Restaurant in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Post-Naylor era: different kitchen, same address.
Vermeer is an OAD-ranked French Contemporary dinner venue in central Amsterdam, holding a Michelin Plate in 2025. The kitchen has changed hands — chef Sebastian Baquero Garces now leads, replacing the vegetable-first philosophy of longtime chef Chris Naylor. At €€€, it's a credible and well-reviewed option (4.6 Google, 383 reviews), open Wednesday to Saturday evenings only. Booking is easy.
Vermeer is not the vegetable-forward tasting menu destination it once was under Chris Naylor. That version of the restaurant is gone, and if you've been before expecting the same plant-driven philosophy, reset your expectations. Under chef Sebastian Baquero Garces, Vermeer continues operating as a French Contemporary dinner destination in central Amsterdam, holding a Michelin Plate recognition and placing in the Opinionated About Dining (OAD) Leading Restaurants in Europe at #533 (2025). It is a credible, well-regarded option at the €€€ tier, but the sourcing identity is in transition. Book it as a solid fine-dining dinner rather than a produce-obsessed destination.
The most common assumption about Vermeer is that it remains the green-forward, vegetable-first kitchen that earned its reputation under Chris Naylor, who spent over a decade at the helm and built a loyal following by treating vegetables with the same seriousness most kitchens reserve for protein. That kitchen no longer exists in that form. Chef Sebastian Baquero Garces has taken over, and while vegetables still feature on the menu, the restaurant is no longer operating as a 100% plant-forward concept. What you're booking now is a French Contemporary dinner experience in a well-located canal-adjacent address at Prins Hendrikkade 59-72, with the credibility of an OAD-ranked kitchen and Michelin Plate status behind it.
From a sourcing standpoint, this transition matters. Naylor's iteration of Vermeer was notable precisely because ingredient sourcing was the defining creative constraint — produce quality and plant-first thinking drove the menu's decisions. Whether Baquero Garces is maintaining comparable sourcing standards or pivoting toward a more protein-balanced French Contemporary format is something the 2025 OAD ranking and La Liste inclusion (80.5 points) suggest is working to a respectable level, even if the concept is no longer as sharply differentiated. The OAD ranking, which reflects votes from experienced restaurant-goers rather than anonymous inspectors, is a meaningful signal that the kitchen is still cooking at a level worth the trip.
At the €€€ price tier, Vermeer sits in competitive territory in Amsterdam. You're paying for a kitchen with documented awards history, a central location, and a French Contemporary format that, while not as conceptually distinctive as it once was, is competently executed. For diners who've visited before under Naylor and are considering a return, go in knowing the menu philosophy has shifted. For first-timers, this is a respectable dinner option — just not a restaurant defined by a singular sourcing ethos the way it was.
Dinner service runs Wednesday through Saturday from 6pm to midnight, with Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday closed. The extended closing time gives the evening more room to breathe than a kitchen that shuts at 10pm, which suits the format. Amsterdam's fine-dining dinner scene tends to be front-loaded earlier in the week at other venues, so a Friday or Saturday booking here will place you in a busier, more energetic room than a Wednesday. If you're returning after a first visit and want to assess the new direction properly, a Thursday early sitting gives you a quieter environment to focus on the food without fighting ambient noise.
For those building a broader fine-dining itinerary across the Netherlands, Vermeer fits comfortably as an Amsterdam option within a trip that might also include [De Librije in Zwolle](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/de-librije-zwolle-restaurant) or ['t Nonnetje in Harderwijk](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/t-nonnetje-harderwijk-restaurant) for more decorated, destination-level cooking. Within Amsterdam's €€€ tier, it competes with [De Kas](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/de-kas), [Wils](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/wils), and [BAK](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/bak) , all of which have clearer sourcing identities right now. At the €€€€ tier, [Ciel Bleu (€€€€ · Creative)](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/ciel-bleu-amsterdam-restaurant), [Flore (€€€€ · Contemporary)](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/flore-amsterdam-restaurant), [Spectrum (€€€€ · Creative)](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/spectrum-amsterdam-restaurant), and [Vinkeles (€€€€ · Creative)](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/vinkeles-amsterdam-restaurant) are the options if you want to step up in budget and formality.
Booking is rated Easy. Given the Wednesday-to-Saturday dinner-only schedule, weekend slots will fill ahead of midweek. Book at least one to two weeks in advance for a Friday or Saturday. For a Wednesday or Thursday, a few days' notice is generally sufficient. The 4.6 Google rating across 383 reviews gives an additional baseline of consumer confidence , that volume of reviews at that score is consistent across most well-run Amsterdam fine-dining rooms. You can also explore further options through our [full Amsterdam restaurants guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/amsterdam).
If you're exploring the wider Amsterdam scene beyond dinner, our [full Amsterdam bars guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/bars/amsterdam), [full Amsterdam hotels guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/hotels/amsterdam), and [full Amsterdam experiences guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/experiences/amsterdam) cover the rest. For Dutch fine dining further afield, [Aan de Poel in Amstelveen](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/aan-de-poel-amstelveen-restaurant), [De Bokkedoorns in Overveen](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/de-bokkedoorns-overveen-restaurant), and [Brut172 in Reijmerstok](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/brut172-reijmerstok-restaurant) are worth considering for day-trip or extended itinerary purposes. If French Contemporary is specifically your format and you're open to travelling outside Amsterdam, [Damianz in Roermond](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/damianz-roermond-restaurant) and [Kasteel TerWorm in Heerlen](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/kasteel-terworm-heerlen-restaurant) offer comparable cuisine in different settings. [De Groene Lantaarn in Staphorst](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/de-groene-lantaarn-staphorst-restaurant) and [Eeuwen](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/eeuwen-amsterdam-restaurant) round out the broader Dutch fine-dining context worth knowing about.
Booking difficulty: Easy. Vermeer operates dinner only, Wednesday to Saturday, 6pm to midnight. For weekend tables, book one to two weeks ahead. Midweek slots are generally available with shorter notice. No booking method is listed in available data , check the restaurant directly or via OpenTable/TheFork for Amsterdam fine-dining reservations.
| Detail | Vermeer | De Kas | Ciel Bleu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price tier | €€€ | €€€ | €€€€ |
| Cuisine | French Contemporary | Organic / Garden | Creative Fine Dining |
| Service days | Wed–Sat (dinner only) | Mon–Sat (lunch & dinner) | Tue–Sat (dinner) |
| Booking difficulty | Easy | Moderate | Moderate–Hard |
| OAD ranked (2025) | #533 | Not ranked | Yes |
| Michelin | Plate | Plate | 2 Stars |
| Google rating | 4.6 (383) | N/A | N/A |
No dress code is listed, but at the €€€ French Contemporary tier in Amsterdam , with Michelin Plate recognition and OAD ranking , smart casual is the appropriate baseline. Think neat trousers and a collared shirt or equivalent. You won't be turned away for a blazer, but full formal dress is not expected. Amsterdam fine dining is generally less rigid on dress than comparable rooms in Paris or London.
The kitchen has changed hands. If you've read older reviews praising the vegetable-forward philosophy under Chris Naylor, know that chef Sebastian Baquero Garces is now running the kitchen and the concept is French Contemporary rather than plant-first. Go in expecting a well-awarded dinner in a central Amsterdam location at €€€ pricing, and you'll be on solid ground. Book Wednesday or Thursday for a quieter introduction; Friday and Saturday will be busier.
There is no confirmed bar seating information in available data. Given the dinner-only, €€€ French Contemporary format, the room is likely set up for table service rather than counter or bar dining. Contact the restaurant directly if bar or counter seating is a priority for your visit.
Dinner is your only option. Vermeer does not serve lunch , the kitchen runs Wednesday to Saturday evenings from 6pm to midnight only. If you want a fine-dining lunch in Amsterdam, [De Kas](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/de-kas) serves midday and runs its own garden-to-table format at the same €€€ price tier.
No specific dishes are available in verified data, so any menu recommendations here would be speculation. The kitchen under Sebastian Baquero Garces is working in a French Contemporary register, with vegetables still featured but no longer as the exclusive focus. Ask the team what the kitchen is currently proud of when you arrive , at this recognition level, the front-of-house will have a clear answer.
There is no confirmed counter or bar seating listed, which makes solo dining at Vermeer less certain as an experience than at venues with a dedicated counter format. At the €€€ French Contemporary price point, solo dining is perfectly reasonable if the restaurant accommodates single covers , contact them ahead to confirm. For solo fine dining with a guaranteed counter seat in Amsterdam, [BAK](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/bak) is a more predictable choice.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermeer | Just like the name suggests, Vermeer is one of Amsterdam's classics and chef Chris Naylor, who is now developing concepts for various restaurants in Europe, has been at the kitchen's helm for over a d...; The chef is gone, long live the chef! This requires some additional clarification, of course: Chef Chris Naylor was the driving force behind Vermeer for years and was a big fan of giving vegetables the place they deserve. So we thank Chris for his years of loyalty to the We're Smart philosophy. Leadership now falls to chef Sebastian Baquero Garces. We note that vegetables are still important, but also that there is no 100% pure plant on offer. We will definitely follow it further and take a step back and then hopefully rise again in 2025?; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked #533 (2025); Michelin Plate (2025); La Liste Top Restaurants (2025): 80.5pts; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked #535 (2024); Michelin Plate (2024); Opinionated About Dining Top New Restaurants in Europe Recommended (2023) | €€€ | — |
| Ciel Bleu | Michelin 2 Star | €€€€ | — |
| Bolenius | Michelin 1 Star | €€€€ | — |
| De Kas | Michelin 1 Star | €€€ | — |
| Wils | Michelin 1 Star | €€€ | — |
| BAK | €€€ | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Dress as you would for a serious dinner out: no jeans or trainers, but a suit is not required. Vermeer sits at the €€€ price point with Michelin Plate recognition, so the room will skew dressed-up without demanding black tie. Think business casual or a polished evening look and you will fit the room.
The most important thing to know is that Vermeer has changed hands in the kitchen. Chef Chris Naylor, who built the restaurant's reputation around vegetable-forward cooking, is no longer there. Chef Sebastian Baquero Garces now leads, and while vegetables still feature, the strict plant-forward identity is gone. If you booked Vermeer for that reason specifically, recalibrate your expectations before arrival. The restaurant holds a Michelin Plate and an OAD Top 500 Europe ranking for 2025, so the quality level remains credentialled.
Bar seating is not confirmed in available venue data for Vermeer. The restaurant operates dinner only, Wednesday to Saturday from 6pm, and reservations are straightforward to secure — booking a table is low-friction enough that there is no practical reason to rely on bar access.
Vermeer does not serve lunch. The kitchen opens Wednesday through Saturday from 6pm only, so dinner is your only option. For a lunch alternative in Amsterdam's fine dining tier, De Kas and Bolenius both offer midday service.
Specific dishes are not available to confirm here, and menus change seasonally. What is documented is that vegetables remain a focus under Chef Sebastian Baquero Garces, though the kitchen no longer operates as a purely plant-based tasting menu. Ask the front-of-house team on arrival about the current format and whether a set menu or à la carte is available that evening.
Vermeer is a reasonable choice for solo dining given easy booking and a dinner-only format that suits an unhurried evening. The address at Prins Hendrikkade 59-72 puts it in a central Amsterdam location. Solo diners at a Michelin Plate restaurant in this price range typically fare well at counter or smaller table positions, though seating configuration specifics are not confirmed in available data. If solo bar dining is your preference, BAK's setting may offer a more casual perch.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
