Amsterdam yoga studio reopens as pop-up vegan ice cream store during lockdown

The Dutch are great lovers of ice cream. On any sunny day between April and September queues form outside the many ice cream stores across the country. This is true even during the lockdown amid the coronavirus crisis. As the weather improves, ice cream kiosks have started opening their doors since most of the ice cream sold is eaten outside on the street anyway.

The lockdown is easing in the Netherlands, with cafes and restaurants due to open on June 1^st. But indoor gyms and yoga studios remain closed until 1^st September prolonging financial hardship for many of these businesses.

One Amsterdam studio, however, has come up with a novel idea to use their space and this week opened a pop up vegan ice cream store.

Bluebirds Yoga in Jan Evertsenstraat normally offers a range of yoga, Pilates and meditation classes. Alongside their online classes,  the physical studio reopened selling plant-based ice cream to the public last week. The plan is for the ice cream store to stay open for the whole of the summer, even if the rules regarding gyms change before September.

All of Bluebirds’ ice creams and sorbets are 100% vegan and are locally made at a location powered by solar energy in Amsterdam West using organic, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients.

Flavours this week include lemon sorbet, chocolate, banana pecan and Stracciatella (‘milk’ with chocolate), but will be changing according to local availability and the growing season.

There are several other places in Amsterdam where you can buy plant-based sorbets or ice cream but this is the first dedicated vegan ice cream shop in Amsterdam West. Alternatives include chain Juice Brothers who sell New York vegan brand Van Leeuwen ice creams in several locations, and the popular IJscuypye where all sorbets are dairy-free.

If you want to grab a refreshing vegan ice cream from Bluebirds Yoga then you can find the studio at Jan Evertsenstraat 4-8.

Image credit: @bluebirdsamsterdam/Instagram