De Vuursche Boer Pannenkoekenhuis

De Vuursche Boer Pannenkoekenhuis

Dorpsstraat 34-36, 3749 AD, Lage Vuursche, Netherlands +31 (6) 035-666 8213 

Circa 1959

46 minutes by car.

57 minutes by train.

46 minutes if you hitchhike!? Seriously google maps?

An hour and 47 minutes by bicycle

7 hours if you walk…

7.5 hours if you fly from New York

and a mere 10.5 hour flight from LA,

De Vuurshce Boer Pannenkoekenhuis which translates to, “The Fiery Farmer” Pancake House in Lage Vuursche, Netherlands is sketched out of a storybook! “Over the river and through the woods, to Grandpa’s house we go…”

Actually, I don’t have time for “Opa,” today, I’m on my bike and 3 km from completing my 35 km cycle from Amsterdam to eat. Yea I know.. who the f&%@ cycles almost 70 km (44 miles) roundtrip to get some Pancakes!?

This FAT KID DOES!

Channeling my inner Daft Punk, “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” I cycle down the tree lined, etched out soil path of an enchanting forest that is straight out of a Bob Ross painting. Greens and browns, “Let’s build some happy little trees.”

I pull up almost jumping off my bike as if the seat was on fire. No bike lock, it falls to the ground while I push through children and old women to get a seat. The menu has soups and sandwiches, coffee and tea’s, beer and wine’s, and of course sweet pancakes but I’m looking for one thing and one thing only!

Words elude me as the server walks over.. “Wat wil je drinken?” I respond, “Pancakes!”

Lekker weertje vandaag he? I respond, “Pancakes!”

Feeling like the “Rain Man” of pancakes, words re-enter my vocabulary, “Voor mij, Ardennerspek en Kaas or Speck and Cheese alsjeblieft!”

FUN FACT: Pannenkoeken are usually larger (up to a foot in diameter) and much thinner than their American counterparts. They are pan friend in Butter and made from Flour, Milk, Salt and Eggs. Heerlijk!

“Speck” if you didn’t know is like bacon but better.

Better than bacon!?

YES! Better than bacon…

Jittery leg syndrome setting in, looking over my shoulder and day dreaming about pancakes, I glare at the waitress as she walks towards the table in what appears to be slow motion, praying nothing stops her progress..

Someone choking, whatever!

Crying baby, who cares!?  

I look down, whip away a tear as I see my pancake looking back at me. “Hello beautiful!”

Each bite better than the next, crispy salty pan fried Spek is placed geographically like “crop circles” around the pancake. Topped with traditional “Old Dutch Cheese”, the matrimony of Butter, Crispy, Salty, Cheesy, Ooey Gooey ingredients give you that fusion you look for in a long term relationship! But wait.. there’s more! Schenkstroop aka some kind of wonderful sweet syrup can be drizzled on top to give your pannenkoeken that sweet n salty explosion you’ve been longing for!

Sadness starts to come over me as I take my last bite. Maybe it’s because the pannenkoeken is gone so quickly, maybe it’s that I now have to cycle 35 km home. Whatever it is, it’s worth the physical and emotional turmoil. 

Whether it’s for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner these pancakes will change your life and you must go!