A charming, affordable cafe-restaurant opposite the Peace Palace, especially good for toasties, South African specialties, coffee, and a sunny terrace, with occasional service and traffic-related drawbacks.
De Oude Tol delivers solid food quality anchored by standout toasties, boerewors, and homemade sauces, paired with notably friendly service that keeps regulars returning. The landmark terrace setting near the Peace Palace adds genuine appeal, though modest space comfort and occasional service inconsistencies prevent a stronger showing.
De Oude Tol is a small, warmly run cafe-restaurant opposite the Peace Palace, where the terrace, nearby greenery, and welcoming owners do much of the seduction. The road is busy, but the flowers, weather-cover, and landmark view soften the traffic; the prevailing feeling is less polished destination dining than a neighborhood refuge where, as one synthesized diner put it, "you arrive for coffee and quickly feel like a regular." The food is casual, homemade-leaning, and pleasantly distinctive: South African toasties, biltong, boerewors, rooibos drinks, Dutch snacks, burgers, salads, and cakes share the menu. The chicken-mayo toastie with chili sauce is the consensus favorite, while the South African specialties give the cafe more character than a standard lunch counter. Expect good value rather than elaborate cooking, and note that melktert and some specials may disappear before you arrive. Families are well served by the menu's familiar choices: cheese and ham toasties, chicken-mayo toasties, burgers with fries, croissants, banana bread, apple pie, and poffertjes. Reviews include happy visits with young children, so this is an easy family stop, though the compact space and street-side terrace may be less relaxed with a large group or during a busy lunch.
Area vibe: Coastal city centre with government buildings, embassies, and seaside leisure areas.
Safety: Generally safe with good lighting and regular foot and bike traffic, but standard urban caution after late hours.
What's nearby: Close to Scheveningen seaside, government offices, tram/bus links, and local shopping on Weimarstraat.
The chicken-mayo toastie with chili sauce is the safest bet, but the biltong and boerewors options offer the most distinctive order.
Expect a welcoming but compact stop where the terrace, traffic, busy-period delays, and occasional sell-outs are worth planning around.
Its welcoming terrace and Peace Palace view create a neighborhood-refuge feel, tempered by a busy road and compact space.