travel
March 2, 2026
My search for the perfect brown bar in Amsterdam
I swerved the tourist traps and went on a bar crawl of the city’s bruine kroegen, the cosy, dimly lit pubs that are the Netherlands’ ‘surrogate living rooms’
TL;DR
- Bruine kroegen are traditional, cozy, dimly lit pubs in the Netherlands, often referred to as 'surrogate living rooms'.
- They feature dark-wood furniture, candles, aged decor, and antique-style lamps.
- Popular drinks include beers and jenevers, with snacks like bitterballen and nuts available.
- Despite facing closures due to rising costs, many brown bars, particularly in Amsterdam, are thriving.
- The article reviews several brown bars in Amsterdam: Café 't Smalle, Café Pieper, In 't Aepjen, Café Eijlders, and Café De Dokter, noting their individual characteristics and ambiance.
Continue reading the original article