Amsterdam Beer Tours

When in Amsterdam....beer is the drink of choice. Home to Heineken and Amstel, Amsterdam has been a centre for European beer since the 15th century.

Here we have listed the best Brewery Tours and the Best Beer Tours in Amsterdam. (Updated March 2015)

Brewery Tours:

Heineken Experience

Heineken Experience Amsterdam

The big attraction in town is the Heineken Experience. Established in 1864 by the then 22 year old Gerard Heineken, Heineken is now the third largest beer company in the world. The tour takes place on the location of the brewery that was first constructed in 1867. This building produced beer until 1988.

Pros

• It is the home to Heineken.
• Learn the history of this world famous beer.
• You learn how one of the largest beer companies in the world operates.
• You get to drink Heineken

Cons

• There is a lot marketing and advertising.
• You only get two free half pints with you entrance.
• Entrance price has increased over the years to 18 euros. 
• Large crowds. Up to 500 000 people per year visit.

Brouwerij 't Ij (aka the windmill brewery)

Established in 1985 in response to the domination by the large beer companies, namely Heineken. Brouwerij 't Ij is the flagship of Amsterdam micro Breweries. The all natural beers are not filtered or pasteurised. 

Tours are conducted in English on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Cost is 4.50 euro and includes a beer. Tour begins at 3:30pm. Be sure to get there early as space is limited and it fills up fast.

Pros

• Local Amsterdam beer that you won't find at home.
• It is next to a windmill.
• Beer is natural.
• They make the beer on location.
• Has a large beer garden outside.

Cons

• A little out of the old city centre.
• Limited opening hours 2pm - 8pm.
• Hard to find a seat on a sunny day.

Brouwerij Prael

The new kid on the block was established in 2002. This is a brewery with a difference. It has a social agenda as the Prael provides work for people with social problems. These people often find it hard to find work elsewhere. Over the years the brewery has grown and expanded to a popular local hangout.

The tour is not standard. You can buy a package depending on how much beer you would like to sample. Prices start at 7.50 euro. No tours on Monday. Groups smaller than 10 have to wait until others join.

Pros

• The social cause is a great community aspect.
• Located centrally.
• The beers are named after local music personalities and bands.
• The have a kitchen that provides food.
• Live jazz music on Sundays

Cons

• A little hard to find.
• Beer quality has been known to fluctuate. However, quality is much better as quantity increases.
• Hard to find a seat on Friday and Saturday evenings.
• Website is not in Dutch

Beer Bar Tours

These Beer Tours take you beyond the mainstream of Heineken and Amstel. They stress that they are not bar crawls and limit numbers accordingly.

Omy Amsterdam Beer Tour

Omy Amsterdam Tours

Rated the best beer tour company in Amsterdam by Tripadvisor. A small company that specialises in small group tours of 4 to 6 people maximum. Their beer tours are informal with super small groups hence their popularity. You buy your own beers and pay for the time of the guide. They have three tours:

• Amsterdam Afternoon Beer Tour: This tour was designed by former customers who just wanted someone to show them around to cool beer locations. Tour maximum 4 people. Costs 25 euro.

• Amsterdam Bars, Breweries and Distillery Tour: Similar to the Afternoon Beer Tour you visit local micro-breweries, bars and a distillery. You don't enter the working areas of the brew houses. You just drink their product. Tour maximum is 6 people. Costs 25 euro.

• Red Light District Tour: Sex, Drugs and Drinks. A combination of red light district tour and drinks. On this tour they provide you drinks in the ticket price. Tour maximum is 4 people. Cost 50 euro.

Urban Adventures Amsterdam

Amsterdam's extension of the world wide franchise. Urban Adventures was established to get people off the beaten path.

• Amsterdam Beer Tour: Visit local beer specialist locations with a guide. Drinks are included in the price except for the end stop: 49 euro per person.

When in Amsterdam...beer tastes good!

Related blogs:

Heineken's Amsterdam: 150 years of Heineken in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Sightseeing Guided Tours: an overview

When in Amsterdam...a sightseeing walking tour is always recommended. The compact old city centre has a surprise around every corner. Amsterdam is also a great base to explore the surrounding countryside.

This post is an overview of the tours available in Amsterdam. It is not an exhaustive list but a guide to your choices and the pros and cons of your choice.

Why take a tour in Amsterdam:

• You learn something.
• You get a real person with which to talk. No recorded messages that have replayed for years.
• There is no stress for you about directions.
• You cover a lot in a small amount of time.
• You get your bearings and tips to enjoy the rest of your time in Amsterdam.
• You receive local recommendations instead of what is on the web. We notice that Amsterdam web recommendations are always the same. This is because many people writing on the web do not live in Amsterdam.
• Always recommended on the first days of arrival.

Types of sightseeing walking tours:

• Large group mainstream tours

Large group is defined as any tour of more than 12 people. Normally 15 to 50 is the regular size for this group. This is specific to Amsterdam or any small town.

Pros

- value for money

- provide an overview of the city 

- hit main sights

- you can tick a lot off your list
- cater to large travelling groups

Cons

- You are limited to staying outside for most of the tour.

- Interaction is limited with the guide due to the number of people.

- You are prone to up-sells. 

- The guides are working the commissions

- The places you are taken are designed to cater to mainstream tourism.
- Not so flexible. You are on a strict schedule.

The main players in this group are:

Amsterdam City Tours

Started by a family it is now one of the largest tour agencies in Amsterdam. They cater to travellers and business groups in an wide range of languages.

Tours and Tickets

This company burst onto the scene a few years ago. You will find there offices at all the main locations in Amsterdam. They teamed up with Lindbergh Tours in 2013. Most of the tours you will find advertised on the internet will filter back to this large organisation.

Lindbergh Tours

This company teamed up with Tours and Tickets. It is an older company than Tours and Tickets, they are an incoming tour provider. They also can organise hotels and transfers.

Sandman's New Europe Tours

A large multinational headquartered in Berlin. They provide free tours and smaller paid topical tours. Groups are normally 30 people or more. Lead by local youngsters these tours are frequented by the budget traveller or college student.

• Small Group Sightseeing Tours

Small group sightseeing tours are defined by groups of fewer than 12 people.  This group also includes independent tour operators. These operators may do a tour of more than 12 people but rarely. Becareful, when searching 'small group tours' in Amsterdam many are not that small. Remember the city is small so the smaller the group the better for this category.

Pros

- Cover more in a short amount of time

- Get out of the weather. Amsterdam weather is always changeable. Small groups let you escape the worst of a storm in a local hangout cafe. 

- More time to talk and ask questions of the guide

- Personalised feeling.
- Can also provide private sightseeing tours of Amsterdam.

Cons

- You may not like the guide

- Not a large group of travellers with which to interact.

Some of the many independent sightseeing guided tour operators in Amsterdam:

Omy Amsterdam Tours

Established by guides that worked for the mainstream companies. They take small groups to the extreme with groups of 4 or 6 people maximum depending on the tour.

Joy Ride Bike Tours

Highly rated local Amsterdam company that prides itself on good customer service. Rated #1 Bike Tour company in Amsterdam.

Amsterdamsel

A former student at the local University of Amsterdam. Amsterdamsel has built up a netwok of guides and locals to cater to her ever growing demand.


Final Point

Whether big or small there is an activity for you to do in Amsterdam. Have a look through review sights like Tripadvisor or Yelp. Always remember to read the reviews with a grain of salt. Most importantly....


When in Amsterdam....enjoy!

Amsterdam Photo Tour: Winter Wonder

When in Amsterdam....a Photo Tour is a great idea. Amsterdam is one of the most picturesque cities in Europe. The wonderful  architecture, tree lined canals, boats, and bicycles have amazed people for centuries.

Winter Canals: OMY Amsterdam Photo Tour

 Walk the streets with trained and published Photographers from OMY Amsterdam Tours. The best rated small group tour company in Amsterdam by Trip Advisor.

Amsterdam Tourist Boat winter: OMY Amsterdam Photo Tour

Make the most of your limited time in Amsterdam. The best way to find your way around the small alley ways to the most beautiful locations is with a guide.

Frozen Amsterdam Bike: OMY Amsterdam Photo Tour

If you are a beginner with a passion for photography OMY Amsterdam Guide's give you tips and techniques on how to capture the best photos with your camera.  Along the way learn and talk in a relaxed  personal manner about Amsterdam, the city built on water.

Amsterdam peaceful courtyard: OMY Amsterdam Photo Tour

If you are an experienced photographer enjoy personalized service to the best locations.

Beginner or experienced OMY Guides are flexible to your needs and tours are customized for you. To Book click here.

On the Amstel: OMY Amsterdam Photo Tour

For more photos by OMY Amsterdam Photo Tour Guides click here to see our blog on Amsterdam small houses.


Most important. When in Amsterdam....enjoy!

Bomb scare at Amsterdam Airport as Underwear Bomber to be Sentenced

When in Amsterdam was on the way to the airport to pick up transiting customers who had booked a private tour of Amsterdam when Europe's 4th largest Airport was closed for a few hours on Monday. Two terminals were evacuation while military police and bomb detection units moved through the airport.

Youtube taken from www.euronews.net

It is being reported that a 40 year old man, a Russian citizen has been detained. He was found locked in the toilets shouting that he had an explosive device. After being detained no bomb was found and he posed no further problems for authorities.

The bomb scare at Amsterdam's Schiphol caused delays to hundreds of flights.Amsterdam airport is one of the largest in Europe and a major transportation hub. Some argue that the 700euro fine for causing such a disturbance is not large enough to be a deterrence.

Security had been improved since 2009 after the underwear bomber incident on a flight between Amsterdam and Detroit. Nigerian student Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab smuggled liquid explosives in his underwear on a flight to America. He has pleaded guilty to trying to blow up the Northwest flight and now faces a sentence of life imprisonment.

photo taken from washingtontimes.com

Umar's sentence is to be handed down on Thursday. He will be the last terror suspect to go through a  civilian justice process as all new terror suspects will be placed before a military tribunal after President Obama signed the new law late 2011. No link has been found between the underwear bomber and toilet bomb threat.

Unfortunately we had to cancel the tour for the transiting customers.

When in Amsterdam....enjoy!