Amsterdam residents sue city over viral Fabel Friet chip shop crowds

The queue on Runstraat

Fabel Friet, a small chip shop situated on Runstraat near the Keizersgracht canal in Amsterdam, has become a focal point of neighborhood friction after drawing sustained crowds through social media. Since 2022, tourists have gathered in large numbers to purchase the establishment's signature servings of fries topped with parmesan cheese and truffle mayonnaise, alongside other sauces. On peak days, customer queues extend along the narrow street and stretch over a bridge spanning the canal. Because the shop lacks indoor dining, customers queue on the pavement, wait for their food outside, and eat in the immediate public spaces. The business has expanded by opening four additional branches across Amsterdam to manage customer demand.

Resident objections and property impact

Nineteen local residents have formally challenged the operating licence granted to Fabel Friet in court, requesting that authorities intervene or require the business to relocate to premises with indoor seating. Residents report that pedestrian paths, entry steps, and doorways are regularly obstructed by visitors. Discarded food wrappers and sauce remnants have attracted herring gulls and caused rat infestations along the canal street. Research conducted by TU Delft indicates that residential properties in close proximity to the takeaway are priced up to 11.4% lower than comparable homes in the area. Lead plaintiff Niek van der Heijden stated that the takeaway model forces commercial activity into public space.

What we call the 'TikTok queue' for Fabel Friet causes the most nuisance. The business takes place on the street: waiting to order, waiting to be served, eating. We want Fabel to go to a place where there is enough room to have clients inside.

Local resident Thomas van Leeuwen expressed similar frustration regarding the condition of the street.

We are in a kind of war where a very unwelcome chip shop has polluted the whole area. Eating in the street is a shameful behaviour. It gets filthy food on our doorsteps and mayonnaise in the beautiful stone. The herring gulls have moved in as residents, and the worst thing is the rat infestation.

Business mitigation and municipal response

Owners Abel Klatser and Floris Feilzer contend that they have taken active steps to mitigate the impact of the queues on the neighborhood. The owners employ a commercial cleaning crew that sweeps and washes the surrounding area four times a day, seven days a week. Following the launch of four new city locations, the owners reported a 23% year-on-year drop in visitors at the Runstraat shop during August 2026. Representing the owners, lawyer Gertjan Teeuwen stated that while disruptions occur during peak times, customer traffic varies.

A few neighbours have experienced nuisance, but other people enjoy eating chips. It can be busy, but there are peaks and troughs.

Court proceedings and upcoming ruling

During the hearing at the Amsterdam court, a representative for the municipal council acknowledged that Mayor Femke Halsema retains legal authority to refuse or revoke an operating licence if a business negatively impacts the local living environment. The city's legal counsel noted that while Fabel Friet complies with all current permit conditions regarding queue management and street cleaning, the ongoing disruption presents an ongoing challenge for the district. The municipal administration will follow the court's direction. A formal judicial ruling on the validity of the business licence is scheduled for 10 November 2026.