そして、VOCはコーヒーの歴史においても決定的な役割を果たしました。インドから持ち帰った苗木を拠点のバタヴィア(現ジャカルタ)に植え、そこで育った苗がアムステルダム植物園へと送られます。この流れをきっかけに、コーヒーはヨーロッパを経由し中南米まで広がっていきました。 17世紀の繁栄を今に伝えるレンガ造りの家並み (Photo by the Owner)
現代のアムステルダムとカフェ文化
そんな歴史を思い描きながら街を歩くと、現代のアムステルダムに息づくカフェ文化にも目を奪われます。運河沿いに開放的なカフェが並び、ストリートには芳ばしい香りが漂います。工場や倉庫を改装した「グランカフェ」は現代的で洗練された空間を提供し、一方で「ブラウンカフェ」と呼ばれる昔ながらの居心地の良いカフェも健在です。伝統と革新、両者が共存する風景は、まさにアムステルダムという街そのものを象徴しているように感じます。ビールやチーズと同じように、コーヒーもオランダ人の暮らしに欠かせない存在です。
窓越しに眺めるアムステルダムの街並み (Photo by the Owner)
深いコクとスパイシーな余韻をもつこのコーヒーは、アムステルダムを中心に設立されたVOCを通じてコーヒーがインドネシアに伝播した歴史を思い起こさせます。一杯を味わいながら、時代を越えたコーヒーの旅に思いを馳せてみてください。 インドネシアで行われるコーヒー豆の天日乾燥 (Photo by Leading Coffee Family)
次の旅先へ
アムステルダムを後に、旅はパリへと続きます。カフェという言葉を生み、ヨーロッパのコーヒー文化を形づけた街。次回もどうぞお楽しみに。
パリの路地、次なる旅の舞台へ (Photo by Pexels)
[English]
A Journey Around the World with Coffee - Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city where rows of chocolate-colored brick houses stand shoulder to shoulder, with canals running in every direction. The 17th-century streetscapes blend seamlessly with modern urban development, creating a unique landscape where tradition and modernity coexist. Modern architecture showing the intersection of history and the future in Amsterdam. (Photo by the Owner)
Bicycle lanes and trams are well established, offering a glimpse of the kind of mobility society that Tokyo aspires to in the future, yet already woven into daily life here. The quiet waters, together with the artistic spirit of Rembrandt and Van Gogh, shape the very air of the city. This is only the shop owner's personal view, but I believe Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A cityscape with dedicated bicycle lanes throughout the city. (Photo by Unsplash)
The History of Amsterdam and the Spread of Coffee
The name "Amsterdam" originates from "Amstelredamme," meaning a settlement by a dam built on the River Amstel. What began as a small fishing village in the 13th century grew into a thriving port town supporting the Age of Exploration. In 1602, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) was founded--often described as the world's first corporation. Through spice trading, it amassed great wealth, and many of the grand buildings still standing in the city were constructed during this golden age.
The VOC also played a decisive role in the history of coffee. Seedlings brought from India were planted in Batavia (present-day Jakarta), and some of these young trees were later transferred to the Amsterdam Botanical Garden. From there, coffee spread across Europe and eventually to Central and South America. Brick houses that still reflect the prosperity of the 17th century. (Photo by the Owner)
Modern Amsterdam and Its Café Culture
Walking through the city today, one quickly notices the vibrant café culture that thrives in Amsterdam. Along the canals, open-air cafés invite passersby to stop and enjoy the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Renovated factories and warehouses have been transformed into modern "Grand Cafés," offering spacious and stylish venues. At the same time, the traditional "Brown Cafés," with their wooden counters and cozy interiors, continue to serve as neighborhood gathering places. The coexistence of both new and old reflects the essence of Amsterdam itself. Like beer and cheese, coffee has become an indispensable part of everyday Dutch life. A view of Amsterdam through the window of a café. (Photo by the Owner)
A Cup Inspired by Amsterdam
The coffee chosen to represent this city is Indonesia Mandheling Onan Ganjang. This variety belongs to the Typica lineage introduced by the VOC and is recognized as one of the so-called "Classic Sumatras." In the 19th century, coffee leaf rust devastated plantations, and most farms replaced Typica with Robusta or hybrids. However, deep in the Lake Toba region of Sumatra, surviving trees were later rediscovered and named after their place of origin--Onan Ganjang.
This coffee is known for its deep body and spicy finish, evoking the history of how coffee was carried from Indonesia to Europe through Amsterdam and spread around the globe. With each sip, you are invited to travel back in time and reflect on coffee's long journey. Coffee beans being sun-dried in Indonesia. (Photo by Leading Coffee Family)
The Next Destination
Leaving Amsterdam behind, the journey continues to Paris. It is the birthplace of the word café and a city that played a defining role in shaping Europe's coffee culture. Please look forward to the next chapter. A Parisian street, the next stage of our journey. (Photo by Pexels)