Imagine yourself in the 16th century in this authentic bar, located in one of the two remaining wooden houses of Amsterdam. Have a drink and look around at the relics of the cafe: old jars that used to hold strong spirits, the statue of a monkey, the old beer tap with a bronze statue of a 17th century man, old paintings and prints. Take a seat by the window and watch the flow of residents and visitors passing by on the lively street Zeedijk.
Monkeys
Sailors stayed in this tavern during the time of the VOC. They were allowed to pay their bills with monkeys brought from overseas. These cute monkeys were, of course, full of fleas. Someone who scratched his head back then had probably spent the night here, was the assumption. The Dutch expression "je bent in de aap gelogeerd" (you spent the night in the monkey) is still used nowadays, meaning that you are in trouble.
