In the North Holland city of Alkmaar, finding a healthy hotspot is easy. There are so many unique, atmospheric, and welcoming places where you can enjoy super delicious plant-based food. Choosing where to go could be difficult!
ECHT Alkmaar – Marktstraat 4
At Echt, everything is “real”; organic, homemade, fresh, and they prefer to work with local suppliers. You can go here for breakfast, lunch, drinks, and high tea. On the menu, you’ll find several plant-based options, and many of the dishes can be made vegan. The smoothie bowls here are a must-try! We went for the “Green Happiness Bowl” (how could we not;)) and the Brazilian Acai Breakfast Bowl. Ewout, the super friendly owner, wanted us to try everything on the menu. And of course, we never say no to cake! The Key Lime Pie was delicious. A lot of attention is also given to the interior: cool wallpaper, fresh flowers, and nice seating areas to dine at. The blue table under the grapevine was our favorite spot.
BLOEM – Hekelstraat 21
In the old city of Alkmaar, on a street with many unique and special boutiques, you’ll find Bakery Café Bloem. At Bloem, you can not only eat and drink, but if you have a weekend trip to Alkmaar planned, they also have a super cozy Bed & Breakfast. In the morning, you can enjoy breakfast with delicious smoothies and smoothie bowls and (often) they also have a homemade vegan and sugar-free treat to accompany your coffee. Not everything on the menu is plant-based, but owner Irma told us that after watching the documentary What the Health, she is increasingly leaning towards plant-based dishes, and the team is already brainstorming. You go Bloem!
Soepp – Hekelstraat 31
A little further down Hekelstaat, you’ll find Soepp; a staple in Alkmaar for healthy food and a super fun vintage furniture store. Everything you see is for sale (including all our books!). The dishes at Soepp are 100% vegetarian, most of which are completely plant-based. Everything is organic and homemade, and they serve a daily changing menu, always taking the seasons into account. Do you have an allergy? The ladies at Soepp will adjust the dishes for you without any problem. At Soepp, of course, we ordered soup. We went for the Indian lentil soup: sooo good! Further on the menu, we saw a Couscous salad with mango, a Veggie burger, and a Vegan curry. The burger was accidentally served to one of the guests just as we were leaving, and we managed to snap a photo of it just in time. You can be sure we’ll be coming back for more!
Oogst – Zevenhuizen 8
In the mood for a hearty meal salad? Then you’re at the right place with Salad bar Oogst. Oogst has been run for 1 year by Sietse and Margot. The salads are made with as many organic products as possible that are harvested in the surroundings. You can order one of the favorite salads from the menu or create your own salad. In addition to salads, they also serve a daily soup, various smoothies, juices, and guilty free treats. All to go or to stay. We went for the Summer Falafel and the Melon Mood, both were hits. At Oogst, you really find some peace; they have a nice and light interior with lots of plants. We are fans.
Sencha – Koorstraat 19
Sencha is a living room store and lunch place in one. When you walk into Sencha, you feel like everything is just right; there’s a particularly relaxing and homely atmosphere here. Hospitality comes first; owner Loan loves to chat with everyone. “It is important that the business has a soul,” she enthusiastically told us. They use as many organic, fair trade, and local products as possible, working with the seasons. The menu includes various sweet delicacies, soups, and freshly topped sandwiches. Every week there are new pastries on the menu. Wednesday is baking day, when all new creations are devised and made in Sencha’s own bakery. We were surprised with a platter of the most delicious vegan and gluten-free treats like Snicker bites, Blackcurrant Rainbow warrior, Key Lime, a Rainbow cake with lemon, cherry, mango, and beet powder, and a Sweet potato brownie cake; finger-licking good! While eating, take a good look around at all the items. If you see something you like, you can buy it right away. From chairs to tables, cabinets, and fun accessories, everything is for sale here.
VERS – Stationsstraat 41
Around the corner from the station in Alkmaar, you’ll find Vers. The perfect spot for a fresh, organic, and homemade juice, breakfast, lunch, or daily meal to go when you’re traveling by train. But if you have more time, it’s a great place to sit; indoors, you can relax on the couch, and when the weather is nice, you can sit outside. We were warmly welcomed by Manja, and in no time, two delicious juices were ready for us. To end the day, we ordered The Dutch Weed Burger with chlorella and sea lettuce. Yum!