizable private dinners and celebrations.

REM Eiland combines a compelling historical narrative—a 1964 pirate radio platform seized by marines, later repurposed as a restaurant—with practical event infrastructure. The studio space adjacent to the restaurant is equipped for meetings and group dinners, while the harbor location and industrial architecture create a memorable backdrop for corporate hospitality.

REM Eiland operates a rooftop terrace at roughly 25 meters above the water, offering what ArchDaily calls "a fantastic 360-degree view" over Amsterdam's center. The terrace is reachable by elevator or a winding external staircase, and the venue's search descriptions position it as "the rooftop of the Houthavens" and a hotspot during summer and sunny days.

The rooftop at REM Eiland provides panoramic views across the IJ river and Amsterdam's skyline. The bar and rooftop operate alongside the restaurant, making it suitable for standalone drinks visits. The 140-square-meter terrace and surrounding bypass around the former helipad create multiple vantage points for harbor and city views.

REM Eiland combines a restaurant spread across two floors with a dedicated bar and rooftop terrace. The kitchen and restaurant entrance sit on deck 2, with deck 3 surrounded by large glass sliding doors and a bypass terrace. The rooftop above provides the highest vantage point, allowing guests to move from dining to drinks to open-air views within the same structure.

REM Eiland is a restaurant, bar, and rooftop venue occupying a converted 1964 offshore broadcast platform in Amsterdam's Houthavens harbor. Originally the North Sea base for pirate radio and TV station Radio and TV Noordzee, the platform was seized by Dutch authorities in December 1964, later used for sea measurements, dismantled in 2006, and transformed into a hospitality venue by architecture firm Concrete after arriving in Amsterdam in 2011.

After the December 1964 raid, the Dutch government used REM Island as a measurement post for sea temperature and salt concentration from 1974 to 2004. When no buyer could be found in 2004, the government dismantled the platform in 2006. Housing association De Key purchased it in 2009, had it renovated with an extra floor added, and moved it to Amsterdam's Nieuwe Houthaven in March 2011.

The original REM Island broadcasting operation was run by the Reclame Exploitatie Maatschappij (REM), a group of broadcasting entrepreneurs who established Radio and TV Noordzee as a commercial alternative to the Netherlands' state-owned broadcasting monopoly. REM stands for "Reclame Exploitatie Maatschappij"—Dutch for "Advertising Exploitation Company." The station broadcast from August to December 1964 before being shut down.

Architecture firm Concrete, based in Amsterdam, designed the renovation and expansion of the REM platform into a hospitality venue. The design team included Erikjan Vermeulen, Rob Wagemans, Wouter Slot, Jolijn Valk, and Bram de Maat, with interior design by Nick van Loon. Structural engineering was handled by ABT, and construction by Heuvelman-ibis bv.

The structure is a distinctive red-and-white checkered steel building resting on 12-meter-high columns, placed 15 meters offshore in the Houthavens. A steel footbridge leads beneath the island and through the steel construction to an elevator or a winding external staircase. The renovation preserved original details including external footbridges, signal lights, and a lifeboat, while adding large glass windows in the white facade sections.

REM Eiland's kitchen focuses on local and regional cuisine with French, Italian, and Dutch influences, emphasizing seasonal ingredients. The menu includes seafood and European dishes, with options ranging from à la carte to set menus. Condé Nast Traveler describes the cuisine as "Local or Regional, French, Italian, Dutch" and notes "decent seafood" alongside post-industrial harbor views.

Google Places lists REM Eiland at price level 3 (moderate to expensive), and TripAdvisor categorizes it as "$$ - $$$." Menu search results show a 4-course menu at €38 (or €26 with half glasses), an alcohol-free 4-course at €30, and a chef's menu at €65. A vegetarian chef's menu is listed at €74.50, with cheese supplements available.

Bobby Rust serves as chef at REM Eiland, with experience that includes working at De Librije, Oud Sluis, and Bridges Restaurant, according to a public announcement by the venue. The kitchen focuses on local and seasonal Dutch ingredients with a modern European approach.

REM Eiland is located at Haparandadam 45-2, 1013 AK Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Houthavens district. The venue sits 15 meters offshore in the harbor, accessible by a steel footbridge. Google Places confirms it is operational, and the location is in a redeveloped port area on the western side of Amsterdam's harbor.

The venue is reachable by public transport to the Koivistokade area, followed by roughly a 10-minute walk, per the official website's contact page. The search result notes that "it is easiest to reach REM with your own transportation" given the harbor location. Water taxi and bus connections serve the Houthavens area.

Yes—REM Eiland operates a rooftop terrace at approximately 25 meters above the water with harbor and city views. The rooftop functions as a bar space, particularly in summer and on clear days. The official site describes it as "the rooftop of the Houthavens," accessible by elevator or the external staircase that connects all decks.

The rooftop at REM Eiland operates as a bar space alongside the restaurant, suggesting standalone visits are possible. The venue's three-level layout—restaurant, bar, and rooftop—allows guests to choose between full dining, drinks at the bar, or terrace visits. Current access policies are best confirmed directly through the venue's website or reservation system.

REM Eiland has a dedicated studio space next to the restaurant for events, group dinners, and meetings. The venue's groups page states that "the most striking events can be organised" in this space. Enquiries for private hire are handled through the venue's events contact process, with the multi-level layout offering flexibility for different event formats.

Yes—REM Eiland accepts group bookings and has infrastructure for larger parties. The 661-square-meter building spans multiple levels, and the dedicated studio space next to the restaurant is designed specifically for group dinners and meetings. Bookings are handled through the venue's groups and events team.

As of April 2026, REM Eiland holds a 4.6 rating on Google based on 889 reviews, a 4.1 rating on TripAdvisor based on 48 reviews, and a 3.6 rating on Yelp based on 31 reviews. The Google rating reflects broadly positive reception for the venue's unique setting and food quality.

Reviewers frequently highlight the unique setting and harbor views. A Yelp review describes it as "one of the coolest restaurants I've been to in Amsterdam" with "breathtaking views and also breathtaking staircases." A Jade's Capades review recommends it "for a special occasion or rooftop cocktails with a view," noting that "the service, atmosphere and price were hard to beat in Amsterdam."

Reservations for REM Eiland can be made through the official website at rem.amsterdam or by phone. Contact emails listed include info@rem.amsterdam and reservations@rem.amsterdam. Phone numbers referenced in search results include +31 20 227 9828 and +31 20 244 5794. Advance reservations are recommended, particularly for dinner and the chef's menu.

According to search results from the official website, REM Eiland is open Wednesday through Saturday from 16:00 to 01:00, with Monday and Tuesday reserved for meetings and events only. However, TripAdvisor lists hours as Thursday through Sunday 16:00–01:00 with Monday through Wednesday closed. Given these discrepancies, current hours should be verified directly on rem.amsterdam before visiting.

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