What was started by Gerard Adriaan Heineken in 1873 has grown to become a giant in the world of beer. Heineken is such a popular tourist attraction, it's guaranteed to draw millions of visitors and beer lovers to Amsterdam every single year. Delicious lager beer served in little green bottles with a strong bitter taste is one kind of beer you wouldn't forget very quickly. Heineken is a brand that has dominated the world of beer for years and also succeeded in putting the Netherlands on the world map.
1863 marks the advent of the Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam's De Pijp. It is here that Gerard Adriaan Heineken laid the foundation for the global beer empire of the Heineken family. After the brewery was moved elsewhere in 1988, the building became a museum. In this old and historic brewery, Heineken Experience gives visitors more than just a lesson in beer history; it lets you experience Heineken with all your senses.
Heineken is a household name in the Netherlands and tourists from different parts of the world visit the old brewery in the centre of Amsterdam. I don't always admit it, but I've never been to the Heineken Experience until recently. After I had shown tourists the way to the Heineken Experience for the umpteenth time, I decided that it was time to visit the brewery and see what the fuss was all about. Lovers of the world-famous lager beer in its famous green bottles, can visit the old brewery and enjoy an interactive tour through the world of Heineken.
Huge silos, which served as storage for the malt, can still be admired here. Take a look at the copper kettles used in the process of brewing the delicious beer! In addition, there are many awards and honours won by the Heineken brand on display for the visitors to see. Visitors are completely immersed in the world of Heineken. There are interactive games to play, brew and bottle like a real Heineken brewer or enjoy some freshly tapped beer with other Heineken beer lovers.
There is also an audio tour, available in 7 different languages. This is a multimedia tour that can be downloaded on your smartphone by means of the Heineken Experience app. This tour takes you through the Heineken Experience, tells you everything you need to know and also test your knowledge through a quiz! If you don't have a smartphone, or your mobile phone battery is totally down, no problem! There is a tablet for rent at the check-in.
Visitors also get to learn everything about the rich history of the brand and the company. Read about Heineken's smiling 'e' and view the old advertisements from the 1950s and 1960s. In the stables are the famous horses and beer wagons, and also learn about how they are taken for a ride everyday through the city.
For those hardcore fans of beer and the Heineken brand, the Heineken Experience is also an opportunity to know more about the art of brewing? Walk through the brewing room, with copper kettles over a century old, and sniff up the scent of the brewing process in the mini-brewery. The tour is a self-guided tour; you determine your own pace. A visit lasts about 90 minutes. Included in the entrance fee are two beers to taste. Parts of the tour have a carnival-type feeling as you can "green screen" yourself into various pictures and movies revolving around Heineken sponsorships. Visitors are also allowed to send the files to their emails for free.
If you happen to be in Amsterdam, Heineken Experience is a "must visit". Don't miss out!
Tickets:
Child age and price: 0 - 11 years: free 12 - 17 years: € 14.50
Adults: € 14.50
Group rates on request. The price includes a map of Amsterdam.
For more information on tickets, visit the Heineken Experience official website.
Opening Times:
Heineken Experience is open 365 days of the year.
Opening Hours:
Mon - Thu: 10.30 - 19.30 h. Fri - Sun: 10.30 - 21.00 h.
July - August: Daily: 10.30 - 21.00 h.
Special Opening Hours: 24th Dec and 31st Dec: 10.30 - 16.00 h.
Note:
Children under the age of 18 are only allowed to enter with an adult.
Last admission is 2 hours before closing time.
All ticket prices are subject to change.
VIP Tour is subject to availability.
How To Get There:
Address:
Stadhouderskade 78
1072 AE Amsterdam.
Public Transport:
From Amsterdam Central Station:
Trams 16, 24 and 25
From Leidseplein:
Trams 7 and 10
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