The Hielander in Centrum

We had a tasting menu with a whisky pairing... everything was excellent, from the service to the bill, and the kindness and friendliness of the staff... if you're in Alkmaar, treat yourself to a different evening...

We had the 4-course surprise menu with accompanying whiskey pairings, and it was excellent. The dishes were delicious, and the accompanying whiskies were superb. The whole atmosphere was rustic, and the staff perfectly complemented it. They are extremely friendly and knowledgeable about what they serve.

Always a pleasant experience, with beautiful whisky pairings on the chef's menu. Unparalleled and worth repeating.

I've been coming here for 35 years, and it remains incredibly good. Delicious whiskies with a story.

Authentic Scottish dishes and 2500 types of whisky

What a lovely restaurant. Very warmly welcomed by the real Scottish owner. Good food and of course a very wide choice of many whiskies.

The Hielander is fantastic! Enjoyed delicious whisky-food combinations, each perfectly matched and provided with a fascinating story by Wullie. A unique experience for every enthusiast with a choice of more than 2,500 whiskies there is always something new to discover. Top food, great service and an atmosphere to come back for!

We reserved for 9 people. We took half the place. A very quaint restaurant with excellent food and great staff.

My favorite restaurant, very tasty starters, main courses and desserts. Many types of whiskeys and Gerie and Wullie always talk to the customers which is very nice. Very nice decor, nice atmosphere and good music. Definitely recommended, the restaurant is very nicely decorated and you always get an amuse, sandwiches and a jug of water from the host and hostess with your meal! If you can't finish your food you can always ask if you can take it with you. My favorite dish is "Highland chicken" very tasty chicken with salmon as a filling, lots of vegetables and a very tasty sauce. If you are looking for a restaurant with knowledge and love for whiskey, where the host also really wants to help you with your whiskey choices. Where most of the food is also real game meat and otherwise just exceptionally tasty, with special dish choices I would recommend you to go to this beautiful restaurant!

Supper good swear and very friendly service. Also the food was fast and very good and the owner can recommend a matching whisky with everything

If you fancy spending an evening being yelled at by the owner(?) for your whisky preference, then come here. I have come to appreciate whisky *less* because of how arrogant and condescending this man was. Add to that the fact that the food was about the same quality as his attitude and you have a “perfect storm” of unpleasantness. The goose starter was tough and extremely salty, countered by an overly sweet compote. The main course, a mixed meat skewer… I have had better mixed grills at 3am after a night out. And the cheesecake dessert I had to leave after one bite. The cheesecake itself tasted “cheesy” and the rhubarb jam was inedibly sweet and sour. Truly one of the worst restaurant experiences I have had in years. Tip to the owner: snapping at people who love whisky because they are not a super expert like you is not a sustainable business model.

A really nice restaurant with a lot of character. The choice of different types of whisky is enormous and the owner knows a lot about it. Furthermore, the food, the service and the atmosphere are great. All in all a really nice and tasty experience!

Just a great overall experience eating here! From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed. The owners themselves take care of you — Wullie and his wife (whose name I unfortunately didn’t catch) are passionate about what they do and it really shows. Wullie was happy to discuss the menu, their whiskey selection, and share a few stories along the way. The food was absolutely delicious, and the cozy atmosphere made it a perfect night out. Highly recommend if you’re looking for genuine hospitality and great food in Alkmaar!

Sehr schönes Ambiente, gutes Essen und sehr freundliche Bedienung. Mal etwas anderes als der übliche Mainstream und wo findet man schon Schottische Küche

Absolutely fantastic, great atmosphere and great explanation about the whisky

Host is a really good guy. Food is delicious and pure.

Had a great evening during the theme night, 6 courses including whiskey pairing! Absolutely recommended for the whiskey lover.

Totally great again!! The menu is not huge, but there is plenty of choice and the food is great! The atmosphere and service are completely in style and absolutely fantastic.

Fantastic food, fantastic whiskies, fantastic service and ambiance. We felt very welcome thanks to owners Wullie and Geri. The atmosphere was wonderfully casual and the interior is phenomenal. One of the most beautiful and nicest restaurants in the Netherlands (and we have visited at least +200 restaurants).

Delicious food, the surprise menu was great. Host and lady very hospitable

Everything was delicious, I ordered a salmon soup, Haggis and for dessert: chocolate death. The atmosphere is calm, everything is beautifully decorated. The only bad thing is to reserve, because there are seven tables and there are many people who want to come to eat. The service is fast and friendly. A 100 × 100

Great restaurant. Small menu with delicious dishes. More than 2500 whiskeys available and the host knows everything about it and is happy to help you choose the best whiskey for you.

Perfect evening. Food, atmosphere, service very good

Ate here yesterday, our interest in haggis made us go here from Drenthe to taste it. I must say I was very positively surprised and will definitely eat this again. What a top service, big compliments to these people and highly recommended.

Where you take a wine package in a normal restaurant, they have a whiskey package to match the delicious food. Nice restaurant.

Authentic Scottish restaurant with wide selection of whisky

What a beautiful, atmospheric Scottish restaurant!! Full of attributes from the Scottish highlands and countless bottles of Whiskey, more than 1200 .....

What a fantastic restaurant. Such a shame that we only discovered this now. The food is fantastic and the service is top notch. It's very cozy inside. Despite the many guests, it is as if you are sitting in a living room. Really great. The whiskeys also tasted great.

It is such a great restaurant that a couple of years ago I decided that I should make the effort to visit it more often. I have happily managed to do so, and I am never disappointed . It's a family run restaurant with a great atmosphere and the food is always wonderful. They make pretty much everything themselves (except for the whisky and ice-cream). Whisky lovers will find this place to be heaven. There's 2500+ bottles to choose from, and if you are unsure what whisky to pair with your food, then Wullie can give you plenty of recommendations. One can easily recommend going there just for everything else if whisky is not your thing. I have tried everything on their food menu. It is very hard to choose a favourite. Beyond their regular menu, they also have a 3 or 4 surprise menu that can be accompanied by their recommended whisky pairings (wine also possible) for each dish. The surprise menu typically showcases seasonal dishes and other wonderful offerings. On the 1st Friday of some months (normally they have summer break for this), they organise a 6 course whisky meal. Sometimes, this will have guest speakers. It will always have a theme to it and is a spectacular event to attend. Weekends (Friday to Sunday evening) tend to be very popular and busy, so it is best that you book in advance to avoid being disappointed. Booking 2 to 3 weeks in advance should normally be enough notice.

Ate and drank for the 1st time. It was delicious and worth repeating!

We had such an amazing night! Good food, amazing whisky. Wullie has the best advice and so friendly! Will come here again for sure!

Was here a few weeks ago and really enjoyed the food and casual atmosphere. Operation matched this perfectly.

Ok, so this was sincerely Special! Easily worth way over five stars! Tonight we celebrated my belated birthday in the Hielander and oh boy, what a delightful feast it has been. I am more than impressed by the really amazing combinations of the excellent food and the accompanying brilliant whiskies. I'll be sure to come back soon and often.

Fabulous Scottish restaurant, tasty food, friendly and delicious whiskys. Highly recommend!

Great! Scottish food, 3000 types of whisky, good atmosphere, good quality

Eindelijk naar dit bijzondere restaurant geweest, mijn verjaardag was een goede reden :) Het heerlijk 4-gangen verrassingsmenu en bijpassen whiskey-arrangement was een culinaire smaakbelevenis ondersteund door bijpassende whiskey's. Het hostmanship van deze gastheer en -vrouwen worden vakkundig uitgevoerd en de lekkere maaltijden onder genot van een meer dan uitstekende ambiance maakte het een topavond. Aanrader en wij komen als gezin zeker terug!

We had a wonderful meal and drinks here on Thursday evening. Great atmosphere. Drinking delicious whisky. It was very nice and cozy. We had a great evening, thank you.

-Tasted a delicious old whisky, a Macduff from 1978!! - Had another wonderful evening, tasting beautiful whiskeys again. And then that food so good and so tasty #10

Hadden nog nooit Schots gegeten...dus wilden dit zeker proberen! Gaan vragen of er nog plaats was en we hadden geluk was nog tafeltje voor 2 beschikbaar..Joepie! We zijn supervriendelijk verwelkomt door de eigenaars, een heel warm welkom! De zaak staat vol Schotse whiskey die je ook kan proeven. 3000 stuks, dus voor elk wat wils! Het eten was superlekker bereid, culinair genieten, genoten van de eerste tot laatste hap. Als je in de buurt bent zeker langsgaan, best reserveren! Topadres!!!!

Delicious food, definitely recommended

The surprise menu is highly recommended! Everything was super tasty. The employees were well attuned to each other, so you didn't lack for anything and everything was perfectly timed. The atmosphere was good and the decoration of the restaurant contributed to this. We will definitely come back here again!

Such a welcoming and cozy atmosphere, the food is excellent and the whole experience is worth every penny. We attended a whiskey themed evening (almost every month) and a Burns supper (once a year) and I recommend both. Make sure to make a reservation with plenty of time in advance as it is quite busy.

A wonderful experience. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys good food and of course for whiskey enthusiasts. Here we serve with feeling.

Great food with an awesome whisk(e)y pairing recommended by the host. Nice and friendly serving by the family that runs the restaurant.

We made a reservation months ago and had been looking forward to the evening for a long time. We were not disappointed. We were warmly welcomed and accompanied throughout the evening by Wullie and his wife. The food and the accompanying whiskey were simply a dream. We'd love to come back and do it all again.

Het heeft onze verwachtingen ruim overtroffen en dat qua smaak en ook qua traditionele bediening. Gewoon leuk om eens mee te maken en een zeer enthousiaste eigenaar die precies weet waar hij het over heeft. Gewoon top.

Top spot Passion for food and drinks

In a city short on different dining ideas this wins out. The food is well done, the interior quirky and interesting. Not the sort of place to try and book last minute, they recommend at least 4 weeks in advance. An impossible number of whiskey choices to comprehend. The host complete with his kilt works the tables well. One small issue, he is clearly an expert, but perhaps telling a customer their selection makes no sense at all to him might be handled a little more gently? Difficult however not to recommend this place and while it was great in July eating there on a cold wet winter night might be close to perfection.

Best place in Holland to eat and drink all the best Scotland has to offer!

An experience in itself. We were there on an evening when there was a whiskey package. Enjoyed the food, the whiskey and the atmosphere

We had the 3 course surprise menu and it was simply sensational! There is also a great atmosphere and a very special boss who is passionate about what he does. At the end there was a whiskey that was recommended, which I, as a non-whiskey drinker, also enjoyed very much!

Unique restaurant in the Netherlands. More than 2500 types of Whiskey WITH the knowledge of the owner in a Scottish kilt who can explain everything about the different Whiskeys. Food is delicious, both fish and meat. We took the four-course surprise menu with of course matching Whiskey per dish🤩 you get four “nosing glasses” for every Whiskey 1

Top location in Alkmaar. Also for a whiskey dinner with specialties. Thank you Wullie and team. We'd love to come back!

Great place overwhelmed with Scottish vibes. Really nice food and a very very large selection of whiskey's. The jokes and the stories of the owner are the bonus that you get for free. A must visit.

Nice cozy place friendly staff/owner, if you like whiskey a must visit place

Good food and especially good whisky! Nice staff and nice pairing of food + whiskey

Great food, gigantic portions. Wullie is an amazing host with endless whiskey knowledge, let him pamper you with his best choices, you won’t regret it.

Trip to Scotland guaranteed! The decoration of the restaurant is magnificent, typical Scottish, with lots of bottles of whiskey of course! The boss is adorable, funny and caring in his beautiful kilt!! And finally the food is delicious, even better than in Scotland! Absolutely perfect

I had a delicious meal with my wife and I can highly recommend the whiskey menu. What truly wonderful combinations of flavors

A super nice and cozy restaurant. The owner is super nice and has a great wide range of wishky, which sometimes makes it a bit more difficult to choose a whiskey (choice stress). But fortunately he knows a lot about it and can help you with it. In addition, the food is also incredibly tasty and you have a wide choice of dishes. The plates are also well filled, so you are nice and full after a whole dish

Had dinner with a large group of 16 yesterday, including whiskey package. Delicious food, good explanation and matching whiskeys. Super hospitable host and hostesses. Well worth it, well cared for.

What a wonderful place. Opted for the 4-course surprise menu including Whiskey package. I'm still enjoying it here at the station. Both from the delicious food, the hospitable service and fantastic whiskeys. Thank you!

Delicious food, delicious drinks and above all, time is not important. The host and lady will welcome you kindly and warmly. Enough whiskeys and excellent knowledge of the host about the whisky. Wullie is highly recommended so... Make sure you reserve well in advance!!!

Super cozy cozy restaurant located in the heart of Alkmaar. The menu is not very large, but what delicious dishes they have! We had a really good meal and included a whiskey package. You received a matching whiskey for each dish to taste. The owner tells you everything about the whiskey. They take the time for a joke and a chat. It's a bit on the pricey side and you need to reserve early, but trust me, it's worth every penny! We will definitely go here more often!

Super tasty surprise menu. Together with the world famous whiskey package. Really so tasty and cozy. We should go more often.

Ate for the 2nd time. It was delicious again!

Great vibes, great choice, original dishes prepared with loving care and what a selections of drinks and drams. Wullie, keeper of the Quaich, tops it all off sharing his passion and knowledge. Go spoil yourselves.

The one and only Scottish restaurant. Super good whiskeys!

Good ambiance in the restaurant. Good explanation from the host about the food at dinner. Wide choice of whisky. Wheelchair friendly. Tables suitable for wheelchair use

A warm, even 'warm' welcome at the entrance. Delicious food, wine and of course the whiskey is excellent! Nice atmosphere, almost homely. Highly recommended.

Awesome. Delicious food, with a suitable whiskey for each dish and a good story about the combination.

Delicious 4-course meal with whiskey package. He talks about the whiskey with passion and gives good recommendations if you want to be surprised! Thank you!

Very nice, very tasty meal with a group of friends. We had a 3-course menu with whiskey package. The whiskey fanatic in our group was also satisfied. Owners are friendly, excellent service. Recommended!

What a great place! The host is charming and friendly, offering funny anecdotes and helpful explanations of the food and whisky being offered. The food was out of this world, and the whisky? All I can say is, I will never taste better. Highly recommended.

That was fun! Good food quality, which, to some extent, was new to me, such as a clear chicken soup/broth with prunes. Also, some delicious house beer, which according to the owner is being brewed specifically for this restaurant. The interior is very much inviting and lets one sit there for hours and forget everything else. I would definitely come back!

Great ambience. Super friendly staff with a huge selection of whiskey. The food was on point. Sensational

One of those places that has been below our radar but really deserves the visit. Had a family dinner, the surprise dinner was really great, so was the ambience. And if you like whisky, from Schotland, there is no alternative.

Cozy 'small' restaurant in Alkmaar, with a huge number of bottles of whiskey to choose from. There are packages for food in combination with whiskey, but also individual packages are available. You can also order by the glass. The owner can tell you something about each bottle and recommend something to pair with your food. Food is excellently prepared, portions are perfectly good. The Wagyu steak I ate was of good quality and super cooked. Truly a restaurant for lovers of whiskey and good food.

If you are in the Netherlands, dont miss this gem of a place! Three thousand different whiskeys to try, and awesome food with even greater service. This is what Hospitality stands for.

Immediately felt at home, super delicious and a full stomach, it was super good service, worth repeating and for me a permanent address.

I had the venison and it was kinda tough. Not sure if it was really venison. Portions are tiny for the high price they charge. The chocolate cake was dry and weird tasting. Atmosphere is kinda nice, but don't come here for the best food experience you can get.

Very cozy Scottish restaurant with very friendly and passionate owners. We will definitely come back.

Great experience, delicious Scottish food with friendly service. It is recommended to take a whiskey package with your meal.

Nice atmosphere, nice people and good food. The whiskey package was well taken care of and provided with explanations. An experience.

Great restaurant, super nice owners, delicious, good food. We look forward to next time. Be sure to reserve in advance!

Highly recommended !! Had a great evening.

Wonderfully authentic and warm. Scottish food, something different, but definitely worth repeating.

Very cozy restaurant with good food and lots of whiskeys.

What a wonderful evening I had here. Felt warm and atmospheric. Have never felt so welcome in a restaurant and the food was delicious.

Wonderfully cozy. ate. Good service! Recommended!

Great atmosphere, nice hospitality and delicious food. It's worth it even without whiskey tasting!

Warm atmosphere created by brilliant hosts! The food was delicious and well presented. The restaurant is so nicely decorated with Scottish theme, that you spend the evening discovering details.

Delicious food. You get an amuse-bouche and a bowl of green and black olives on the house. A carafe of water on the table as standard. Where else do you get that? The bread with the soup is according to grandmother's recipe. House smoked salmon and you can taste it! Never before have I experienced such a delicious smoky flavor in a restaurant anywhere. This is really of a different order. The amount of fresh vegetables in this dish was also as it should be, but something you rarely get anywhere. Very nice! Venison steak was cooked perfectly. All this in a cozy, friendly, family atmosphere. Cordial and warm.

The food was delicious and the vegetarian options were great too! Highly recommended to pair the courses with a single malt. The atmosphere was relaxed and the host and hostess ensured that nothing was missed!

Delicious haggis eaten accompanied by pleasant music. I'll definitely return!

A huge choice of whiskey but fortunately the host is an authority in this field so you can be advised and pampered by him.

Wonderful hospitable people With a passion for Scotland and Scottish cuisine Wully and Gerrie really give you an evening out feeling Delicious food and good advice for every guest, whether it concerns whiskey or combination of dishes What a great evening, highly recommended!! Book on time because it is not a restaurant where the table is double booked one evening and it is not very large

Fantastic food, hospitality and the tastiest whiskies. If you are in Alkmaar, reserve a table here and enjoy.

Nice homely atmosphere, delicious food and excellent whisky

Had a wonderful evening. The surprise menu with accompanying whisky. Great atmosphere. Beautiful products that were deliciously prepared.