Brouwerj T'IJ / De Gooier Windmill

Amsterdam stands as the Heineken headquarters, but look beyond the over-saturated advertising and you’ll find a crop of small city brewers offering a great variety of tasty and cheap beers as an alternative.

Walk from Centraal Station and look for the big De Gooier windmill and you’ll find the beloved Brouwerj t’IJ next door, a classic small brew-pub rife with aficionados. T’IJ packs in daily throngs of visitors into their large U-shaped bar and giant picnic table seating area inside, which projects a smoky, quaint and fun atmosphere. It’s all about the beer, of which they offer a dozen varieties for around two to three euros each—cheap enough to sample many without worrying about your budget.