Amsterdam has a beer culture that predates the craft revolution by several centuries — the Netherlands was producing complex ales long before the word "craft" was attached to anything. But the modern scene has built on that heritage thoughtfully. Brouwerij 't IJ brewing in a working windmill is one of the most singular bar experiences in Europe. The Beer Temple's American-focused tap list is better than most bars in the US. These eight are the ones worth knowing.
The Best Craft Beer Bars in Amsterdam
Amsterdam's craft beer geography has spread outward from the historic canal centre — the new wave of production taprooms are in de Pijp, Oost, and Noord, while the classic beer cafés hold their ground in the Jordaan and the city centre. Both strands are worth your time.
01
Brouwerij 't IJ
Oost / De Gooyer Windmill€€Landmark / Windmill brewery
Brouwerij 't IJ has been brewing in the base of a working 18th-century windmill since 1985 — which makes it one of Amsterdam's most photographed locations and, more importantly, one of its best breweries. The taproom opens daily at 2pm and serves the full range including the IPA, the Zatte tripel, the Struis barleywine, and the seasonal specials that rarely reach distribution. Standing outside the windmill in summer with a Zatte is one of Amsterdam's great experiences. Arrive on a Friday for the best atmosphere.
Order: Zatte — the tripel that made the brewery famous, still the best thing on the menu
02
Beer Temple
City Centre€€€American imports / Specialist
The Beer Temple on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal is Amsterdam's most focused American craft beer bar — an obsessive curation of US imports alongside a solid range of Dutch craft. The tap list runs to 30 handles and the bottle and can selection is extensive. The staff have genuine expertise and the back room is quieter for longer stays. For anyone who knows American craft beer and wants to drink it somewhere that takes it as seriously as they do, this is the address in Amsterdam.
Order: Ask what's newest from the US — they rotate frequently and know their importers
03
Biercafé In de Wildeman
City Centre€€Historic / Belgian-focused
A former distillery warehouse on Kolksteeg that has been a beer bar since 1984 and has been serving Trappist and abbey ales with proper care ever since. In de Wildeman is the kind of place that reminds you Amsterdam had a serious beer culture long before anyone invented the phrase craft beer. The dark, tiled interior is quieter than the surrounding tourist zone, the selection covers 200+ labels, and the draught list prioritises Belgian and Dutch ales over novelty. A genuine institution.
Order: Westvleteren 12 if available — one of the few Amsterdam bars that stocks it consistently
The full Amsterdam bar guide
Every category across Amsterdam's neighbourhoods — from canal-side tasting rooms to de Pijp craft taprooms.
The new generation of Amsterdam breweries — Troost, Butcher's Tears, Oedipus — have taken a different approach from the Belgian-influenced tradition. More experimental, more international in their influences, and increasingly focused on natural fermentation and mixed-culture techniques that put them in conversation with the best new European breweries.
04
Brouwerij Troost
de Pijp / Westergas€€Production brewery / Full menu
Troost operates brewpubs in de Pijp and Westergas and does both versions of the format well — the food is better than most brewery restaurants manage, the beer range covers everything from session lagers to barrel-aged stouts, and the spaces are large enough to absorb a crowd without losing their character. The de Pijp location is the original and the better of the two for an evening rather than a quick pint. The house porter is one of the better dark beers brewed in Amsterdam.
Order: House porter — rich, not sweet, well-conditioned. A benchmark Amsterdam dark beer
05
Butcher's Tears
de Pijp€€Farmhouse ales / Natural
One of Amsterdam's most interesting breweries — Butcher's Tears focuses on Belgian-inspired farmhouse ales with mixed fermentation, and the small taproom in de Pijp is the best place to drink them fresh. The range changes constantly and leans toward the sour, funky, and bottle-conditioned end of the spectrum. The taproom is small and fills up on weekends; come on a Thursday evening when you can actually find a seat and the bar staff have time to talk you through the current range.
Order: The Saison — if anything is a constant here, this is it, and it's always interesting
06
Café de Spuyt
Jordaan€€Jordaan classic / Belgian
A Jordaan beer café that does exactly what it promises: a comfortable, dark-panelled room with a well-curated selection of Belgian and Dutch craft beer, reasonable prices, and a staff that knows the menu. De Spuyt has been quietly serving Jordaan locals and in-the-know visitors for years without ever making much noise about it. The terrace is small but worth claiming in summer. For a long afternoon in the Jordaan with something good in your glass, this is the reliable choice.
Order: Duvel — this is one of the better pours of it in Amsterdam, glassware and temperature both correct
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The Off-Centre Picks
Amsterdam Noord has emerged as the city's most interesting new neighbourhood for food and drink — the former industrial zone across the IJ ferry has become a cluster of creative spaces, and the beer scene has followed. These two are worth the five-minute ferry ride.
07
Oedipus Brewing
Amsterdam Noord€€Noord industrial / Experimental
Oedipus started as a gypsy brewery and grew into one of Amsterdam's most creative production operations — the taproom in Noord reflects that ambition. The railway arch space is large, loud, and industrial in a way that feels appropriate rather than forced. The beer range covers everything from session ales to experimental sours to a range of what Oedipus calls "sexual healing" — a series of Thai-spice-influenced ales that shouldn't work but do. Come on a weekend afternoon when the food trucks are operating alongside the taproom.
Order: Mannenliefde — the Thai basil and grapefruit pale ale, still their most interesting regular brew
08
Mooie Boules
Amsterdam Noord€€Pétanque / Community
A pétanque bar and café in Noord that has developed into one of the neighbourhood's most beloved spots — part sports bar for lawn games enthusiasts, part genuinely excellent beer café. The tap list rotates through local Amsterdam breweries and Belgian imports with care, and the outdoor pétanque courts make it an afternoon rather than just a drink. Relaxed, community-focused, and one of those bars that makes you understand why Amsterdam Noord has become the city's most interesting neighbourhood.
Order: Whatever Oedipus or Brouwerij 't IJ is currently on tap — they support local well
Craft beer bars across Amsterdam
The full category guide — every neighbourhood, from the Jordaan classics to the Noord taprooms.
For a single destination, Brouwerij 't IJ is the non-negotiable — the windmill alone justifies the visit, and the Zatte is one of the best tripels you'll drink anywhere. For the most interesting current scene, de Pijp's cluster of Troost and Butcher's Tears alongside the Beer Temple gives you the full spectrum in an afternoon. The classic Belgian café experience is at In de Wildeman. Noord is worth the ferry on a weekend afternoon if you want to see where Amsterdam's beer culture is heading next.
The Best Craft Beer Bars in London
Comparing with the UK's best scene — The Euston Tap, The Kernel, the full Bermondsey Beer Mile.
