Where to drink jenever in Amsterdam: 6 authentic genever tasting rooms

There’s nothing like sipping on a fine beverage in a beautiful environment.  One of the small pleasures of life is seeking out beautiful places to spend a  little time enjoying the quiet atmosphere of where you are. 

No matter if you’re a tourist in Amsterdam or a long-time resident, there’s a little comfort to be taken in spending a lazy afternoon (or evening) sampling genever (jenever) at a proeflokaal.  I’ve found the most beautiful and coziest genever tasting rooms in Amsterdam and I hope that it inspires you to sample a little genever at an old brown bar to learn about the history behind this Dutch liquor!

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Most of these tasting rooms (proeflokaals) are easily found within Amsterdam’s Centrum on foot.   They’re the perfect place to try genever for the first time as you’ll have expert guidance on how to drink genever and what might suit you best.  Generally, genever samples are free (or cost a marginal amount) while bottles cost 15+ euros.

• De Drie Fleschjes
• Wynand Focknink
• Proeflokaal de Ooievaar
• Olofspoort
• Proeflokaal ‘t Kelkje
• Proeflokaal at Distilleerderij ‘t Nieuwe Diep

De Drie Fleschjes

De Drie Fleschjes claims to be the oldest tasting room in Amsterdam.  Whether or not this fact can be verified, it doesn’t matter as this Amsterdam proeflokaal is beautiful to visit.  It’s said that the tasting room dates back to 1650 and it’s easy to believe it.   Sit down and enjoy the atmosphere as well as the genevers/liquors available for a tasting here. 

One notable feature that you don’t find in many tasting rooms in Amsterdam (due to space) is the 50 barrel drink organ (drankorgel).   In the past, people would tap the barrels to check how much was left in order to refill their own bottles, however these barrels are a beautiful remnant of the past although the phrase drankorgel is far from a flattering term in Dutch…

Wynand Fockink

Wynand Fockink is one of the most famous genever tasting rooms in Amsterdam although it’s quite small.  The tasting room can only fit seven people at a time, however if you’re close to Dam Square, consider stepping down the alley to find this small distillery (now owned by Bols).  Click to read more about visiting Wynand Fockink.

Proeflokaal de Ooievaar

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The tasting room of A. van Wees Distillery is Proeflokaal de Ooievaar. This fairly cramped tasting room is one of the smallest tasting rooms in the Netherlands although it’s hard to ignore the charm of the 17th-century building that surrounds it and the atmospheric brown bar.  

They’ve been brewing liquors and spirits since 1782.  This family-run business proudly focuses on refining traditional Dutch distilling techniques and small craft batches.   This pride in tradition makes this brewery a great place to learn about genever and other liquors under the guidance of helpful employees.  You can also organize a guided tour of the actual distillery, which can be booked in advance for a fee.

Olofspoort

This cozy bar specializes in genever and housemade Dutch spirits.  It’s hard to miss the stunning building, which sits where a 13th-century city gate once stood.   Run by a passionate owner who often holds performances inside, the Olofspoort is a nice place to both sample and purchase quality genevers and liquors as souvenirs.

You’ll find over 80 Dutch liquors and the stories behind these liquors easily told by the knowledgeable staff.    It’s a local kind of place although tourists are welcome.  Stepping into the narrow doorway is like stepping into a time machine.  Treat yourself to some time here and let the bartenders guess your preferences.    The Olofspoort is open between 4 pm and 11 pm daily besides Sundays.

Proeflokaal ‘t Kelkje

Proeflokaal ‘t Kelkje is very young compared to the other tasting rooms on this list, however we don’t discriminate by age here.  This upstart tasting room combines the best of Belgian and Czech beers together with organic liquors brewed in Amsterdam East (discussed below).

If you don’t have a chance to get out to the actual distillery, this is a great way to sample the newest Dutch take on genever.  The tasting room is open 3/4pm to 9pm Tuesdays to Sundays.  Verify the hours before you go. 

Distilleerderij ‘t Nieuwe Diep

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You’ll find this distillery hidden in Flevopark, a beautiful park that is an easy cycle outside of the historic city center of Amsterdam.  Within this restored pump house dating back to the 1880s, you’ll find various liquors and spirits distilled here from organic materials.

It’s a unique place for those seeking something a bit different than the beautiful and historic brown bars of Amsterdam’s center while enjoying a little time out in nature.  Together with your genever, you can also purchase locally sourced sausage and cheese to enjoy along with your drinks.

Other notes on genever tastings in Amsterdam

You might have noticed that I left the House of Bols off the list.  I left it off as the House of Bols is a fully modern experience that costs considerably more than a tasting at any of these tasting rooms mentioned above. For a more authentic experience, skip the House of Bols and head to any of the tasting rooms above.  

Have you been to any of these tasting rooms in Amsterdam? What did you think of them?

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