With economic concerns deepening in the eurozone, daily life and even the eating habits of the Dutch are being affected.
Instead of dining out at fancy restaurants, many people are opting for alternatives to maintain their social life. Five months ago, Jan and Michiel opened "Basis Bar," a hip location in central Amsterdam where people can bring their own meals.
The original idea was to create a place where people could get together and feel at home. But it quickly turned out to be a timely concept, as people feel the effects of having less money.
Jan Schaberg, co-owner of Basis Bar, said, "The idea that we had came from the social aspect. We said we want to create a place where people feel at home. Later we saw that it had more of a financial aspect as well. It’s very obvious; of course, I mean if you go to a restaurant here in Amsterdam you spend minimum 20 euros."