Beer is the star attraction at this exhibition dedicated to Holland’s world-famous export.
The Heineken Experience is housed in the atmospheric old Bierbrouwerij building, a working brewery until as recently as 1988. A complete renovation in 2008 retained many of its original features but now houses four floors of interactive exhibits tracing the history of the brewing process of Holland’s world-famous Heineken pilsner.The self-guided tour begins with the company’s origins, when Gerard Adriaan Heineken bought the former Haystack brewery and began to brew his award-winning recipe on this site in 1864. In the Old Brew Room you can view the huge mash tuns, or casks, where the barley was boiled, and learn how the hops and malted barley are turned into tasty beer. If you have any questions there are plenty of staff on hand to fill you in on all the details.Move on to the Stable Walk and make friends with the huge, gentle Clydesdales that still turn out for promotional tours around Amsterdam, pulling their traditional wooden carts through the city streets. Afterwards you can have fun trying to pour and bottle your own Heineken, before heading off to the funky disco-themed Taster Bar to quench your thirst with a couple of free glasses included in the admission price while you move your body to the beat or just prop up the bar and enjoy the atmosphere.The tour takes around two hours and there’s a well-stocked shop at the end of it, where you can pick up a souvenir of your visit.The Heineken Experience is open daily except for major public holidays. This is one of Amsterdam’s most popular attractions, so come early to avoid the queues or book tickets in advance. From Central Station, take the tram to Stadhouderskade, or a hop-on hop-off cruise to the Heineken landing stage. Parking in the city centre is limited, so be warned.
