On the tiny square formed by the intersection of streets behind the Nieuwe Kerk, take a moment to stop and look around!
Look for the smallest house, just three windows wide, with three golden bottles above the entrance. This is De Drie Fleschjes, or “The Three Little Bottles” – the oldest bar in Amsterdam!
Today, it’s known as a tasting room for jenever – the Dutch ancestor of gin – but its history goes much further back. The first drinking house on this spot opened in 1619 – over 400 years ago! It was run by Antwerp artist and art dealer Barend van Someren and his wife Leonora, and, according to rumors, none other than Rembrandt and Spinoza were among the regulars.
Later, city officials from the nearby old town hall – now the Royal Palace – started frequenting the bar. You can even spot bottles dedicated to former mayors in the window display.
The bar is famous for its borreltjes tradition: here, jenever is served in a small tulip-shaped glass filled to the very brim. The proper way to take the first sip is to bend down and drink without lifting the glass – a perfect test of poise and elegance.
Along the wall, you’ll see a collection of wooden barrels engraved with the names of loyal patrons. Locals call it Amsterdam’s only "drinking organ".
And of course, strong jenever calls for a proper snack! Try aged Beemster cheese from the Beemster polder, a perfect match for the spirit’s spicy notes.
Perhaps this is the moment when you truly realize: Amsterdam isn’t just about canals and bicycles – it’s a city of flavors waiting to be discovered.
