Amsterdam residents take viral Fabel Friet chip shop licence dispute to court

Nineteen residents of one of Amsterdam’s most exclusive neighbourhoods have taken the city to court over the licence for Fabel Friet on Runstraat. The chip shop became popular on TikTok, with queues regularly stretching across a bridge over the Keizersgracht canal.

The challengers say the small premises leave customers waiting and eating on the street. They also cite litter, obstructed movement and growing numbers of gulls and rats.

A court ruling is expected on 12 November. Amsterdam city council acknowledged that Mayor Femke Halsema can refuse a licence if a business harms the residential environment.

Queues and contested public space

Lead plaintiff Niek van der Heijden said the shop’s size was central to the dispute. Neighbours’ lawyer Lisa-Bobbie Kamp said the case concerned who can use public space and under what conditions.

Nearby resident Thomas van Leeuwen described the situation as “a kind of war” and said street eating was dirtying residents’ homes. The court also heard that Fabel Friet complies with licence requirements on queue management and litter collection.

Owners cite frequent cleaning

Owners Abel Klatser and Floris Feilzer said they hired cleaners four times a day, seven days a week. They said visitor numbers fell 23% year on year in August after they opened four additional locations.

Their lawyer, Gertjan Teeuwen, acknowledged that the shop can become busy but said demand has peaks and troughs. The owners also said they felt unfairly criticised.

Amsterdam’s wider tourism debate

University of Amsterdam researcher Marije Peute linked the dispute to “viral urbanism” and said older retailers in the area were losing local customers.

Christian Democratic Appeal councillor Rogier Havelaar said Fabel Friet should perhaps be offered a larger flagship location, while stressing tourism’s economic role. He said the sector provides 70,000 jobs in Amsterdam.