Amsterdam’s Best Breweries & Distilleries

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Breweries & Distilleries

Amsterdam is a hotspot for microbreweries and craft beers, traditionally brewing a slightly sweeter and stronger beer than our British friends. When ordering beer, the Dutch ask for a ‘biertje’, which literally translates as ‘little beer’. The typical serving size for beers in the Netherlands is smaller than the pint we are used to. If you enter a pub and see everyone drinking from pint glasses – you’ve most likely walked into a tourist trap and will probably be overcharged for a pint of watery beer.

How to order a beer: “Mag ik een biertje?” (May I have a beer?) 

You’ll also find plenty of distilleries around Amsterdam, particularly ones making the traditional Dutch liqueur Jenever – a juniper flavored liqueur. It has a neutral taste, like vodka, with a slight aroma of juniper and malt wine. Learn all about jenver at special Tasting Rooms (‘Proeflokalen’) dotted around Amsterdam, which all house a large range of beers and spirits.

See my top recommendations for breweries and distilleries below. 

1. Brouwerij 't IJ

Brouwerij ‘t IJ is a brewery located in Amsterdam East, nestled next to a big windmill. The building used to serve as a bathhouse, and you can still see the original tiles and soap holders behind one of the fermentation tanks, and male and female changing signs above the entrance of the tasting room. There’s a nice atmosphere and a good mix of tourists and locals, plus a large terrace outside. 

The beers are really good, I’d recommend a flight of beers alongside some borrelhapjes (“drink snacks”). Plus, if you time it right, they run 30 minute guided tours in English at 3:30pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for €6.50. 

Since Brouwerij ‘t IJ is located a 35 walk from Dam Square, it’s probably best to take the tram or to cycle. 

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2. 't Nieuwe Diep Distillery

Located in a renovated pumping station right next to the water in Flevopark,  this small distillery ensures that the ancient art of distilling is continued. Here they distill hundreds of their own own jenevers, bitters, eau de vie, liqueurs and fruit jenevers according to long forgotten recipes that were unearthed from old books and documents.

The large outdoor terrace overlooking the water   makes this a truly unique setting, one that has attracted the locals for decades. Experience Amsterdam like a true Dutchman whilst sipping on some of the various jenevers on offer 

A tour of the facilities is available every Friday at 16:00. Best visited by bike. 

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3. Wynand Fockink

Dated back to 1679, Wynand Fockink’s tasting room is the oldest distillery and tasting room in Amsterdam. Inside this picturesque tasting room you will find a large selection of Old Dutch liqueurs and jenevers.

This traditional tasting room is located in the center of Amsterdam and, with 340 years of experience in  liqueurs and jenevers, is considered one of the best places in Amsterdam to sample a glass of jenever. 

A 1 hour tasting session (2 liqueurs, 2 genevers, 1 brandy and 1 bitter) including a tour in the distillery costs € 17,50 per person and is held weekly on Saturday and Sunday. 

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4. Proeflokaal A van Wees

Another great tasting room is Proeflokaal A. Van Wees, located along the canal in the center of Amsterdam. Although their jenever is distilled a stones throw away in the Jordaan, the original pump is now found in a prominent place at their bar. 

Their selection of local jenevers consists of more than 17 authentically distilled brands and more than 60 different old-Dutch liqueurs, each with its own unique taste and identity. During tastings you’ll find out about the history of their Amsterdam distillates, the distilling process, and of course get the chance to taste a selection. 

Contact them for tour options. 

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5. Brouwerij Troost Westergas

This was one of my favorite spots when I was living in Amsterdam, and we would often head here for burgers and beer. Troost is a microbrewery located in Westerpark, about a 30 minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal. They brew a variety of rotating ales, lagers and stouts from their onsite brewery, and do brewery tours on Saturday afternoons.

My favorite beer of theirs is the Honigblond, an award-winning light, cloudy, and slightly sweet beer. 

Troost is located in old red-brick factory buildings, and inside you’ll find a large open space with rows of benches, and the microbrewery nestled behind. There’s also a big outdoor terrace, a great spot for summer. 

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6. Brouwerij De Prael

Without venturing far from Amsterdam Central you can visit this small microbrewery just off from the Red Light District. Here they brew about thirteen different beers and runs daily tours where you can learn about the brewing process, followed by a beer in its tasting room which has a view of the fermentation tanks and processes.

The strongest beer on the menu is the ‘Quadrupel’, with an abv of 11,5%. This beer follows traditional Belgian brewing methods and has an impressive, sweet caramel aroma. 

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7. House of Bols

The House of Bols Cocktail and Genever Experience is a self-guided, interactive tour where you can learn about the history of the House of Bols – one the world’s oldest spirits makers founded in 1575. Located in Museumplein near the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum, the House of Bols is definitely worth a visit. 

Expect a slightly more commercialised and less personal tour that my other recommendations, but still one that is really interesting and pretty fun! 

On the tour you venture through various rooms, discovering the importance of  smell, taste and colour in the drinking process, and practicing your bartending skills. At the end you can taste a cocktail prepared by graduates of the upstairs trendy Mirror Bar. Additional cocktails cost only €5 each so you can make the most of the bar and stay into the evening!

Tickets cost €16 and includes one cocktail. 

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8. Heineken Experience

Probably the most well known brewery experience in Amsterdam, the Heineken Experience is usually top of the itinerary for visitors. This semi-guided tour takes you on an interactive journey through Heineken’s history, sponsorships, the brewing process, a tasting, and ends at the Heineken Bar. 

My highlights included seeing the old brewing tanks; seeing the stables where the Heineken Shire horses are kept; and the Brew You 4D experience where you see, feel and smell what it’s like to be brewed from start to finish.

However, there is no beer actually produced on the premises and it definitely lacks a personal touch. It gets super busy at weekends and you’ll be exploring the museum with hundreds of others. Although this museum definitely brings the brand to life, if you’d like to learn about brewing Dutch beers then my recommendation would be to explore some of the smaller and functioning breweries in town. 

Tickets cost €20 and includes two glasses of beer in the Heineken Bar. 

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