The Dutch Pancakehouse Aruba: Sweet and Savory in Renaissance Marketplace

Ask around Oranjestad for the island's most famous pancakes and you will keep hearing one name. The Dutch Pancakehouse has been serving in the Renaissance Marketplace since 2003, and it has become the spot visitors and locals point to when someone says they want a proper Dutch pancake on Aruba.

The idea is simple. Big, thin Dutch-style pancakes, sweet or savory, served all day in a casual open-air corner of the marketplace on the water. There are poffertjes, there is schnitzel, there are eggs and sides, but the pancakes are the reason to come. It is a friendly, unfussy place, not a fine-dining night out, and that is exactly the point.

What makes a Dutch pancake different

If your idea of a pancake is the small, thick, fluffy American stack, a Dutch pancake is a different thing entirely. It is large and thin, closer to a crepe in shape but sturdier, and it is treated as a full meal rather than a side. That is why the menu splits into sweet and savory, with toppings cooked right into or piled onto the pancake instead of served on the plate next to it. One Dutch pancake is usually a meal on its own, which is worth knowing before you order three for the table.

Poffertjes are the other Dutch classic you will see here. They are small, puffy, coin-sized pancakes, traditionally dusted with powdered sugar and served with a knob of butter. In the Netherlands they are a fairground and market treat, and they travel well to a casual marketplace setting like this one. They are ideal for children and for anyone who wants a little something sweet without committing to a full pancake.

The essentials

• Location: Renaissance Marketplace, Lloyd G. Smith Boulevard, Oranjestad, on the waterfront.
• Hours: open from morning through the evening, so it works for breakfast, lunch, and a late pancake dinner. Check their website for current hours.
• Reservations: not needed, it is walk-in and casual.
• Dress code: casual, come as you are.
• Best for: families, breakfast lovers, anyone with a sweet tooth, and first-timers who want to try Dutch pancakes.
• Parking: plenty nearby, but it is paid. See the insider tips below before you pull in.

What it actually feels like

Seating is outdoors but covered, so you are shaded from the sun while you eat. Do not expect air conditioning, this is open-air marketplace dining with the Caribbean warmth around you. The Renaissance Marketplace sits on the water in downtown Oranjestad, surrounded by shops and walkways, so you get the buzz of the capital rather than the quiet of a resort dining room. It is casual and lively rather than formal, which suits a plate of pancakes perfectly, and it makes the place easy to fold into a morning of walking around town.

What to order at The Dutch Pancakehouse

The sweet pancakes

Our pick is the Strawberry Fields, a sweet pancake topped with strawberries, ice cream, and powdered sugar. It is the one to share when you want the full sweet experience.

The savory pancakes

On the savory side, the bacon and cheese pancake is a reliable local favorite. It is simple, hot, and satisfying, and it balances out a table that also went for something sweet.

Poffertjes

Do not skip the poffertjes, the little puffed mini pancakes that are a classic Dutch treat. They are perfect for kids and for anyone who wants a lighter sweet bite alongside the coffee.

Beyond the pancakes

There is more here than pancakes. You can get eggs with sides of sausage, toast, and hash browns in the morning, and the kitchen is also known for its schnitzels, its pork tenderloin, and a chicken curry. If someone in your group is not in the mood for pancakes, they will still eat well.

Who The Dutch Pancakehouse is perfect for

This is a natural choice for families, for a laid-back breakfast or lunch, and for travelers who want to try a Dutch classic without a big production. It is also a good pick for a mixed group, since the sweet-savory-schnitzel range means everyone finds something.

Who it might not be for

If you are after a quiet, air-conditioned, white-tablecloth dinner, this is not that. It is open-air and casual by design. And if you arrive at peak breakfast or lunch time with a big group and no patience for a wait, you may be standing in line. The fix is easy, and it is in the tips below.

Insider tips from the locals

The single best tip is about timing. Go bright and early for breakfast and it will be busy. Show up at noon for lunch and it will be busy too. Because it is so well known, there is often a line out the door, especially on weekends. If you can, come at an odd hour outside the usual eating windows, around 2 p.m. is ideal, and you will walk right in.

On parking, there is a lot of it around the Renaissance Marketplace, but it is paid. Park outside the marketplace and you pay during the day, roughly 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can also drive inside toward the marketplace behind the barrier, where there is a fixed price. Look at the sign before you drive in, and make sure you do not overstay the free window so you are not caught out by the fee.

Should it be one of your mornings on Aruba?

If you want one easy, genuinely local breakfast or lunch in Oranjestad, this is a safe and happy choice. Time it right, order one sweet and one savory pancake for the table, and you will understand why locals keep sending people here. It is not fancy, and it does not try to be. It just does pancakes very well, in a spot that has earned its reputation over more than twenty years.

Frequently asked questions