Nestled at the end of a lush green garden that overlooks the rooftops of Rotterdam is Op Het Dak.

I’d like to say I stumbled upon this hidden gem myself. But all credit for the delightful lunch I had at Op Het Dak on my last trip to Rotterdam goes to Pablo. He works at Hostel ROOM Rotterdam, one of my favourite hostels which you can read about here.

Here’s Pablo translating the name for me. Op Het Dak literally means On The Roof in Dutch…

Op Het Dak:
Fine & Fresh Dining Amongst The Rooftops of Rotterdam

Finding good lunch spots in a destination is pretty crucial to me because I really can’t cook.

Finding good lunch spots with healthy, locally sourced produce is even more crucial because I drink too much beer and try and redeem myself with healthy food.

Op Het Dak: The Location

Op Het Dak was initially opened as a pop up restaurant on the roof of a formerly abandoned building now known as the Schieblock.

The Schieblock was built to house an insurance company way back in 1959. And let me tell you that the insurance business in Rotterdam must have been booming because this building is HUGE.

Anyway, after being used as offices, a school, and for recreational entertainment, the building was pretty much abandoned from 1991. After that the company who owns the building ended up waiting out the economy until it could demolish the building and either sell or use the land it stands on.

That was until a group of creative locals had a vision to redeem the abandoned space and create an environment that would help local businesses thrive. And soon, Op Het Dak opened!

Op Het Dak: The Menu

From its beginnings, the bistro aimed to create clean and natural recipes from locally sourced produce. And to top it off, they even grow many of their ingredients in the gardens that surround the bistro on the roof of the Schieblock!

If you want to take a proper peek at their menu, click here.

I’m a huge fan of eggs, so I went for the Egg, Avocado & Cheese Brekkie.

For €9.50 I got the delicious dish on the left of the photo above; it consisted of a japanese pancake topped with an egg sunny side up, avocado & grated cheese. But I couldn’t resist adding salmon for €1.50!

Pablo went for the ‘Cilbir’ Poached Eggs in Spice Yoghurt. For €9.00 the dish consists of two poached eggs in herbal yogurt with home made bread, chili oil and season pesto!

Are you getting hungry reading this? Because I’m getting hungry writing this…

Op Het Dak: The Design

As I mentioned, Op Het Dak has a great view of the skyscrapers that dot the Rotterdam skyline.

But it’s not just the outward view from the rooftop bistro that is so special. Head inside to the 45-seat cafe/restaurant and you’ll see just how the owners have strived to be true to the character of the abandoned building, while still giving it their own personal touch.

Even the bathroom offers a taste of the calm, natural atmosphere that Op Het Dak has become known for…

Pretty cute huh? If I haven’t convinced you to check out this wonderful example of a creative, local Dutch business on your next trip to Rotterdam, then let me know why in the comments.

If I have convinced you, invite me before you go?

Website: ophetdak.com
Address: Schiekade 189, 3013 BR Rotterdam

Op Het Dak: Final Tips

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I don’t usually write so many articles on this blog about where I eat. Mostly because I eat alone a lot and am too embarrassed to whack out my camera! But if you’d like me to, let me know in the comments!