"Joris Bijdendijk cooks everything over open wood flame for a Michelin star on Stadionplein — book Wils to impress over fire-grilled tasting plates."
About Wils
Wils is the fire-driven restaurant chef Joris Bijdendijk opened on Stadionplein in Amsterdam-Zuid in 2020, and it won a MICHELIN star the following year in 2021. The premise is singular: nearly everything is cooked over an open wood fire in a theatre of flames, hanging grills and wood-fired ovens at the heart of the open kitchen, with chef de cuisine Thomas Val running the pass. The cooking pays tribute to fire as the oldest tool in the kitchen, and a tasting menu runs from around €95.
The Kitchen
Bijdendijk and Thomas Val build a menu of small, surprising plates straight off the flame. One signature pairing folds a fluffy deep-fried bara — a Surinamese-Hindustani snack that nods to Amsterdam's makeup — with crisp veal sweetbreads and a zesty vinaigrette of yuzu, raw green tomatillo and herbs from the restaurant's own garden. Fish, vegetables and aged meats all pass over the coals, and the wood smoke threads through the whole menu.
The cooking is seasonal and Dutch in its sourcing but global in its references, the same instinct Bijdendijk brings to his other Amsterdam project, RIJKS. A four-course lunch runs gentler, around €72, while the longer evening tasting climbs from €95. For the wider city read the Amsterdam dining guide, the best fine-dining rooms worldwide, and the best tasting menus, or compare the sky-high Ciel Bleu.
The Room
The dining room wraps around the open fire kitchen, so the flames are the centrepiece — warm, theatrical and a little dramatic, with a large covered terrace on Stadionplein for warmer months. It is polished without being stiff, the kind of room that reads as a serious dinner but never a hushed temple. Tables are spaced for a private conversation, and service is informed and relaxed. Dress smart-casual; this is Amsterdam, so a jacket is welcome but not required.
Best for Impressing Clients
Wils impresses clients because the open fire kitchen gives the meal a sense of occasion no ordinary dining room can match — the flames are the show, and a Michelin star backs the cooking. Book a table with a view of the fire, take the longer tasting, and let the smoke-and-char theatre carry the evening while the conversation runs. For more options read the Amsterdam guide to closing a deal, or compare the garden-to-table De Kas.
Not for
Not for diners who want a long à la carte menu or a quiet, fire-free room — Wils is a tasting-led fire kitchen, so the wood smoke and the set menu are the whole point, not an option to skip.
Frequently Asked
What is Wils known for?
Wils is known for cooking almost everything over an open wood fire. Chef Joris Bijdendijk's Michelin-starred restaurant on Stadionplein in Amsterdam-Zuid builds a tasting menu of small fire-grilled plates — a signature pairs deep-fried Surinamese bara with veal sweetbreads and a yuzu-tomatillo vinaigrette — with hanging grills and wood-fired ovens at the centre of the open kitchen.
Does Wils have a Michelin star?
Yes. Wils was awarded one MICHELIN star in 2021, a year after opening in 2020. Chef Joris Bijdendijk, who also runs the Amsterdam restaurant RIJKS, built the kitchen entirely around open-fire cooking, with Thomas Val as chef de cuisine.
How much does dinner at Wils cost?
The evening tasting menu runs from around €95 per person before drinks, and climbs with longer menus and wine pairings. A shorter four-course lunch is gentler, around €72. It sits at the higher end of Amsterdam dining, in line with its Michelin star.
Where is Wils in Amsterdam?
Wils is on Stadionplein in Amsterdam-Zuid, near the Olympic Stadium, with a large covered terrace for warmer months. It is a short tram ride south of the city centre and the museum quarter.
Is Wils good for a business or client dinner?
Yes. It is one of our picks in the Amsterdam guide to closing a deal because the open fire gives the meal a sense of occasion, a Michelin star backs the cooking, and the spaced tables suit a private conversation. Book a table with a view of the fire.
