Netherlands
As many of you know, the Netherlands has 2 of the most recognized beer names - Heineken and Amstel. But did you know there are over 420 recognized breweries in the small country? This is a whopping increase from 140 breweries since 2011. In the first few months of 2016, 38 new breweries have started. Dutch Trappist breweries hold their own against the more familiar Belgian Trappists. Beer was originally the drink of choice because of the poor quality of drinking water. Today, it's the drink of choice because it's damn good!
amsterdam
There is no shortage of places to drink beer in the city that never sleeps and with a good mix of craft breweries and bars with ample Dutch and Belgian beer, there's something for everyone. There is an ample number of trolley's, buses and GVB metros to help you easily navigate Amsterdam. I find that purchasing the GVB day (or multi-day) pass lets me conveniently get around Amsterdam. This pass doesn't include transport back and forth to the airport, so if you are staying near the airport, then get the Amsterdam Travel Ticket, which includes the GVB transport options and costs slightly less than double the GVB pass.
Brouwerij de Prael
Great place for good beer and good conversation. Lots of seating room to dine or drink in their multi-level brewery near the red-light district. The brewery used to name their beers after famous Dutch singers, but has been phasing that convention out. About 10 taps that hold a variety of beer - IPA, German style, English and Belgian. Brewery tours are available, so stop in for a beer before and after the tour. You can't go wrong. Locaton: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 26 and 30 Nearest Metro: Centraal Station and Nieuwmarkt Station, Lines 51, 53 and 54 Updated Oct '15
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Brouwerij de Prael
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Brouwerij 't IJ
Located next to the De Gooyer windmill and adjacent to canals making an opportunity for a very scenic brewery picture. Good sized microbrewery that has been around more than 30 years. Good selection of beer, 8 regular and 3 seasonal, and all I tried were good. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available with personable staff. typical Dutch beer pairings of cheese and sausage available. Unique logo of an Ostrich and egg with a windmill in the background. Locaton: Funenkade 7, 1018 AL Nearest Metro: Hoogte Kadijk or Pontanusstraat Stops, (Tram Lines) Updated Oct '15
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Brouwerij 't IJ
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De Bekeerde Suster The location of this brewery is what was once part of a 16th century abbey, founded for repenting prostitutes. The name translates to The Reformed Sister. The full name of the brewery is Amsterdamsche Stoombierbrouwerij de Bekeerde Suster. Only 3 of their own beers are served (it's the only ones they make, but they have an awesome selection of Dutch and Belgian beers. Well, at least for those of us that don't have unlimited access to those beer styles. Beer is brewed on site in a few copper kettles. Full restaurant with light to medium dishes serves. Worth a visit, if nothing else, for the nostalgic story. Locaton: Kloveniersburgwal 6-8 Nearest Metro: Nieuwmarkt Station, Lines 51, 53 and 54 Updated Oct '15
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Kwak at De Bekeerde Suster
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Proeflokaal Arendsnest
Translating to Eagle's Nest Tasting Room, this is a dynamite beer cafe with an awesome 50 Dutch beers on tap and perhaps another 70 in bottles. This place is a real gem for beer lovers. Light food consisting of cheese and sausage is available. I've recommended this place to friends and they have walked away with equally impressive praises, so I don't think there is much more to say, except it's a MUST visit when you are in Amsterdam. Locaton: Herengracht 90 Nearest Metro: Centraal Station, Lines 51, 53 and 54, Many Trams Updated Sep '16 |
Arendsnest
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Brouwerij Troost
There are 2 Troost locations. If your asking locals for help finding good local beer bars, they might steer you away from Troost because it's perhaps a little more commercialized. But I went to both locations and found the beer choices to be good and the quality and flavor to be also very good and better than average. Each place had a different feel to it and I really enjoyed the Westergas location because the outdoor patio lies along a very nice pedestrian path lined with small shops. This is all adjacent to a large park. There was also live local music being played at the end of the pedestrian path. This seemed to be a much more local hangout than the other craft beer bars noted on our site, perhaps because this location is one of the few not directly on the metro or tram route. Even so, I decided to take the long route (versus a tram and bus) to get here and enjoyed a very nice walk from the nearest tram station. The De Pijp location is located directly on the tram route and also has outdoors seating, although not as large. Both places are large on the inside and the breweries are visible through glass windows. About 10 beers on tap and a handful of their bottles that were not on tap. The distance between the 2 locations is less than 5km. Locaton: De Pijp - Cornelis Troostplein 21, 1072 JJ Nearest Metro: Van Hallstraat or Van Limburg Stirumstraat, Tram Line 10 Locaton: Westergas - Pazzanistraat 27, 1014 DB Nearest Metro: Cornelis Troostpeln, Tram Line 12 Updated Sep '16
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Brouwerij Troost Westergas
Brouwerij Troost De Pijp
Westergas Bar
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Beer Temple
If you have a craving for American beer when you are in Amsterdam, then head to the Beer Temple where you can find a nice selection of American and European beer. They have 35 taps of beer flowing and supplement that with around 200 bottles, including some hard to find Westvleteren Trappist beer. Owned by the same person as Arendsnest. Beer Temple is part of the Morebeer tour whereby visiting 4 specific breweries (others are Arendsnest, 'Case Beer Loves Food and Craft & Draft) you will receive a free Amsterdam T-shirt.. All of the Morebeer Tour bars are on tram line 1. Locaton: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 250 Nearest Metro: Dam/Paleisstraat, Tram Lines 1. 2 and 5 Updated Sep '16 |
Beer Temple
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Delirium Cafe
Delirium Cafe is situated directly on the waterway into Amsterdam which provides a great beer outing when you sit on their huge outdoor patio. They claim to have the largest international beer selection in Amsterdam and it's hard to argue with their 720+ choices of beer. With only a modest number of beers on draft, you will need to scan through a large book to choose the bottle(s) of choice. They have a light food menu consisting of Western/Dutch-style cuisine. Locaton: Piet Heinkade 4-6-8 Nearest Metro: Centraal, Lines 51, 53 and 54 or Muziekgebouw Bimhuis Tram 26 Updated Sep '16 |
Delirium Cafe Amsterdam
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Jopen Brewery
Thanks to weather and flight issues at the Amsterdam airport, I was stuck there for an unplanned night. I looked for and found a brewery close to the airport - Jopenkerk Hoofddorp. This was a very interesting place. A shockingly large selection of their beers are available; 7 on tap and another 30 in bottles. Nine of the bottles had 10% or higher ABV. You also see from the photos this place is lit up in red. NOTE: this location closed in Dec. 2018. However, Jopen also has two other breweries in the Amsterdam area;
Beers Enjoyed:
Updated: Jan '19 |
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