Many Amsterdam pubs claim to be the oldest in the city. But what is the truth? Historical research reveals surprising truths about the origins of several legendary Amsterdam drinking houses. The best-known pubs, such as De Drie Fleschjes, Karpershoek, and De Druif, have a long history. However, that history is not always as they claim.
Amsterdam pubs often attach a mythical origin to their establishment. This is not surprising, as historical research into old cafés is challenging. Official tapping permits were not systematically recorded until 1742, and older documents are scarce. Many contemporary pub owners base their stories more on folklore than on archival documents.
Research
City historian Maarten Hell investigated for the history magazine Ons Amsterdam how it really is. Maarten also wrote the book De Amsterdamse herberg 1450-1800. Geestrijk centrum van het openbare leven. This article is based on his research. To count as an ancient pub, a café today must still function as a drinking house and have a demonstrable history that goes back to before 1800, in the same building or a predecessor. With those criteria, various well-known pubs were researched.
De Drie Fleschjes: the oldest pub in Amsterdam
When we look purely at the documentation, tasting room De Drie Fleschjes, located at Gravenstraat 18, is the oldest pub in Amsterdam. Although the establishment is known today as a cozy tasting room for jenever and liqueurs, the history goes much further back than the legends about famous regulars like Rembrandt and Spinoza suggest.
The current pub dates from 1888, when the building was remodeled by liqueur distillery H. Bootz. However, as early as 1618, there was a drinking house at this location, then under the name Het Sufflet. It was run by the Antwerp painter and art dealer Barend van Someren and his wife Leonora. In the second half of the 17th century, landscape painter Aert van der Neer also stood behind the bar, giving De Drie Fleschjes a unique artistic background.
In the 18th century, the building became the property of Hendrick ter Plegt, a tapper and distiller from Overijssel. The name De Drie Fleschjes first appeared after his death in 1782, as seen in an old drawing. Thus, the café can boast over 4 centuries of pub history.
Other famous old pubs
Although De Drie Fleschjes is the oldest documented pub, other cafés also have a rich history.
Karpershoek (1641, possibly 1606)
Café Karpershoek, located at Martelaarsgracht, is a strong candidate as an ancient pub. In 1641, an inn called De Oldenburger Kelder was mentioned at this location, a popular stop for German and Frisian skippers. There is even an indication from 1606 suggesting that there was already a drinking establishment here.
De Dokter (1706)
This small café in the Rozenboomsteeg is said to have started in 1798, but documents indicate that a tapper-distiller was already active here in 1706. In the 18th century, the building became known as De Rozenboom. The name De Dokter only appeared in 1928.
De Druif (1863)
According to legend, De Druif already existed in 1585 and was frequented by sea hero Piet Hein. In reality, De Druif only began as a drinking house in 1863, founded by a Catholic tailor and his Prussian wife. Only later was jenever distilled, and the drinking house gained its nostalgic image.
Café Chris (1882)
Although Café Chris in the Jordaan claims to date back to 1624 and served beer to the construction workers of the Westertoren, there is no evidence of a drinking house at this location before the 19th century. The first innkeeper only started serving strong drinks here in 1882.
Het Aepjen (1991)
Het Aepjen on Zeedijk is a special case. Despite the persistent legend that sailors once paid their debts here with monkeys, there was never an inn in the iconic building with the wooden facade. It was not until 1991 that a café was established here, inspired by a previously disappeared pub at Zeedijk 15.
Important heritage
Amsterdam has an impressive drinking history, but many ancient pubs do not have protected status. While the city is proud of its 20th-century brown cafés, historic pubs sometimes face the risk of disappearing. This is a shame, as these old cafés tell a lot about the history of Amsterdam.
With a history dating back to 1618, De Drie Fleschjes deserves the title of oldest pub in the city. This tasting room, once run by artists and distillers, is a living memory of Amsterdams drinking past.
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