The Drie Fleschjes

In a city full of pubs and stories, it’s no surprise that Amsterdammers have argued for centuries about which is truly the oldest. For a long time, names like De Druif and Karpershoek were mentioned, but recent research gave a surprising answer. Not in a busy alley full of tourists, but in the quiet Gravenstraat lies the place that officially holds the title: De Drie Fleschjes.

This isn’t a pub that flaunts a grand facade or loud tales. It’s a modest jenever tasting room, in use since 1618. Here you literally step four centuries back in time. The space still carries the atmosphere of artists and thinkers who found their way through the city. It is said that Rembrandt came here after long days of painting, and that Spinoza held conversations about the world and its ideas within these walls.

Inside, the scent of wood, jenever, and history lingers. The interior, largely from 1888, is simple yet unchanged. It’s a place where, for a moment, you can imagine how Amsterdam felt in a time without tourist crowds, when pubs were the beating heart of the city.

If you want to understand how deep the roots of Amsterdam’s pub culture go, this is where you start.