About this event
"FESTI'TOUR — Amsterdam, on the bockbier trail
EDITORIAL TEXT
INTRODUCTION
Every autumn, the Netherlands celebrates the return of bockbier, the amber-to-dark, malty and generous beer brewed for the cold season. The season kicks off in Amsterdam with the PINT Bockbierfestival, organised by the consumer association PINT: the 44th edition takes place on 2 and 3 October 2026 at De Hallen, a converted former tram depot in the Oud-West district. It is the country's oldest beer festival and the great gathering of bock lovers. Before you raise your glass there, this Festi'Tour crosses Amsterdam on foot and by tram: urban breweries, canals, markets and museums, right up to the festival gates.
MEET
Start in the historic centre at Brouwerij de Prael (existing beBeer record), a social brewery tucked away near the red-light district that trains and employs people distanced from the job market. In the taproom, the team is happy to talk about brewing the house bocks and about Amsterdam's beer scene. An authentic encounter to open the day.
TASTE
Head south to De Pijp. At the Albert Cuyp market, try the Dutch classics: crispy bitterballen, raw herring, warm stroopwafels and aged gouda, perfect companions for a malty bock. A few steps away, Brouwerij De Engel (existing beBeer record) brews right in the heart of the market: take a seat at the counter and compare a local autumn bock with a seasonal beer. Recommended pairing: aged gouda and herfstbock, an unbeatable caramel-and-hazelnut duo.
DISCOVER
The route then links Amsterdam's great backdrops. From De Prael, walk to the 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site: follow the Herengracht and then the Prinsengracht as bridges, houseboats and gabled houses drift past over three easy kilometres. After the foodie break in De Pijp, cross over to the Museumplein: the Rijksmuseum shows Rembrandt and Vermeer, and its cycling passage is a curiosity in itself. Carry on through the Vondelpark, the city's green lung, whose paths lead straight towards Oud-West. Ten minutes' walk from the park's western exit, you are standing before the industrial glass roofs of De Hallen, where the festival awaits.
JOIN
At De Hallen, the PINT Bockbierfestival lines up dozens of Dutch breweries and more than a hundred bocks: traditional herfstbock, IPA versions, smoked or barrel-aged. The brewers pour their own beers, a chance to meet the local players behind the beBeer records: Walhalla, Poesiat & Kater, Butcher's Tears or Breugem. Tasting tokens, De Hallen's food corners and a convivial atmosphere: the natural finale of the route.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Friday 2 October (5pm-10pm) and Saturday 3 October 2026 (1pm-10pm), at De Hallen, Hannie Dankbaarpassage, Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. Tickets and programme on the official website: www.pintbockbierfestival.nl.
———
BEER PLANNER STRUCTURE
Festi'Tour name: Festi'Tour Amsterdam — On the bockbier trail
Festival: PINT Bockbierfestival 2026 (44th edition)
Town: Amsterdam
Region: North Holland
Country: Netherlands
Dates: 2-3 October 2026 (Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat 1pm-10pm)
Recommended duration: 1 day (ideally Saturday, festival from 1pm)
Approx. distance: 6 km on foot (tram options 24 and 2/12)
Number of stages: 7
Route type: day trip
Stage 1 — Brewery: Brouwerij de Prael (Amsterdam)
Social brewery in the historic centre, near the red-light district, with a convivial taproom and house-brewed bocks. Meet a committed team that employs people distanced from the job market and discover urban brewing. An emblematic Amsterdam brewery of the bock scene, opening the season celebrated at the festival.
beBeer record: existing · Priority: must-see · Suggested time: 1h · Tags: #beer, #brewery, #culture
Stage 2 — Heritage: UNESCO Canal Ring (Herengracht-Prinsengracht) (Amsterdam)
Concentric 17th-century canals listed by UNESCO: bridges, houseboats and gabled houses, best explored on foot. Walk through Amsterdam's most iconic scenery while linking the centre to the De Pijp district. The pedestrian link between the city-centre breweries and the south of the city, towards the festival.
beBeer record: to create · Priority: must-see · Suggested time: 45 min · Tags: #heritage, #history, #viewpoint
Stage 3 — Gastronomy: Albert Cuyp Market (Amsterdam)
The largest street market in the Netherlands: bitterballen, herring, stroopwafels, gouda and world food. Taste the Dutch specialities that pair naturally with malty autumn bocks. Gets the palate ready for the bock-and-food pairings on offer at the festival.
beBeer record: to create · Priority: recommended · Suggested time: 45 min · Tags: #gastronomy, #localproducer, #culture
Stage 4 — Brewery: Brouwerij De Engel (Amsterdam)
Neighbourhood microbrewery on the Albert Cuypstraat, craft beers served at the counter. Enjoy a local autumn bock right in the middle of the market, alongside the brewers. A foretaste of the Amsterdam craft bocks poured at the festival.
beBeer record: existing · Priority: recommended · Suggested time: 45 min · Tags: #beer, #brewery, #beerbar
Stage 5 — Museum: Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)
The national museum of the Netherlands on the Museumplein: Rembrandt, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age. Dive into the art and history of the Golden Age, a time when beer was the everyday drink. The cultural anchor of the route, halfway between De Pijp and Oud-West.
beBeer record: to create · Priority: recommended · Suggested time: 1h30 · Tags: #museum, #history, #culture
Stage 6 — Landscape: Vondelpark (Amsterdam)
Large 19th-century landscaped park with shaded paths, ponds and pavilions, much loved by Amsterdammers. Catch your breath between tastings and reach Oud-West via a green stroll. Its western exit is a ten-minute walk from De Hallen, the festival venue.
beBeer record: to create · Priority: optional · Suggested time: 30 min · Tags: #nature, #viewpoint, #culture
Stage 7 — Festival: PINT Bockbierfestival (De Hallen) (Amsterdam)
44th edition of the oldest Dutch beer festival: dozens of breweries and more than a hundred bocks at De Hallen. Taste the full diversity of Dutch bockbier, served by the brewers themselves, in a former tram depot. The high point of the Festi'Tour: find Walhalla, Poesiat & Kater, Butcher's Tears and Breugem on tap.
beBeer record: to create · Priority: must-see · Suggested time: 3h or more · Tags: #festival, #beer, #gastronomy
———
SUGGESTED NEW RECORDS
• Heritage — Amsterdam Canal Ring (UNESCO) (Amsterdam): Network of concentric 17th-century canals (Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht), a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010. The backbone of any walking route in Amsterdam; will connect many urban Festi'Tours and Beer Trips in beBeer. Priority: high
• Gastronomy — Albert Cuyp Market (Amsterdam): The largest street market in the Netherlands, open Monday to Saturday on the Albert Cuypstraat: bitterballen, herring, stroopwafels, cheeses. A major beer-and-food pairing spot, right next to the existing Brouwerij De Engel record. Priority: high
• Museum — Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam): The national museum of the Netherlands on the Museumplein, with the Rembrandt and Vermeer collections in Pierre Cuypers' 1885 building. An essential cultural stop that strengthens the heritage dimension of beBeer routes in Amsterdam. Priority: medium
• POI — Vondelpark (Amsterdam): A 47-hectare landscaped park opened in 1865, between Museumplein and Oud-West, with ponds, pavilions and open-air stages. The natural green link towards De Hallen and an ideal resting point on beer routes in western Amsterdam. Priority: medium
• Festival — PINT Bockbierfestival (De Hallen) (Amsterdam): Annual festival of the PINT association dedicated to Dutch bockbier, 44th edition on 2-3 October 2026 at De Hallen (Oud-West). The founding event of the bock season, the high point of this Festi'Tour and a recurring autumn fixture to list. Priority: high"
EDITORIAL TEXT
INTRODUCTION
Every autumn, the Netherlands celebrates the return of bockbier, the amber-to-dark, malty and generous beer brewed for the cold season. The season kicks off in Amsterdam with the PINT Bockbierfestival, organised by the consumer association PINT: the 44th edition takes place on 2 and 3 October 2026 at De Hallen, a converted former tram depot in the Oud-West district. It is the country's oldest beer festival and the great gathering of bock lovers. Before you raise your glass there, this Festi'Tour crosses Amsterdam on foot and by tram: urban breweries, canals, markets and museums, right up to the festival gates.
MEET
Start in the historic centre at Brouwerij de Prael (existing beBeer record), a social brewery tucked away near the red-light district that trains and employs people distanced from the job market. In the taproom, the team is happy to talk about brewing the house bocks and about Amsterdam's beer scene. An authentic encounter to open the day.
TASTE
Head south to De Pijp. At the Albert Cuyp market, try the Dutch classics: crispy bitterballen, raw herring, warm stroopwafels and aged gouda, perfect companions for a malty bock. A few steps away, Brouwerij De Engel (existing beBeer record) brews right in the heart of the market: take a seat at the counter and compare a local autumn bock with a seasonal beer. Recommended pairing: aged gouda and herfstbock, an unbeatable caramel-and-hazelnut duo.
DISCOVER
The route then links Amsterdam's great backdrops. From De Prael, walk to the 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site: follow the Herengracht and then the Prinsengracht as bridges, houseboats and gabled houses drift past over three easy kilometres. After the foodie break in De Pijp, cross over to the Museumplein: the Rijksmuseum shows Rembrandt and Vermeer, and its cycling passage is a curiosity in itself. Carry on through the Vondelpark, the city's green lung, whose paths lead straight towards Oud-West. Ten minutes' walk from the park's western exit, you are standing before the industrial glass roofs of De Hallen, where the festival awaits.
JOIN
At De Hallen, the PINT Bockbierfestival lines up dozens of Dutch breweries and more than a hundred bocks: traditional herfstbock, IPA versions, smoked or barrel-aged. The brewers pour their own beers, a chance to meet the local players behind the beBeer records: Walhalla, Poesiat & Kater, Butcher's Tears or Breugem. Tasting tokens, De Hallen's food corners and a convivial atmosphere: the natural finale of the route.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Friday 2 October (5pm-10pm) and Saturday 3 October 2026 (1pm-10pm), at De Hallen, Hannie Dankbaarpassage, Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. Tickets and programme on the official website: www.pintbockbierfestival.nl.
———
BEER PLANNER STRUCTURE
Festi'Tour name: Festi'Tour Amsterdam — On the bockbier trail
Festival: PINT Bockbierfestival 2026 (44th edition)
Town: Amsterdam
Region: North Holland
Country: Netherlands
Dates: 2-3 October 2026 (Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat 1pm-10pm)
Recommended duration: 1 day (ideally Saturday, festival from 1pm)
Approx. distance: 6 km on foot (tram options 24 and 2/12)
Number of stages: 7
Route type: day trip
Stage 1 — Brewery: Brouwerij de Prael (Amsterdam)
Social brewery in the historic centre, near the red-light district, with a convivial taproom and house-brewed bocks. Meet a committed team that employs people distanced from the job market and discover urban brewing. An emblematic Amsterdam brewery of the bock scene, opening the season celebrated at the festival.
beBeer record: existing · Priority: must-see · Suggested time: 1h · Tags: #beer, #brewery, #culture
Stage 2 — Heritage: UNESCO Canal Ring (Herengracht-Prinsengracht) (Amsterdam)
Concentric 17th-century canals listed by UNESCO: bridges, houseboats and gabled houses, best explored on foot. Walk through Amsterdam's most iconic scenery while linking the centre to the De Pijp district. The pedestrian link between the city-centre breweries and the south of the city, towards the festival.
beBeer record: to create · Priority: must-see · Suggested time: 45 min · Tags: #heritage, #history, #viewpoint
Stage 3 — Gastronomy: Albert Cuyp Market (Amsterdam)
The largest street market in the Netherlands: bitterballen, herring, stroopwafels, gouda and world food. Taste the Dutch specialities that pair naturally with malty autumn bocks. Gets the palate ready for the bock-and-food pairings on offer at the festival.
beBeer record: to create · Priority: recommended · Suggested time: 45 min · Tags: #gastronomy, #localproducer, #culture
Stage 4 — Brewery: Brouwerij De Engel (Amsterdam)
Neighbourhood microbrewery on the Albert Cuypstraat, craft beers served at the counter. Enjoy a local autumn bock right in the middle of the market, alongside the brewers. A foretaste of the Amsterdam craft bocks poured at the festival.
beBeer record: existing · Priority: recommended · Suggested time: 45 min · Tags: #beer, #brewery, #beerbar
Stage 5 — Museum: Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)
The national museum of the Netherlands on the Museumplein: Rembrandt, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age. Dive into the art and history of the Golden Age, a time when beer was the everyday drink. The cultural anchor of the route, halfway between De Pijp and Oud-West.
beBeer record: to create · Priority: recommended · Suggested time: 1h30 · Tags: #museum, #history, #culture
Stage 6 — Landscape: Vondelpark (Amsterdam)
Large 19th-century landscaped park with shaded paths, ponds and pavilions, much loved by Amsterdammers. Catch your breath between tastings and reach Oud-West via a green stroll. Its western exit is a ten-minute walk from De Hallen, the festival venue.
beBeer record: to create · Priority: optional · Suggested time: 30 min · Tags: #nature, #viewpoint, #culture
Stage 7 — Festival: PINT Bockbierfestival (De Hallen) (Amsterdam)
44th edition of the oldest Dutch beer festival: dozens of breweries and more than a hundred bocks at De Hallen. Taste the full diversity of Dutch bockbier, served by the brewers themselves, in a former tram depot. The high point of the Festi'Tour: find Walhalla, Poesiat & Kater, Butcher's Tears and Breugem on tap.
beBeer record: to create · Priority: must-see · Suggested time: 3h or more · Tags: #festival, #beer, #gastronomy
———
SUGGESTED NEW RECORDS
• Heritage — Amsterdam Canal Ring (UNESCO) (Amsterdam): Network of concentric 17th-century canals (Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht), a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010. The backbone of any walking route in Amsterdam; will connect many urban Festi'Tours and Beer Trips in beBeer. Priority: high
• Gastronomy — Albert Cuyp Market (Amsterdam): The largest street market in the Netherlands, open Monday to Saturday on the Albert Cuypstraat: bitterballen, herring, stroopwafels, cheeses. A major beer-and-food pairing spot, right next to the existing Brouwerij De Engel record. Priority: high
• Museum — Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam): The national museum of the Netherlands on the Museumplein, with the Rembrandt and Vermeer collections in Pierre Cuypers' 1885 building. An essential cultural stop that strengthens the heritage dimension of beBeer routes in Amsterdam. Priority: medium
• POI — Vondelpark (Amsterdam): A 47-hectare landscaped park opened in 1865, between Museumplein and Oud-West, with ponds, pavilions and open-air stages. The natural green link towards De Hallen and an ideal resting point on beer routes in western Amsterdam. Priority: medium
• Festival — PINT Bockbierfestival (De Hallen) (Amsterdam): Annual festival of the PINT association dedicated to Dutch bockbier, 44th edition on 2-3 October 2026 at De Hallen (Oud-West). The founding event of the bock season, the high point of this Festi'Tour and a recurring autumn fixture to list. Priority: high"