Brown Cafes

Amsterdam's Brown Cafes are a truly unique phenomenon of the Dutch. Also known as Bruine Cafés or Bruine Kroegen, they are a common meeting place for the locals of Amsterdam and number over 1,000 in the city alone.

Legend has it has the first brown cafe existed in the 13th century, when two men and a dog came ashore on the banks of the river IJ in search of a drink. Whilst there are no brown cafes from that period, there are some that still exist from the 17th century.

So-called because their walls are stained from years of tobacco smoking, brown cafes are decorated with antiques and old paintings as well as featuring wooden furniture. They often have tables outside for patrons to use in the summer time. There is no music but simply the hubbub of conversation - all give rise to the Dutch "gezelligheid" which is a unique Dutch term that describes a sense of coziness and warmth.

Both alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks are served. A commonly served drink is jenever or gin. A variety of beers are usually also available, as well as coffees. Some brown cafes even have tasting rooms or proeflokalen. In bygone days, customers would sample a variety of drinks for free before deciding on their tipple for the rest of the night - these days, however, you must pay a minimal price for this unique experience.