Bar
Proeflokaal Arendsnest
A canal-side tasting house on the Herengracht pouring only Dutch beers.
- Bar
4.7· 4,713 reviews
Photo: Proeflokaal Arendsnest / Google
On the Herengracht in the canal belt, Proeflokaal Arendsnest — 'the Eagle's Nest' — is a tasting room with a single, brilliant focus: only Dutch beers. If you want to understand how good the Netherlands' brewers have become, this is the place.
Set in an elegant 17th-century canal house, it pours dozens of Dutch beers on tap and stocks hundreds more in bottle, all from brewers across the country. The setting is as lovely as the list is deep.
What to expect
Expect a calm, grown-up beer bar rather than a rowdy pub — warm wood, canal views from the window seats, and staff who genuinely know their beers and love to guide you. It's ideal for tasting your way through Dutch styles you won't find at home.
Good to know
It's a sit-down tasting room, so it's better for a focused beer session than a big night out. The canal-side spot is central and easy to combine with a walk through the grachtengordel. Ask the staff for a recommendation — that's half the fun.
Highlights
Only Dutch beers — dozens on tap
Hundreds more in bottle
In an elegant 17th-century canal house
Knowledgeable, guiding staff
Calm, grown-up beer bar on the Herengracht
Gallery
Photo: Reebok / Google
Location
Herengracht 90, 1015 BS Amsterdam, NetherlandsFAQ
- What's special about Arendsnest?
- It pours only Dutch beers — dozens on tap and hundreds in bottle — making it the best place to explore the Netherlands' breweries.
- Where is it?
- On the Herengracht in the canal belt, in a 17th-century canal house.
- Is it good for non-experts?
- Yes — the staff love to guide you, so it's a great place to learn about Dutch beer styles.
- What's the atmosphere?
- Calm and grown-up, with warm wood and canal views — a tasting room rather than a rowdy pub.
- Is there food?
- It's beer-focused; expect bar snacks to accompany the beer rather than a full kitchen.