Amsterdam Craft Beer Tour: Dutch Microbreweries & Kopstoot Tasting

Four Bars, One Kopstoot, and Why Amsterdam's Beer Scene Tastes Like Home

You'll taste the kopstoot and several Dutch craft beers across four legendary Amsterdam bars, from the city's oldest to the one with the deepest beer list. Dutch snacks and cheese pair each tasting. Your guide shares local stories and bar history as you walk through Dam Square and the old town. Groups stay under ten people, all bar entry is included, and you leave knowing exactly where to go back.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. New Church10m
2. Dam Square5m
3. De Bijenkorf45m

Explore Amsterdam's craft beer scene

• Meet at Amsterdam Dam Square
• Start at Nieuwe Kerk
• Visit Amsterdam's oldest bar
• Enjoy a traditional brown bar
• Taste Dutch beers on draft with snacks

The experience

There's something about walking into a place that's been pouring the same drink the same way for centuries and realizing you're about to taste it for the first time. That's the feeling Amsterdam's craft beer tour builds on, not the polished kind of curiosity, but the real one. You start at the Nieuwe Kerk, then move to Dam Square where the city actually breathes, and from there your guide takes you into bars that don't need to be famous because locals already know. The oldest one on the route has official status now, and that's where you learn about the kopstoot: a shot-and-beer combo that sounds simple until you understand why it matters to Dutch drinking culture.

The tour moves through four stops, each one a different angle on what Amsterdam's craft beer scene has become. You'll taste several of the best Dutch brews, starting with that kopstoot, then move into a traditional brown bar where the wood is dark and the regulars nod at the bartender without ordering. After that comes the bar with the most Dutch beers on draft, the kind of place where the menu is longer than some restaurant wine lists. Snacks come with you: proper Dutch cheese, the kind that pairs with beer instead of fighting it, plus other nibbles that make the tasting feel like a meal instead of a lesson. Groups stay small, capped at ten people, so you're not shuffling through in a pack.

What makes this different from a brewery tour elsewhere is that you're not visiting production facilities or learning fermentation science. You're moving through Amsterdam's old town the way someone who lives there does: stopping where the beer is good, the stories are real, and the pace lets you actually talk to your guide and the people behind the bar. Bar entry is free at all four stops, so the only thing you're paying for is the guide's knowledge and the snacks. It takes a few hours, the route is walkable, and by the end you'll know which bars to come back to alone.

What’s included

• Tastings of several Dutch craft beers, including the traditional kopstoot.
• Dutch cheese and savory snacks paired with each tasting.
• free admission to all four bars and cafes.
• local stories and bar history shared by your guide.
• a walking route through Amsterdam's old town starting at the Nieuwe Kerk and moving through Dam Square.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday, Friday and SaturdayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Bespoke Amsterdam Experiences

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to taste Dutch beer culture without the brewery-tour format. You're moving through real Amsterdam bars where locals drink, not visiting production facilities. The small group size and included snacks mean you're not rushing or paying separately at each stop.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is a kopstoot and why is it on this tour?

A kopstoot is a traditional Dutch drink: a shot of liqueur followed by a beer chaser. It's a cultural touchstone in Amsterdam bars, and the tour introduces it at the oldest bar on the route as the starting point for understanding Dutch beer drinking.

How long does the Amsterdam craft beer tour take?

The tour spans several hours and covers four bars across the old town, starting at the Nieuwe Kerk and moving through Dam Square and surrounding neighborhoods at a walking pace.

Are the bars free to enter?

Yes. Admission to all four bars and cafes is included in the tour price. You pay only for any additional drinks or food you order beyond what's provided.

What kind of snacks are included?

Dutch cheese and other savory nibbles designed to pair with beer. The snacks come with you through the tour and are served alongside the tastings.

What's the age requirement?

This tour is 18+ only.

How many people go on this tour?

Groups are capped at a maximum of 10 travelers, keeping the experience intimate and allowing time to chat with your guide and bartenders.

Do I need to be a beer expert to join?

No. The tour is designed for both beer enthusiasts and people curious to try something new. Your guide will explain what you're tasting and why it matters.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You'll be walking between four bars in Amsterdam's old town at a leisurely pace with stops to sit and taste.