Café ’t Papeneiland occupies a canal-corner house at Prinsengracht 2 in Amsterdam. Built in 1641–42 as a shop with an upper dwelling, it became a documented café in 1896. Its façade preserves layers of restoration, while archaeological inspection disproved the famous cellar-tunnel tale.
Quick facts
Hendrick de Keyser Monumenten dates the house at Prinsengracht 2 to 1641; the café gives 1642, and specialist research describes construction across 1641–42.
A 1742 record cited by Amsterdam historian Theo Bakker identifies widow Pauw’s pottery shop in the building.
Café use is documented from 1896, when beer server Witmond opened De Blauwe Druif in the ground floor.
Get directions to Café Papeneiland. Confirm the visitor entrance and current access with the venue before travelling.
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Guide
Café ’t Papeneiland occupies the corner of Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht, at Prinsengracht 2 in Amsterdam. The building is older than the café: Hendrick de Keyser Monumenten dates the house to 1641, while the café’s own history gives 1642. A specialist study describes construction across 1641–42, a useful way to express the small difference between the accounts. The corner was designed as a shop with a dwelling above, joining business and home in one narrow canal house.
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