Amsterdam: Bols Cocktail Workshop & Genever Tasting

Three Cocktails, One Afternoon: Inside Amsterdam's Bols Cocktail Workshop

You'll tour the Bols Cocktail Experience, taste one professionally made cocktail in the Mirror bar, then spend 30 minutes making two cocktails yourself under instruction. The whole experience runs 90 minutes across three daily timeslots, includes all three drinks, and teaches you enough to actually replicate what you've learned. Book a slot that fits your afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bols Cocktail Experience and Workshop

• Tour Bols Cocktail Experience
• Enjoy 1 cocktail at Mirror bar
• Attend 30-minute cocktail workshop
• Make 2 different cocktails

The experience

The Bols Cocktail Experience sits in the heart of Amsterdam, and the moment you walk in, the space feels like stepping into a 1960s bar frozen mid-shift: all brass fixtures, backlit bottles, and that particular smell of spirits and citrus that tells you something real is about to happen. You're there for 90 minutes, split between a guided tour through the world of genever and cocktails, then a hands-on workshop where you actually make two drinks yourself. The first hour takes you through how this Dutch spirit conquered global trade during the Golden Age, and then you're in the Mirror bar (a room that's exactly what it sounds like), where you get a perfectly made cocktail included in the price.

The workshop part is where it gets tactile. You're not watching someone else pour. You're behind the bar, learning technique from someone who does this every day. Thirty minutes doesn't sound like much, but it's enough to build two proper cocktails from scratch, understand why proportions matter, and leave knowing you can actually do this at home. The timeslots run at 1pm, 3pm, and 5:30pm, so you can fit it around the rest of your Amsterdam day without it feeling like a whole-day commitment. Groups stay small, which means the bartender isn't rushing through explanations.

The whole thing is wheelchair accessible, and the space is designed so you're not standing for hours. There's movement, but it's paced. If you're under 18, you won't be able to join. The minimum age is firm. Public transport gets you there easily, and the venue itself is built to handle people moving through it without friction.

What’s included

• Your 90 minutes include entry to the Bols Cocktail Experience, a guided tour through genever and cocktail history, one professionally made cocktail served in the Mirror bar, a 30-minute hands-on cocktail workshop, and two cocktails you create yourself during the workshop. Instruction and all tastings are included.
• you leave knowing how to make two drinks from scratch.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 13:00, 15:00 and 17:30

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Bols Cocktail Experience

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a compact, hands-on introduction to cocktails and Dutch spirits without spending a whole evening: the fixed 90-minute format and three daily timeslots mean you can fit it between other Amsterdam plans and still walk away with a real skill.

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Top questions

What's included in the Bols Cocktail Experience?

One cocktail served in the Mirror bar during the tour, plus two cocktails you make yourself during the 30-minute workshop. Entry to the Bols space and instruction are included.

How long does the whole experience take?

90 minutes total: about 60 minutes for the tour and genever history, then 30 minutes for the cocktail workshop.

What times can I book?

Three daily timeslots: 1:00–2:30pm, 3:00–4:30pm, and 5:30–7:00pm.

Do I need bartending experience to join the workshop?

No. The workshop is designed for beginners. You'll learn the basics and make two complete cocktails with guidance.

Is there a minimum age?

Yes, you must be 18 or older to enter and participate.

Is the venue accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options nearby are also wheelchair accessible.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

What will I learn about?

The tour covers genever history, how it became a global trade during the Dutch Golden Age, cocktail culture, and bartending basics. The workshop focuses on technique and proportions for making cocktails.