Proeflokaal Arendsnest

On a quiet stretch of the Herengracht, just far enough from the tourist crush to feel like a genuine find, stands the bar that changed how Amsterdam drinks beer. Proeflokaal Arendsnest opened its doors on July 12, 2000, becoming the first establishment in the Netherlands to serve exclusively Dutch craft beer. Two and a half decades later, it remains a pilgrimage site for anyone seeking to understand the Dutch brewing renaissance.

The story behind the eagle’s nest

The name Arendsnest translates to “eagle’s nest” in Dutch—a wordplay on founder Peter van der Arend’s surname. Van der Arend’s path to opening Amsterdam’s most influential beer bar took some unexpected turns. Born in Delft, he initially worked as a business-to-business salesman for IKEA after relocating to Amsterdam. But his passion for beer eventually pulled him in a different direction.

In 1995, Van der Arend founded the North Holland chapter of PINT, the Dutch beer consumer association. He then worked as a salesman for Jopen Brewery in Haarlem from 1998 to 1999 while pursuing a degree as a “bieroloog” (beer expert) in Belgium. When other bars kept declining to stock Dutch craft beer in favor of Belgian imports, Van der Arend realized he would have to create the market himself.

With financial support from his father, he secured a historic canal house at Herengracht 90 and created something the Netherlands had never seen: a bar dedicated entirely to homegrown brewing. The opening attracted unexpected media attention when journalists misunderstood that the famous beer writer Michael Jackson would attend—not the pop star. Jackson, a legendary figure in craft beer circles, helped legitimize the Dutch beer movement that Van der Arend was championing.

The gamble paid off. Van der Arend won PINT’s prestigious “Gouden PINT” award in 2005 and was named Amsterdam’s “most remarkable hospitality entrepreneur” the same year. He went on to open BeerTemple (2009), Mikkeller at Morebeer (2021), and recently became co-owner of Poesiat & Kater brewery (2023), creating a small empire united under the Morebeer company banner.

Inside a 17th-century canal house

Proeflokaal Arendsnest occupies a traditional Amsterdam canal house on the Herengracht, one of three major canals built during the Dutch Golden Age starting in 1612. The Herengracht takes its name from the “Heren Regeerders” (Gentlemen Governors) of Amsterdam, and the area quickly became a fashionable address for wealthy merchants.

The bar embodies the essence of a Dutch “bruin café” (brown café)—the traditional neighborhood pub style that has defined Amsterdam drinking culture for centuries. Dark wooden panels, warm lighting, and an intimate atmosphere create what the Dutch call gezelligheid, that untranslatable sense of cozy conviviality. Unlike the smoke-stained walls that gave historic brown cafés their name, Arendsnest maintains its traditional character through careful preservation rather than nicotine patina.

The main bar level features a gleaming wooden bar with 52 taps—a dramatic increase from the original setup. A basement-level tasting room hosts private beer tastings for groups of up to 32 people, where staff guide visitors through the nuances of Dutch brewing traditions. During warm weather, the small canalside terrace offers prime people-watching territory with Herengracht as your backdrop.

52 taps and counting

When Arendsnest opened in 2000, the Netherlands had fewer than 50 breweries. Today, the country boasts over 900. The bar’s tap list reflects this explosion of Dutch craft brewing, featuring 52 draft beers alongside roughly 50 bottled and canned selections—all sourced exclusively from Dutch producers.

Regular brewery partners include Gulpener Bierbrouwerij, Two Chefs Brewing, De Kromme Haring, and Walhalla. The bar maintains house beers brewed in collaboration with Poesiat & Kater, the Amsterdam brewery Van der Arend now co-owns. These house brews continue a tradition dating back to the bar’s opening, when Arendsnest commissioned a custom amber ale for its taps.

Beer styles span the full spectrum of Dutch craft brewing. You’ll find crisp pilsners from Gulpener, boundary-pushing IPAs from Uiltje, and gueuze-style sours from Vandenbroek—a Groningen brewery that produces Belgian-influenced lambic beers (respectfully labeled “Watergueuze” to acknowledge the style’s Belgian origins, since the brewery sits outside Belgium’s Senne Valley).

The staff serves as walking encyclopedias of Dutch beer culture. Ask about any beer and expect a comprehensive history of the brewery, tasting notes, and pairing suggestions. Tasting flights allow undecided visitors to sample multiple styles before committing to a full pour.

Beyond beer: Dutch spirits and snacks

The commitment to Dutch products extends well beyond the taps. Arendsnest stocks a curated selection of jenevers—the juniper-flavored spirit that served as the precursor to English gin. Labels from Zuidam, Van Wees, and Filosoof represent the finest Dutch distilling traditions.

For the full Dutch drinking experience, order a kopstootje (literally “little headbutt”): a tulip-shaped glass of jenever filled to the brim, served alongside a beer. Tradition dictates that you bow down to take the first sip without using your hands, preventing spillage before chasing the jenever’s warmth with cold beer.

The food menu emphasizes quality over quantity, with Dutch cheeses, smoked sausages, and house-selected nuts designed to complement the beer. A cheese platter showcases selections from local producers, while the smoked beef sausage has earned a loyal following. Some sausages even incorporate beer into the recipe. For those finishing with a stout, ask about the chocolate pairing options.

Non-drinkers need not feel excluded. The bar offers alcohol-free and low-alcohol Dutch beers, along with Dutch wines, ciders, and soft drinks. The one international exception: Fritz Kola from Germany, chosen for its craft credentials over mass-market alternatives.

Planning your visit

Proeflokaal Arendsnest operates from noon until midnight Monday through Thursday and Sunday, with extended hours until 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday.

The bar sits on Herengracht 90, in the historic Canal Ring district that UNESCO designated a World Heritage Site. Reaching it requires a 10-15 minute walk from Dam Square—long enough to escape the tourist center without venturing into Amsterdam’s outskirts.

From Amsterdam Centraal Station, the easiest approach is tram 13 or 17 to Westermarkt, then a two-minute walk. The nearest metro station, Rokin, sits about 10 minutes away on foot via lines 52 and 54. Cyclists will find bike racks nearby, though Amsterdam’s bike theft problem makes a good lock essential.

The Anne Frank House stands just blocks away, making Arendsnest an ideal post-museum stop. The Westerkerk’s tower rises nearby, visible from the canalside terrace. The Jordaan neighborhood’s nine streets (De Negen Straatjes) of boutiques and galleries begin steps from the door.

Best times to visit

Weekday afternoons between 4:00 and 6:00 PM offer the ideal balance of atmosphere and accessibility. The bar hasn’t yet filled with the after-work crowd, and staff have more time to discuss the beer selection in depth.

Weekend evenings draw a mix of locals, expats, and international beer enthusiasts. The intimate space fills quickly on Thursday through Saturday nights—arrive by 7:00 PM to secure seating. The basement level provides overflow space when the main bar reaches capacity.

Sunday afternoons maintain a slower pace, suited to leisurely exploration of unusual styles and extended conversations with bartenders. Summer weekdays bring competition for the limited terrace seating, though the canalside perch rewards those who claim it early.

Major Amsterdam events—King’s Day, Amsterdam Dance Event, significant football matches—pack the bar to capacity. Plan alternative dates unless you thrive in crowds.

Practical information

• Address: Herengracht 90, 1015 BS Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Hours: Monday–Thursday and Sunday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Friday–Saturday: 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM
• Phone: +31 20 421 2057
• Website: arendsnest.nl
• Reservations: Not required for bar seating. Private tasting room events should be booked in advance through the website.
• Payment: Cash and cards accepted.
• Accessibility: The historic canal house has a stepped entrance; contact the bar directly regarding specific accessibility needs.

The Morebeer Tour

Dedicated beer enthusiasts can tackle the Morebeer Tour, visiting all four of Peter van der Arend’s Amsterdam establishments: Proeflokaal Arendsnest, BeerTemple (featuring American craft beers), Mikkeller at Morebeer, and Poesiat & Kater brewery. Complete the circuit and claim a free t-shirt at the finish. Details and rules appear on the Morebeer website.

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Frequently asked questions