Restaurant Zuidam

“Zuidam will always hold a very special place in my heart. My brother used to tell me about the beautiful windmill and this lovely restaurant along the canal when he and his family first moved to Haarlem. He would see it while running errands in his new neighborhood and often mentioned how much he loved the charm of the area. After he passed away, I made it a point to visit and to see the place he had spoken of with such fondness. Sitting on the patio at Zuidam, watching the boats pass or dock, feeling the gentle breeze from the water, I could almost feel his presence there. It was peaceful, comforting, and bittersweet. It was the perfect spot to reflect on his adventurous spirit and the new life he had been so excited to begin in the Netherlands. The staff were kind, the atmosphere warm and inviting, and the bitterballen wonderful. But what stays with me most is the hot minty tea: simple, fresh, and soothing. I’ve been trying to recreate it ever since, though I think part of its magic comes from being enjoyed in that very place. Zuidam isn’t just a restaurant to me. It’s a piece of my brother’s story, and now a piece of mine, too.”