The best beer pubs in Amersfoort

Before we dive into the beer pubs, it is good to know that beer has played an important role in Amersfoort for centuries. The first mentions of Amersfoort beer date back to the fourteenth century. Thanks to the good quality of the water, the city grew into an important beer city. In the sixteenth century, Amersfoort had dozens of breweries and beer was exported to other parts of the Netherlands. Emperor Charles V even granted the city a special privilege prohibiting brewing in the immediate vicinity.

After 1800, beer exports gradually lost significance. More and more breweries disappeared from the city, and in 1969, the last brewery closed its doors. Fortunately, the beer tradition was not lost. With the opening of Stadsbrouwerij De Drie Ringen in 1989, craft brewing returned to Amersfoort. The city now boasts a vibrant beer culture once again, with breweries, tasting rooms, and beer cafés where enthusiasts can fully enjoy a good glass of beer.

For this overview, we visited various beer cafés, tasting rooms, and breweries in Amersfoort. In doing so, we looked not only at the number of beers on the menu, but also at the atmosphere, the quality of the selection, and what sets an establishment apart from other places in the city. The result is a varied list of locations that are all well worth a visit for craft beer enthusiasts.

If you can only visit one beer pub in Amersfoort, De Dikke Koning is an excellent choice. This pub feels like a Valhalla for beer lovers. The menu features over 630 beers, while many more are stored in the cellar.

The selection is enormous, as evidenced by the book served at your table as a menu. This book feels almost like a beer bible. Because only a limited number of bottles of many beers are available, the selection changes constantly. The book therefore needs to be updated regularly.

What struck us most was the wide selection of local beers. In addition to beers from Dutch and foreign breweries, there are various beers from Amersfoort on the menu. Some beers are even brewed especially for De Dikke Koning. For those who enjoy discovering new flavors, this is undoubtedly one of the most interesting places in the city. We certainly had a wonderful time here.

Just outside the center of Amersfoort, you will find Rock City Brewing. Beer has been brewed here on Mijnbouwweg since 2018. The combination of industrial decor, copper brewing kettles, and a relaxed atmosphere made a good impression on us immediately. This is one of those places where we feel right at home.

There are usually about twenty different beers on tap. These come from the kettles that you can see from your seat. Can't choose? Then a Beer Flight is a good option. You get multiple tasting glasses to get acquainted with the different styles that Rock City brews. Our eyes were immediately drawn to the barrel-aged beers on tap here. They are robust beers, but incredibly flavorful.

Besides beer, it is also about the experience here. Tours are regularly organized where you learn more about the brewing process. You can also enjoy excellent food here, making Rock City an ideal place to linger a little longer. If you have enough time during your visit to Amersfoort, a visit to this brewery is absolutely worthwhile.

Het Brouwhuis is located right in the center of Amersfoort. Eembier has been brewed here since 2006. The café feels like a second living room, and that is not only due to the interior. The staff also contribute to this feeling.

The people behind the bar are true beer lovers and talk enthusiastically about their beers. We were even allowed to taste a few beers before making a choice about what we wanted to drink.

There are about fifteen beers on tap, the majority of which come from Eembier. The selection is surprisingly varied, ranging from the refreshing Weizig and the fruity blond Jolig to the hoppy IPA Tierig and the robust Tripel Kranig. In addition, special brews regularly appear on the menu, such as an amber ale, barley wine, or pale ale. Those wishing to try several types can order a tasting board. Furthermore, there are various bottles in the fridge for those who want to explore further.

For a bit of beer history, head to Stadsbrouwerij De Drie Ringen. This brewery was founded in 1989 and brought brewing back to the historic city center of Amersfoort. With this, Amersfoort once again had its own brewery after twenty years.

Inside, you immediately see the copper kettles standing centrally in the tasting room. It can get quite busy, but that is part of the atmosphere. Feel free to pull up a chair at another table if there is no room left. We ordered a tasting board here with five different beers from the brewery. This immediately gives you a good overview of the range. The beer menu includes the Stadsbier, the Vuurvogel Tripel, the Blond, and various seasonal beers, among others.

Besides beer, you can also come here for lunch or a hearty drink. Think of a meatball sandwich, a fried egg, or artisanal croquettes. This makes De Drie Ringen not only a brewery, but also a nice place to hang around a bit longer.

Café Lobbes is exactly the kind of traditional pub that beer lovers enjoy walking into. Old enamel brewery advertising signs hang on the walls, and the ceiling is also full of nostalgic details.

In good weather, the terrace is a lovely place to enjoy a craft beer, but it is also pleasant inside. We can well imagine that it gets pleasantly full here on busy days.

There are about twelve beers on tap. In addition, there is an extensive menu of bottled beers. The emphasis is primarily on Belgian beers. Nevertheless, the beers from Brouwerij Tesselaar from Texel immediately caught our eye. You often come across mostly the well-known beers from Texels, but here there are several Tesselaar beers on the menu that you won't easily find anywhere else. According to the owner, these beers deserve more attention, and after a few tasting glasses, we wholeheartedly agree.

Van Zanten might not have the most extensive beer menu in this overview, but it does have an atmosphere you don't find everywhere. This is the kind of pub where regulars know each other and where the staff often already know what someone wants to drink before the order is placed.

We were tipped off to check this place out by the bartender at De Dikke Koning. That turned out to be a good recommendation. While we were enjoying a craft beer, we saw several locals walk in and immediately take a seat at the bar for their go-to combination of beer and gin.

The interior also contributes to the atmosphere. It feels authentic. The combination of regulars, a cozy bar, and a characterful interior gives Van Zanten its own identity. We can certainly understand why many Amersfoorters consider this their local pub.

Amersfoort is certainly not the only city where we went looking for nice beer pubs and breweries. In other cities, too, we discovered a surprising number of beautiful spots for a good glass of craft beer. For instance, we previously wrote about the best beer pubs in Rotterdam, Utrecht, Den Bosch en EindhovenBut also cities outside the Netherlands

Do you have a favorite beer city that you think shouldn't be missing from this list? Let us know, because we love searching for new breweries, tasting rooms, and beer cafés.