The Best Places for Craft Beer in the Netherlands

The Dutch have been brewing beer for centuries with hop gardens and breweries first appearing during the Middle Ages. While the Netherlands is known for its world-famous pale lagers like Heineken, Grolsch, and Amstel, in recent years more and more smaller breweries are producing their own craft beers and the scene continues to grow.

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Brouwerij ‘t IJ

6 beer bottles in a row on an outdoor ledge. Three bottles has the caps on — Courtesy of Brouwerij 'T IJ

Address

Funenkade 7, 1018 AL Amsterdam, Netherlands

Get directions

Phone +31 20 261 9800

Web Visit website

Brouwerij 't IJ is small, modern, and very popular brewery located next to the only windmill in Amsterdam’s city center. Opened in 1985, it serves a wide selection of house beers with even more seasonal and small-batch brews. You can tour the brewery, visit the tap room, and on a sunny day you can enjoy a pint al fresco.

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Jopen

Address

Gedempte Voldersgracht 2, 2011 WD Haarlem, Netherlands

Get directions

Phone +31 23 533 4114

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Haarlem been an important brewing city in the Netherlands since the 14th century. Jopenkerk is a former church that has been transformed into a brewery, restaurant, and cafe. Try the High Beer, which is a selection of three beers and matching bar snacks. The brewery is small so they don’t run tours but you can watch the brewers at work Monday to Friday from either the cafe or restaurant.

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Brouwerij de Molen

Address

Doortocht 4, 2411 DS Bodegraven, Netherlands

Get directions

Phone +31 172 610 826

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Brouwerij de Molen's beers were originally brewed in the De Arkduif windmill on the banks of the Oude Rijn river, hence the name. Nowadays, the main brewery is up the road but small batch craft beers are still brewed at the mill. There are guided tours of the brewery and a beer-inspired restaurant with over 20 beers on tap, which can all be ordered in tasting sizes. Each year, Brouwerij de Molen puts on a festival where guests can sample beers made by breweries from around the country.

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Oedipus Brewing

Three beer bottles and a glass of beer on a black table at an event — Courtesy of Oedipus Brewing

Address

Gedempt Hamerkanaal 85, 1021 KP Amsterdam, Netherlands

Get directions

Phone +31 20 244 1673

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The four founders of Oedipus Brewing, Alex, Paul, Sander and Rick, began selling their beer at art and music festivals in 2010. Oedipus now has a brewery and taproom in Amsterdam-Noord, where you can have beer tastings, beer dinners (where they partner up with a restaurant to create an exclusive menu), or enjoy live music. If you want to try extra-fresh beer visit on a Friday, from 4 to 8 p.m., where you can sample a beer straight off the bottling line. Try Mama, an easy drinking pale ale; or the sour, mango-infused Polyamorie, for something a little different.

Continue to 5 of 8 below.

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Texel Brewery

Texels beer glass with a large, foamy head infront of a row of taps — Courtesy of Texels

Address

Schilderweg 214 b, 1792 CK Oudeschild, Netherlands

Get directions

Phone +31 222 320 325

Web Visit website

Texel Brewery, in an old dairy on the island of Texel, has been producing beers since 1999. There are 12 different beers to try, each brewed with fresh water, filtered through dunes. You can reserve a brewery tour online, where you'll learn about how the beer is made and will be able to taste four different brews. Try the multi-award winning Bock: an autumnal beer with a caramel-like flavor.

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Stadsbrouwhuis

Address

Aalmarkt 1, 2311 EC Leiden, Netherlands

Get directions

Phone +31 71 532 7646

Web Visit website

In Leiden, you’ll find Stadsbrouwhuis, a microbrewery and tap room serving 30 rotating beers, including those made on site. In summer, you can sit outside and enjoy the views of the Leiden canal. The staff are knowledgeable, so they can recommend the right beer for you, or you can try a beer flight, accompanied by a selection of bar snacks. Try the SBH Blond #1, an easy drinking pale beer available year-round.

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Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven

Two full goblets of beer and a bottle of La Trappe Trappis beer on a table with the abbey in the background — Courtesy of La Trappe Trappist

Address

Eindhovenseweg 3, 5056 RP Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands

Get directions

Phone +31 13 535 8147

Web Visit website

At the Abbey Koningshoeven, on the outskirts of Tilburg, La Trappe beer is brewed within the abbey walls and under the supervision of a monk. Silence and tranquility is a core value for the monks, so the beer is brewed in peaceful surroundings. You can visit the brewery to learn about the sustainable processes and social initiatives, sample the beers in the tap room (from the pale PUUR to the very strong Quadruple Oak Aged beer). Then you can head to the shop and discover what other items, from chocolate to cheese, are made on site.

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Sancti Adalberti Brouwerij

Cropped hand holding a full Sancti Adalberti beer goblet — Courtesy of Sancti Adalberti

Address

Weg Over de Bisschop 1B, 1934 CS Egmond aan den Hoef, Netherlands

Get directions

Phone +31 72 303 0404

Web Visit website

At Sancti Adalberti's Egmond brewery in Egmond aan den Hoef, which opened in 2009, the founder Peter Lassooy wanted to create the most sustainably produced organic beer. The brewery offers hour-long tours or two-hour-long tours with tastings, that begin and end in the cozy tasting room. There are six beers to sample; give the malty Pastoral, with hints of caramel and lime blossom, a try.

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