DUTCH COURAGE
Dutch Courage is the cocktailbar owned by Timo Janse on Amsterdam's Zeedijk 12. The bar is an ode to genever and old-Dutch liqueurs, and combines 150 different genevers with a wide variety of genever based cocktails. A first: in the bar you will also find the world's first ‘kopstootjes-automatiek’.
Dutch Courage is open 7 days per week, from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am and on Friday and Saturday from 3:00pm until 3:00 am. We hope to welcome you soon!
Bar concept
The term Dutch Courage and genever go hand in hand. While the Dutch and English soldiers fought side by side during the Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648). The Dutch soldiers had a daily ration of genever, and every morning before battle, they would take some big gulps of Dutch Courage to take the edge off. And since the English and Dutch fought side by side against the same enemy, they were willing to share their daily portion of genever.
Genever and cocktails
And it was not just the British. Dutch spirits have played a major role on the world stage for hundreds of years. Our traditional genever was widely traded and drunk all over the world. And during the American ‘Golden Age of Cocktails’ (1850-1920), genever was one of the four spirits used as a base in cocktails, alongside brandy, whiskey and rum. 25% of all classic cocktails are traditionally based on genever! At Dutch Courage we let our guests fall in love again with this Dutch spirit and other beautiful distillates, such as Dutch gin, rum and old-Dutch liqueurs. The Zeedijk, traditionally a neighbourhood where ships full of herbs and spices entered the country, is therefore the ideal location.
Ode to genever and Dutch drinking culture
Cocktail bar Dutch Courage combines 150 different genevers from the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany with an extensive range of genevers based cocktails and is an ode to genever and old-Dutch liqueurs. Foreign spirits, with stories that lead back to the Netherlands, are also available. Timo Janse: “We want to offer a good balance between a high-quality cocktail bar on the one hand and the cozy, ’gezellige’ and accessible ambience of the traditional local pub on the other. We therefore do not take reservations. In addition to a cocktail based on Dutch history, you can also enjoy a genever tasting flight or a qualitative ‘kopstootje’ with local beers.”
First 'kopstootjes-automatiek' in the world
The traditional ‘kopstootje’, a glass of genever in combination with a beer, can of course be ordered at the bar from the bartenders trained by Janse. In addition, at Zeedijk 12 you will find the first cooled ‘kopstootjes-automatiek’ in the world. A traditional Dutch vending machine customised to serve three sorts of genever, paired together with a cold beer on the side. Janse selected their three favourite combinations and you simply pull the miniature clay genever jugs with young, old or 100% moutwijn genever, and a bottle of beer from the wall. This fits well within the ideas of Janse to make cocktails and genever more accessible to a wider audience. Janse: “It is just super fun to pull something out of the wall. Nostalgic for the Dutch and a special experience for the tourist. And also nice and covid-proof!”.
Contact
Stay informed via facebook.com/dutchcouragecocktails or follow the team on instagram @dutchcouragecocktails. For additional information or interview requests, please contact info@dutchcouragecocktails.com.
