If you are searching for a brewery in Amsterdam windmill surroundings, the place you are probably looking for is Brouwerij ’t IJ. This well-known Amsterdam craft brewery sits beside the historic De Gooyer windmill in Amsterdam-Oost, creating one of the city’s most recognizable brewery settings.
There is one important distinction to know before visiting: Brouwerij ’t IJ is not actually located inside the windmill. Its original brewery and tasting room occupy a former bathhouse beside De Gooyer.
Because the brewery and windmill stand so close together, visitors commonly describe it as the famous windmill brewery in Amsterdam.
Founded in 1985 by musician Kasper Peterson, Brouwerij ’t IJ has grown into one of Amsterdam’s best-known local craft breweries while keeping its original location beside De Gooyer at the heart of its identity.
Brouwerij ’t IJ or Zaanse Schans: Which Windmill Experience?
Brouwerij ’t IJ and Zaanse Schans offer very different windmill experiences.
If your goal is to drink locally brewed craft beer beside a historic Amsterdam windmill, Brouwerij ’t IJ is the better choice. It is located within Amsterdam, making it easy to combine with other attractions during the same day.
If your priority is seeing multiple traditional working windmills, entering windmills and exploring Dutch industrial heritage in a countryside setting, Zaanse Schans offers a much broader windmill experience.
At Zaanse Schans, visitors can explore:
- Historic working windmills
- Traditional wooden houses
- Heritage workshops
- Cheese-making demonstrations
- Clog-making demonstrations
- Dutch countryside scenery
For a more memorable journey, you can take a Zaanse Schans boat from Amsterdam and travel through the waterways toward the windmill village.
You can also read our guide to windmill tours from Amsterdam if you are comparing different ways to experience Dutch windmills.
Explore Zaanse Schans by Private Boat
For travelers who want a complete windmill excursion, a private boat journey from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans turns the journey itself into part of the experience.
The route leaves Amsterdam’s historic waterways and continues toward the Zaan region, where you can explore traditional windmills, wooden houses and Dutch industrial heritage.
Travel time is approximately 1.5 hours each way, depending on water and route conditions.
Read more about the Zaanse Schans boat from Amsterdam.
Craft Beers Brewed in Amsterdam
Brouwerij ’t IJ produces a wide range of Amsterdam craft beers, including wheat beer, IPA, Tripel and alcohol-free options.
One of its best-known beers is IJwit, a refreshing wheat beer that has become popular with locals and visitors. Other well-known options include Zatte Tripel, Natte, IPA and ’t Gouden IJ.
The brewery also releases seasonal and limited-edition beers throughout the year, so the exact selection available during your visit may change.
Trying Brouwerij ’t IJ’s own beers is part of what makes the Funenkade location worth visiting. Rather than ordering a familiar international beer, consider asking the staff which locally brewed option they currently recommend.
Heineken Experience Amsterdam
The Heineken Experience offers a very different beer attraction from Brouwerij ’t IJ.
Located inside Heineken’s former brewery building in Amsterdam, the experience focuses on the history and international development of one of the world’s most recognizable beer brands.
It is a larger visitor attraction with interactive exhibits and beer tasting, while Brouwerij ’t IJ offers a more relaxed local craft-beer atmosphere beside De Gooyer windmill.
If your interest is specifically Amsterdam craft beer, Brouwerij ’t IJ is the more relevant stop. If you are interested in Heineken’s history and global brand, the Heineken Experience serves a different purpose.
Brouwerij Troost and Other Amsterdam Breweries
Brouwerij ’t IJ may be the brewery most closely associated with an Amsterdam windmill, but it is not the city’s only craft-beer destination.
Brouwerij Troost is another Amsterdam brewery known for locally produced beer and brewpub locations.
Other options around the city include breweries and beer destinations such as De Prael, Oedipus Brewing and smaller independent producers.
Each provides a different atmosphere, but if your main goal is combining Amsterdam craft beer with a historic windmill setting, Brouwerij ’t IJ remains the most relevant choice.
Visit the Windmill Brewery in Amsterdam: Brouwerij ’t IJ
Brouwerij ’t IJ’s original location is one of the easiest places to combine Amsterdam beer culture with a historic landmark.
The tasting room has indoor seating as well as a large outdoor terrace. When the weather is good, sitting outside with De Gooyer beside you is a major part of the experience.
Most of the brewery’s beers are available on tap, making the Funenkade location the best choice if you specifically want the classic windmill brewery in Amsterdam experience rather than simply trying Brouwerij ’t IJ beer elsewhere in the city.
Brouwerij ’t IJ at a Glance
Location: Funenkade 7, Amsterdam-Oost
Historic landmark: De Gooyer windmill
Tasting room: Proeflokaal De Molen
Beer: Brouwerij ’t IJ craft beers on tap
Outdoor terrace: Yes
Brewery tours: Available on selected days
Opening hours and tour schedules can change, so check the official Brouwerij ’t IJ website before your visit.
Inside the Tasting Room
Proeflokaal De Molen has a relaxed atmosphere that feels more like a local Amsterdam beer spot than a large visitor attraction.
Inside, you will find communal tables and a straightforward bar setup. Outside, long tables on the terrace provide views of De Gooyer and make the location especially enjoyable during spring and summer.
Beer is ordered directly from the bar, and simple snacks are usually available alongside the drinks. The exact food selection can change, so do not expect a full restaurant menu.
The communal setup works equally well for couples, small groups or travelers stopping by independently.
Can You Tour the Windmill Brewery in Amsterdam?
Yes. Brouwerij ’t IJ offers guided brewery tours at its Funenkade location on selected days.
The tours introduce visitors to the brewery’s history and the main ingredients and processes used to make beer, including malt, hops, yeast and water.
This is a useful addition if you want to learn more about brewing rather than only visiting the tasting room.
Tour times, languages, prices and availability can change, so check the official brewery website before planning your visit around a guided tour.
If a tour is unavailable during your visit, you can still enjoy the tasting room and terrace without joining a guided experience.
Tips for Visiting Brouwerij ’t IJ
A little planning can make the brewery easier to fit into your Amsterdam itinerary.
- Check the current opening hours before visiting, particularly if your schedule is tight.
- Check the brewery tour schedule separately if you want a guided experience.
- Go to the Funenkade location if the windmill setting is important to you.
- Arrive earlier on popular weekend afternoons if you want a better chance of finding a terrace seat.
- Try Brouwerij ’t IJ’s own beers rather than sticking to familiar international brands.
- Explore Amsterdam-Oost afterward rather than heading immediately back to the busiest part of the center.
- Allow time for the terrace in good weather. The view beside De Gooyer is one of the main reasons to visit this specific location.
Brouwerij ’t IJ can easily be combined with a larger Amsterdam sightseeing day. You could explore Amsterdam-Oost before visiting the brewery or combine it with a private canal cruise in Amsterdam to experience another side of the city.
If this is your first trip, our guide to what not to miss in Amsterdam can also help you plan other attractions around your brewery visit.
If you want to go beyond one Amsterdam windmill, consider a private boat from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans for a larger Dutch windmill experience.
FAQs
What is the brewery beside the windmill in Amsterdam?
The brewery is Brouwerij ’t IJ, located beside the historic De Gooyer windmill in Amsterdam-Oost. Its original tasting room is called Proeflokaal De Molen and is located at Funenkade 7.
Is Brouwerij ’t IJ actually inside a windmill?
No. Brouwerij ’t IJ is housed in a former bathhouse directly beside De Gooyer windmill. The brewery and windmill are separate buildings, although their close proximity has created the famous Amsterdam windmill brewery setting.
Can you tour Brouwerij ’t IJ?
Yes. Brouwerij ’t IJ offers brewery tours at the Funenkade location on selected days. Tour schedules, languages, prices and availability can change, so check the official brewery website before visiting.
Is Brouwerij ’t IJ worth visiting?
Yes, particularly if you enjoy craft beer and want a relaxed Amsterdam experience outside the busiest tourist streets. The combination of locally brewed beer, De Gooyer windmill and the outdoor terrace makes the location distinctive.