Indian restaurant in the Jordaan must fix odor nuisance before resuming cooking

An Indian restaurant located on the Elandsgracht in the Jordaan neighborhood has been ordered by a court to cease all cooking activities until it resolves significant odor complaints from local residents. The issue stems from an exhaust pipe on the roof of the kitchen that discharges cooking smells directly beneath a neighbor's balcony. Municipal inspectors confirmed that the establishment exceeded the annual limit of 176 hours of permitted odor nuisance by generating over 2,000 hours of smell, affecting the neighbor's living spaces and clothing.

While the current owners, who recently took over the business, argued that they need to remain operational until their planned relocation on January 1, the court ruled that the health and comfort of the residents take precedence. The restaurant is now required to install a significantly taller exhaust pipe to mitigate the impact before it can resume food preparation. A permit application for a two-meter-high vent has already been submitted to the authorities.