A Beer Tourist’s Guide To…Amsterdam
The weird thing about Amsterdam and indie beer is that while there are plenty of venues to get it, the quality level is absolutely all over the place – this city is a perfect storm of tourist traps and, well, literal storms, and finding the best spots can be tough, especially when cycling around through the rain (trust us, you will spend more time than you think doing this). Be warned, the good stuff ain’t cheap either, with good beer averaging six Euros for a 25-30cl pour (about a half pint) across the board.
Our guide provides variety in setting, atmosphere and location, with eight excellent venues for your craft beer odyssey in the city where hops are the least renowned green plant of all.
Listed in geographical proximity to the city centre, go forth and enjoy – Proost!
- In De Wildeman
Amsterdam’s most celebrated indie beer establishment, In De Wildeman has been around for decades; the same married couple who own it are usually on hand serving. A glorious interior decor that is the definition of rustic is accompanied by an exquisite beer selection, with 16 or so draft beers and a thick menu of bottles. The people watching on the pedestrian street outside gets pretty entertaining, and the vibes shift and change as the day and night progress – a must visit. - Proeflokaal Arendsnest
A traditional haunt with a slightly older demographic. The bar has 50 Dutch beers on tap so it wins the game for local variety but loses points for a lack of eating, particularly notable people watching or meeting charismatic beer aficionados. - Het Lagerhuys
The spawn of the now-deceased legendary Foeders bar, Het Lagerhuys is a more chic, industrial feeling taproom than the others so far on this list. The beer selection is vast and the food selection is excellent, making this your best bet for a strategic stop to fill your stomach. - Cafe Gollem
There are now four outposts of this old school Belgian-Dutch beer cafe, though we recommend the Amstelstraat or Raamsteeg locations for the original experience. Both are small, dark and moody, with huge beer lists scrawled all over the walls. The one caveat is that you will be paying a little more – this place has a rep with the tourists, and rightly so.
Heading outside the central part of the canal system, three more delightful options present themselves, all in a 5-10 minute walk from each other right near the Vondelpark. - Craft and Draft
Where the youths go to drink Dutch craft and meet each other and talk about it and you know what, it’s a good time. Quite small, a little outdoors bit that is useless because it rains every day here, but you’d go again for the choice and the socialising. - Brewed By Women BAR
As advertised, this taproom showcases the beer from an all-woman team who contract brew at various other indie breweries on the outskirts of the city. The space is small, chic and upbeat, full of colour and that extends to the beers too. Most of their offerings have a twist – whether it is some extra fruit, a bit of spice or a dash of cinnamon, this is the place to go for a level of brewing creativity that you won’t find elsewhere in the city. - J&B Craft Drinks
A perfect stop for a takeaway to sip while you wander the waterways, this substantial indie beer store also does weekly tastings and other events. Pretend you’re sophisticated as you slip further into the abyss and hopefully not into a canal.
Bonus Stop: Brouwerij ‘t IJ
We’re going to cheat for a moment and recommend you something owned by the conglomerate Duvel Moortgat. It is, however, an Amsterdam beer institution, situated under the most iconic of windmills, and the beer is still well above average. A great place to go with a group in particular.
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