Dutch Beer Week returns with hundreds of tastings, tours, and festivals
The 12th edition of the Week van het Nederlandse Bier (Dutch Beer Week) will take place nationwide from Wednesday, May 14 through Sunday, May 18, 2025. This year’s focus is on the brewers themselves, highlighting their pride in the beers they craft — from unique ingredients like orange peels to alcohol-free brews made with cutting-edge techniques that closely mimic the taste of regular beer, according to a press release from Stichting Dranken Nederland.
The national beer celebration is organized by Nederlandse Brouwers — the umbrella organization representing 14 major Dutch breweries — in partnership with CRAFT, the trade association for independent breweries in the Netherlands. For the first time, the event is also supported by Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, the Dutch hospitality industry association. The week features a wide range of public events, including tastings, brewery tours, open days, and educational activities across the country.
Highlights include the Gulpener Brouwersdiner on May 14 and 15, showcasing beer and food pairings. On Saturday, May 17, Rotterdam-Crooswijk will host a “social run” followed by a Tap Takeover. That same day, Stadsbrouwerij Wageningen will demonstrate its use of locally sourced grains in collaboration with five Dutch farmers. On Sunday, May 18, visitors can participate in a walking tour through Leiden that stops at beer-related locations throughout the city center.
A total of 22 breweries — including Bavaria in Lieshout, Brouwerij Noordt in Rotterdam, Amelander Bierbrouwerij, and Mommeriete Bierbrouwerij — will open their doors to the public. Additionally, seven beer festivals are scheduled throughout the week. These include the Noord-Hollands Bierfestival in Hoorn, the vandeStreek Bierfest in Utrecht, and the Nederlands Bierproeffestival on Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17 at the Grote Kerk in The Hague. The two-day festival will feature more than 250 Dutch beers from over 35 domestic breweries. Among them are 24 beers recently awarded prizes at the Dutch Beer Challenge 2025.
According to organizers, the beer sector plays a vital economic and social role in the Netherlands, both regionally and nationally. The industry generates thousands of direct and indirect jobs. “We are proud of the rich Dutch beer culture and look forward to celebrating it with a wide variety of events during this week, as well as through an extensive (online) media campaign that puts the craftsmanship and creativity of all our breweries in the spotlight,” organizers stated.
