Dutch beer week to return for 13th edition ahead of World Cup
The Week of Dutch Beer will run for the 13th time from Wednesday, May 27, through Sunday, May 31, 2026, with tastings, beer-and-food dinners, brewery tours, and other events at cafés, tasting rooms, breweries, and restaurants across the Netherlands.
Nederlandse Brouwers, CRAFT, and Koninklijke Horeca Nederland are organizing the week together for the first time. It comes as terraces fill, friends gather, and the country prepares for a sports-heavy summer led by the World Cup.
“With the Week of Dutch Beer, we kick off the sports summer of 2026,” said Fred Teeven, chairman of Nederlandse Brouwers.
“We are counting on a very beautiful summer, beginning with the World Cup. Soccer and beer have traditionally been connected. What is more fun than enjoying a beer with or without alcohol together while watching the Dutch national team? Whether it is in the hospitality industry, at home, or together on a square, hopefully, we can toast together the many victories of Oranje. Let's hope for more Dutch wins in the Tour de France this summer so we can toast to them too."
The new partnership with Koninklijke Horeca Nederland means more cafés, brown cafés, tasting rooms, and restaurants will take part. They will host proeverijen, beer-paired dinners, and pub quizzes, giving visitors more places to discover Dutch beer.
“We can be proud of the Dutch beer culture,” said KHN chairwoman Marijke Vuik. “The Netherlands has now conquered a world position when it comes to specialty beer. We are exceptionally good at brewing specialty beer and know how to add many new flavors. Tasty, innovative, and flavorful. We invite all beer lovers to come taste during the Week of Dutch Beer in the hospitality sector.”
Organizers are searching for “Het Mooiste Bierverhaal van Nederland” — the most beautiful beer story in the country. Dutch beer is tied to personal moments such as milestones, regular Friday happy hours, post-match drinks at the club, or barbecues with friends.
“The Week of Dutch Beer shows how rich and versatile our beer culture is,” said Hans Noorman, acting chairman of CRAFT. “Dutch brewers combine traditions with innovation and craftsmanship. During the Week we invite everyone to discover the story behind Dutch beer and to enjoy the great diversity that the Dutch beer culture has to offer.”
Last year more than 50 activities took place nationwide. Greater participation is expected this year with the expanded hospitality involvement.
Among the events: Jopen Brouwerij will hold its Jopen Bottle Share on May 27 at its pastorie in Haarlem, where beer lovers taste and judge each other’s beers. The Nederlands Bierproeffestival is set for May 29 and 30 at the Grote Kerk in The Hague, featuring 35 Dutch brewers and more than 250 different beers.
The week opens Tuesday evening, May 26, at Nieuwspoort in The Hague.
Nederlandse Brouwers represents 15 breweries responsible for more than 95% of Dutch beer production. CRAFT is the association for 172 independent breweries, ranging from those producing less than 50 hectoliters a year to those over 25,000. Koninklijke Horeca Nederland represents more than 17,000 hospitality businesses across the country.
