Fun history of Bols and the distilling of different flavors of alcoholic liqueurs. Self-guided tour with audio. After you pay for your ticket at the front desk, you put your jackets and loose items in a locker (free) and pickup an audio tour device and program it for your preferred language (easy). You get a yummy cocktail to savor at the end! And there's a fun gift shop to peruse, where we bought tulip glasses for the purpose of drinking Genever . We enjoyed the Espresso martini and Red Light Negroni at the bar at the end. Both were made skillfully and tasted delicious! The highlight of the experience, honestly, was meeting Lars (aka "Larson") and Julia at the front desk. They were hilarious with each other and delightful with us. They helped us package the 6 tulip glasses in paper within styrofoam boxes for sturdy protection during travel. They are the true stars of this operation. read more

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I enjoy distillery tours when I travel. I browsed the list of attractions that accept the I Amsterdam card and came across Bols Amsterdam. It's located near Museumplein by all of the major museums which was so convenient. I was interested in doing a cocktail class with the tour, but wasn't sure if I could book the class with the I Amsterdam card. I sent an email through the website and a DM on Instagram and no one responded, which was disappointing. When I arrived, I inquired about it. They offered to let me upgrade my ticket, but I declined. Once I got checked in, I received a vial of a mystery flavored genever to taste at the end of the tour. The tour is self guided and it is truly a sensory experience. The tour starts with the history of Bols, then goes into the process of making genever. There are interactive elements throughout. It was really cool to see Lucas Bols' original recipe book from 1820. Towards the end of the tour, I tried the mystery genever in the sensory booth. I don't remember the flavor, but it was red and it was sweet. The sensory booth contains a camera that records your reaction as you're tasting it. At the end of the tour, guests are able to enjoy a complimentary cocktail. The bar area was really cool. They have a flair booth where you can learn how to spin and throw cocktail bottles. They also had house music playing which created a fun vibe. The bartender that made my drink was Serchan (pronounced "Sar-John"). He was so nice and let me sample a couple of genevers. I ordered the First Aid cocktail. It was citrus forward and refreshing! He also printed out a receipt with the cocktail recipe. I threw some cash in the tip jar and learned that they accept cash in any currency! This was a fun experience! Any activity where I can have a delicious cocktail and learn something new is right up my alley. read more

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Wow just wow. What a great experience with my husband and friends. Great drinks and a must try. read more

Bols Cocktail Experience Amsterdam - All our first round of drinks. - Museums Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

I had so much fun at Bols Cocktail Experience. This was my first time in Amsterdam, and I had seen so many great reviews about Bols on social media. My friend and I made a reservation for the self-guided tour and cocktail making workshop. When we arrived for our reservation, we checked in and the host explained to us how the self-guided tour goes and where to start. For anyone who suffers from epilepsy or has had a seizure before please be careful. There is a part of the tour with warning signs regarding flashing lights if you walk into these small rooms. I have had seizures in the past and I did not risk going into the rooms. My friend went inside the room and stated it was really cool, but she can see how it could possibly trigger a seizure or even a migraine. The rest of the tower was amazing, and they even had hands of stimulations and games. I was very impressed. At the end of the tour, we received one cocktail on the house. They have a menu with all the different drink options at the bar. The bartenders were very helpful when it came to suggesting drinks and explaining what was in each one. Lastly, we joined the cocktail making workshop with other people at a separate bar. We made two drinks one being a specialty cocktail and the second was a custom cocktail. I had so much fun and everyone was friendly. I wish I could remember the lady's name who taught the workshop, she was awesome! This is a great place to go if you're visiting Amsterdam :) read more

Super fun self-guided tour, plus a nice drink at the end. I would recommend stopping at the MOCO museum across the street before or after. Definitely will learn a few things read more

This was a really fun and low key tour, you get a mystery shot upon entry, plus a ticket for a drink at the bar at the end of the tour (you can purchase additional as well). There's an entire room dedicated to the KLM dutch houses (Bols provides the genever inside these iconic mini houses!). There was also multiple rooms of flavors that you can sniff test. The museum itself is fairly small, easily finish-able within 30 minutes or less depending on your time constraints, but it was fun and interesting and the audio tour was very informative. The bar area at the end is pretty small (and indoors only), but service was fast and our cocktails tasted great. You can even sign up for a session where they teach you to make your drinks, but we did not opt for this part. All in all, very cool museum experience. read more

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After a full day of art and culture at the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, the Bols Experience is a great place to decompress. Friendly and helpful staff will get you on your way to a fun and surprisingly educational escape. The room which tests your sense of smell of the ingredients was truly unique. If you appreciate architecture, aviation history, and Delft Porcelain, then the eye-popping display of the KLM Delft Houses might make you a bit giddy. I can't be the only one. For your cocktail, or plural, you've got plenty of choices. My bartender (from South Africa) was a super nice guy who mixed a great Dutch Manhattan. My only criticism is the limited seating in the bar, especially as people will tend to linger. The gift shop offers several quality items for your bar as well. read more

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Went here after researching Genever distilleries in Amsterdam. This is the oldest continuously operating distillery in the city. You start off with a very informative and interactive tour and then proceed to the bar. They mix you a drink according to your personal taste. They have over 300 flavors to choose from and it's quite impressive how spot on the outcome was. If you want a second drink you can just pay 8e each which we did. Then you proceed to the gift shop. If you liked your drink and want to recreate it at home you probably should buy the main ingredients from here because It might be difficult to find these specific items at home. We enjoyed this place so much that we decided to do it again today with some of our friends. read more

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When I was visiting Amsterdam, I went to Bols for the museum tour and cocktail class. Each ticket comes with 3 included cocktails, so immediately you're getting great value for your money. Their museum was creative, informative, and engaging - it was BY FAR the best museum tour of its kind I've ever been on. I won't spoil what's inside, but I highly recommend checking it out! The tour ends in their bar (which is incredible and very extravagant looking) for the included drinks. For the cocktail class, we learned to make two drinks: a caipirinha and a fruity martini. For both drinks, we were walked through the process, ingredients, and techniques; then we got to choose from about 30 different flavors which one (or multiple ones) we each wanted to put in our drinks. The teacher of the class was hilarious and kept it fun every step of the way, and the drinks came out tasting great. read more

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This was a great experience to learn the history of this "Dutch gin"- Genever. The tour is self guided and includes the history, distilling techniques, and the many different flavors extracted from many different plants. The tour ends in a dedicated bar where you can order a specially cocktail from an interactive screen. This produces a ticket with you take to a bartender. It was fun to watch them work. read more

Bols Cocktail Experience Amsterdam - Great post tour cocktails - Museums Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

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Learning the different methods liqueurs are made was interesting, but I would have preferred more educational content. Oldest cocktails in the world, that you Dutch East India Trading Company. Bartenders were amazing. I enjoyed the cocktail experience by myself, but would have been more fun with friends. Ambiance is a bit glitzy for my taste, but it definitely curates the experience. Wynand Fockink is another liqueur distillery (owned by the same company) that has a real traditional and casual vibe. Try both! read more

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Really interesting if you're into distilling and gin history. The experience is fun where you can put your olfactory to the test. Enjoy a drink at the end! read more

Bols Cocktail Experience Amsterdam - Museums Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

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Probably a highlight from the many museums that I visited when I was in Amsterdam. I had very low expectation when I was visiting Bols Amsterdam. It was like the 4th museum of the day and I was not sure what to expect. I bought the tickets at the front and the lady gave me a little bottle of alcohol that she told me that I should hold until one of the interactive experiences. I went down a flight of stairs and voila! I was immersed in this experience. The museum is all about the Bols distillery and there is a few interactive experience including different smells, etc. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to ruin anything. I also went when it was a little later in the day so I was able to wander around without any interruptions. There is also a super cool Instagram worthy exhibit towards the end. Your ticket also includes a drink at the end. If you put in your preference, the computer will recommend a drink. I got this super pretty mai tai. There's a small bar where you can sit and enjoy your drink. The bartender was super nice and gave me some recommendations for night life. It took me about an hour to go through and have a drink. Definitely worth the price for the experience. read more

Bols Cocktail Experience Amsterdam - Very cool! - Museums Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

If you need a fun distraction during your time in Amsterdam, we highly recommend a visit here. We bought our tickets at the door. They give a nice little tour that provides an overview of the distillation process. Parts of the tour include smelling a whiff of scent and trying to identify it. Fun! Then comes the really fun part, you get to input what tastes you like into a screen and then the cocktails that best match what you like come up for your final selection. We each had something different, which are made in a snazzy bar area. Both tasty and then we each opted for the ticket option that includes a small bottle of liquor. We also bought one of the collectable Bols blue Delft houses to start a collection of our own! read more

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Oldest distillery brand in the world! My friends and I visited House of Bols, a distillery known for its genever and gin (and other types of alcohol). Bols is a very popular name brand in the Netherlands, so it was nice to learn about the brand's history and try some liqueurs. Located in the Museum Quarter, House of Bols is walking distance from many of the museums. We were able to walk in without any appointments and our admission fee came with a shot of a liqueur, a complimentary drink token and an audio guide. The audio guide was useful, for allowing you to listen to all of the information for each room you walk though on the self-guided tour. Touring House of Bols was actually pretty interesting and they do a great job of breaking down the different rooms, from Bols' history, to smelling different ingredients used for making the liqueur, how the liqueur is created, and even an interactive room where you walk in and take a shot of the liqueur that you're given with your ticket. At the end of the tour you're then led to the bar area where you can choose from a list of complimentary cocktails. It was better than I anticipated and actually learned about a distillery brand that I never heard about before coming to Amsterdam. I would recommend for anyone who likes cocktails, especially gin-based ones, or anyone needing a break from touring all the artwork in the several museums nearby. It's a fun experience. read more

Bols Cocktail Experience Amsterdam - Different cocktails at the bar - Museums Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

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Such a fun tour and experience. It's super interactive and educational plus there are cocktails at the end and additional cocktails can be purchased for 6 £ which is quite the steal! Genever is an alcohol uniquely Dutch. It is the juniper-flavored traditional liquor in the Netherlands, Belgium and adjoining areas in northern France and northwestern Germany. It is similar to gin in that it is distilled malt wine mixed with herbs like that of the juniper berry. This is a unique interactive tour that will trigger your senses; smell, sight and taste. After the tour, you can enjoy a delicious cocktail. There are some delicious options. This was a fun tour. Highly recommend this experience! read more

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Amazing!! If you like alcohol and want to learn more, this place is a must see in Amsterdam. Not too expensive, a ticket for the museum and workshop (33€) includes 3 free drinks and a little surprise taste during your tour. I learned so much and love the layout of the museum. The bar was great as well, mirrored and funky, a perfect place for a picture! We chose for the bartender to surprise us twice and we were so happy with what they gave us! The cocktail workshop was informative and fun and I will definitely take these skills home! No complaints here! This is one of the best museum experiences I've had as someone who loves a tactile and kinesthetic experience! read more

After a prior trip to Amsterdam I discovered my love of genever (aka: jeneveer) and wanted to learn more about this liquor of the Netherlands. While planning our vacation I came across the House of Bols cocktail museum and I knew we had to visit. The tickets to the House of Bols are a little pricey at €16 per person, but it includes a handcrafted cocktail of your choice at the end of the tour. The tours are self-guided and take about an hour to see everything. The highlight of the museum for me (besides the Mirror bar!) was the room where you can smell each genever flavor. My husband, sister and I had so much fun guessing which each scent was! This also gave us a chance to realize what flavors of genever we would most likely enjoy. At the end of the tour you get to select your own personal handcrafted cocktail to be made at the bar. The kiosk allows you to choose whether you prefer fruity, herbal, savory or another variety of cocktail. Our cocktails were so good!!! If you love genever I highly recommend a visit at the House of Bols! read more

Bols Cocktail Experience Amsterdam - Mirror Bar at the House of Bols - Museums Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

House of what... Bols? Yes, that is exactly right. Bols is a Genever (Gin) first created in Amsterdam in 1664. Now this is my type of museum! Upon entering, you will see a whole wall of different colored Genevers. There is every color and flavor imaginable. The girls at the ticket counter were personable, helpful and patient. They explained that the museum is a self guided tour, answered all of our questions and even took our jackets to hang up for us so that we can explore in comfort. The tour shows you the history of the Bols family and distillery. As you wander around, you are able to smell and touch the different ingredients that go into producing these Genevers. At the very end of your tour, you can select your choice of a free cocktail on a computer, print the choice and present to the bartender. The bartender is in the mirrored bar room where you can enjoy watching your cocktail being made, take pictures and get 2 more free shots of your choice. I recommend the strawberry yogurt. It was the most refreshing, fruity and delicious cocktail I've ever had. read more

Bols Cocktail Experience Amsterdam - Museums Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

This place is AWESOME!!!!! So happy we stumbled across a Groupon that brought us this way. From the moment we walked in, the experience was A1. The guy at the front desk was so warm and helped us with instructions that were greatly detailed. We started the tour and it walked us through the history of Bols. We also got a shot along the way. At the end of the tour, you get to select your own cocktail and drink it at the bar. I recommend this place to everyone!! read more

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They call it an experience. That is an understatement. The self guided tour takes about an hour and a bit, depending on how long you stay in the last 'instalment' but I'll go into that later. Entrance is limited to the 18+'s and the entrance fee may seem a little OTT but, in my estimation, worth it. Again that will be explained later. The tour takes you through the History of the House of Bols and how, we Brits, pinched the genever idea and started to make the 'inferior' gin. That's how the Dutch explained it. Great visual displays in the form of video and sound and light displays. Fantastic selection of Delft houses given to KLM Business class passengers. Then comes the crowning glory of this tour, teaching you how your taste and smell senses can be deceived. Placing a taste strip in your mouth and watching the screen your brain is sent into overdrive. Shots on the screen of various fruits scramble the brain. Was that taste strawberry, cherry, melon etc etc.? Awesome. The final challenge in this room was to pinch the nose while placing a taste strip in the mouth. NO TASTE. Unpinch the nose and WOW, the flavour comes through. A room with about 48 bottles to smell the various scents. Truly fascinating. Finally, I mentioned the entrance fee. The ultimate experience is a visit to the bar where, on a visual display, you choose a cocktail. Print your choice out and take it to the bar where a barman, from the bartending school above, makes your cocktail. Followed by your choice of two shots of any of the full selection of genevers. There goes the entrance fee. You can even have another cocktail, or two, for a price of 6.50 Euros each. We were extremely lucky that while on our visit a 'student' came down with his new cocktail and asked the bartenders and us to give our thoughts on his delightful 'concoction'. Full of citrus flavours, wonderful. If you are in Amsterdam, well worth a visit. Especially if, like us, you enjoy a different alcoholic beverage. read more

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Touristy - but fun. The self-guided tour has some interesting moments. If you think that you will buy some bottles at the end of the tour, the premium tour, with the 10% gift shop discount, is a good deal. The tour ends with a cocktail of your choice, containing a House of Bols product. read more

Bols Cocktail Experience Amsterdam - Museums Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

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Something fun to do other than just walking around while on vacation. The "experience" is about an hour. And it's fairly interactive. There is one part of the experience that has strobe lights and basically will give you a seizure. I was fine with it, but if you're old or have a medical condition, be careful. They should probably warn you about that. The ticket was close to 20 euros per person, but it includes a cool cocktail after. I had a fun negroni in a light bulb glass. Totally worth it. read more

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Yes, it is a bit touristy, but I think it is worth it. Honestly the Heineken Experience is trash compared to this place. So initially, I didn't have much thought over this place just because it was part of the Amsterdam Pass that I had so I decided to give it a go since it was included. I was genuinely surprised and really enjoyed the "experience". I think everything was very well organized and it was pretty interactive and interesting. Towards the end of the experience, you are able to enjoy a cocktail, and a shot of your choice. The bartenders and barback were very hospitable and friendly, and I think it was one of the highlights of my trip. read more

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This place rocks, the tour is kinda cool and the cocktails at the end are really good. For 15 this is a no brainer and you can buy extra drinks for like 6 dollars which is a great deal. The bartenders are all awesome, I would suggest letting them pick a cocktail for you. If you get the Latina bartender ask her to make a spicy cocktail it's gas. read more

Not a bad place. It is interesting and it should be for the price. The "experience" takes about 20 minutes; there are about five trims including their KLM give away a. I am not knocking, this was kind of cool. At the end, I would have preferred a tasting of Bols liqueurs vs. the single drinks. The folks that worked there were nice, but I felt pretty cheated when I left. There was a lot more that could have been done. Go to Heineken. read more

Cool unique experience. Worth the cost plus you get a free drink at the end. Check it out after the Van Gogh museum!

I have to admit that I went into the House of Bols with muted expectations. My knowledge of their brand was limited to their basic genever product and their array of unpalatably sweet (to me) syrupy flavoured liqueurs. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised by how much eye-opening history there is to the Bols company and that they -do- sell alcoholic products worth raving about. It's worth noting that they're currently sporting a check-in offer on Yelp, which I was unable to take advantage of due to forgetting my phone at the hotel. Oops. Fortunately, they have an even more compelling student deal, and the boy has a student ID from his residency program. Hooray! Knocking off 15-20% of the €11ish entry fee made a reasonable price tag extra affordable. The venue itself is exceptionally posh - something you notice immediately upon walking in. You're guided through various interactive displays and engaging exhibits that detail the origins of Bols genever, the history of the Bols trading company, and some of the fascinating works they've done. I had no idea about the Houses of Bols, filled with their genever and handed out to a partner airline's most loyal customers. Similarly, I didn't realise just how extensive their selection of liqueurs was. The entry fee is worth the cocktail and two shots of your choosing at the end of the tour. Particularly if you're into very sweet drinks. If you, like me, shy away from sugary beverages, you'll be pleased to know that in addition to any of their flavoured liqueurs, you can opt to sample some of their genevers instead. The aged genever isn't to be missed, and may even be worth scoring a bottle (since they barely export!). Also, if you have friends who are heavily into cocktail culture, you'll find oodles of great gift ideas from history and recipe books to bottles of booze to bartending equipment. If a stingy Asian is telling you to go shop, you'd best pay attention. I'm just sayin'. read more

My husband and I are visiting Amsterdam this weekend and signed up for the House of Bols tour. I hadn't heard Bols or Genever before, but found the tour really interesting!! It was a self guided, audio tour. I liked how interactive it was, although it was a bit short. Only took around 30 minutes to complete the tour portion. At the end, we were able sit down and enjoy a cocktail. The bar area is a bit small though, so I felt guilty taking up a seat to enjoy the drink and company. Overall, fun tour for a good price! read more

Right across the street from the Van Gogh Museum, I probably wouldn't have done this one except that the reviews were all so glowing and positive. Well... it was worth it! I'd never heard of the House of Bols before and I didn't know anything about genever, but now I know all about it. The history, the manufacturing process, even the different flavors of Bols liqueurs. The museum is very interactive with lots to look at, touch, and even smell. The hall of scent testers was really interesting and I think I got maybe 5 correct out of more than 30! And yes, there's the cocktail at the end. I went with the caipinevra and I probably should have had something to eat first. Woo. I'm slightly buzzed on an empty stomach. A great and very interesting museum and well worth the entrance fee. As the sign says... "Some museums have a great bar, our bar has a great museum!" read more

Bols is a fun museum stop if you happen to be visiting Amsterdam. It's a bit expensive, but the experience is totally immersive so my group agreed it was worth it. The design of the museum is also cool and very fitting to the cocktail bar theme they have tied throughout. The ticket also includes a cocktail which you can select at the end and have it made virgin if you so choose. Overall fun experience with tasty drinks! read more

Bols Cocktail Experience Amsterdam - Museums Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

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After enjoying the Van Gogh museum for hours (and standing in line), one might enjoy exploring a different path of history.... Bartending and Alcohol There was no line, and it was just outside the Van Gogh museum. You can smell different types of their alcohol. Inside was very cool... dark, neon, black lights... You got to hang out at their bar and try 3 different shots as well as a drink of choice (that was the special when I went). read more

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Had an awesome time checking out the House of Bols. It's a beautifully designed experience that really engages all of your senses and teaches you about the history of bols and their alcohol in a fun way. The drinks themselves are quite tasty as well, and all of the staff and bartenders were very friendly. We bought tickets online ahead of time - but note, you should have them printed if that's the case! read more

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Did the Cocktail Workshop and Tour. The museum is pretty cool and the drinks being only 6EUR is definitely a steal, they're very good drinks and the bartenders know what they're doing. The workshop is amazing and you get a 10% discount in the shop after! You make 2 cocktails during the 30 minute workshop, currently it's a cucumber lime one and a blackberry flavored one, they're both delicious and I don't even like cucumber! read more

Cocktails are great. Adam did a great job in keeping us in delicious cocktails! You must buy extra tokens from Jorvik. Both hosts were just as welcoming as the pornstar martinis I had. Great place to visit in Amsterdam. Tour, bartender mixing original creations. A win, win! read more

Bols Cocktail Experience Amsterdam - Georgette enjoying her creation!!!!! - Museums Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

Got the tickets for this with MOCO ticket combo and this outshined MOCO. We didn't know what to expect going in, but we had so much fun! It is very modern and interactive. They give you a drink with your ticket and a shot. You are also given a guided tour remote that you can check in at different places throughout the tour and is linked to your email. When you do the video experience of taking the bols shot they give you, you check in with your tour remote and it sends the video of you experiencing the shot to your email. The video experience is super cool and trippy. There are many great photo spots here, too. There's another video experience by the bar upstairs where you try to do bottle tricks. At the end of the tour, you end up at the bar where you can turn in your ticket stub for your free drink. It's really impressive to watch them make the drinks. With MOCO ticket you get a free pink drink, but just know this also serves as your free drink with the ticket stub. We initially thought we got the MOCO pink drink + the House of Bols ticket stub drink, but were wrong. The MOCO pink drink isn't that good but is cute, so if you care about enjoying the taste of your drink opt for another option. There are many great drink options! Definitely will recommend this to any friends that visit Amsterdam! Not a super big museum so it doesn't take a ton of time, but it is a lot of fun and you can spend as much/little time there as you want since there were a lot of exhibits we breezed through! read more

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A museum and mixology education in one! Learn about the production of Dutch Jenever and its history as the main alcohol traded before the English tried to copy it and created Gin. Learn about how your senses influence what you taste and how you can trick them :) Taste your favour Bols flavours and a cocktail of your choice watching the mixologists shake the mix like maracas in Cuba! Have a go at cocktail style tricks and send yourself a video of your attempts read more

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Dutch Gin. Like no other. Called Jenever its a juniper based spirit. Its also the "National drink of Holland (and Belgium, but really, Holland lead the way I'm sure). It is the forefather to gin (you know, what we tend to drink in America. Like some wines, in order to be called Jenever, it must be made in certain places in certain countries (The Netherlands, Belgium, parts of Germany and parts of France). History is actually unclear where it first came from (most likely Flanders), but it is clear that, like many alcohols, it was first marketed as a medicinal product. House of Bols is a fun place to visit. Come here and see how genever is made, why the juniper was first used, and have a cocktail at the end. Its a win win. Similar to visiting a vineyard, they really want you to enjoy the experience and have made it a nice one as a result, If you buy your ticket online there's a slight discount. Come here for a different kind of culture after you visit the other "real" museums in the area. read more

This was cool too see. Take a tour of the bartender life, learn about how Bol became so successful and how they create new drinks everyday. You get to choose and make your your cocktail at the end, but I'm not going to lie... I wasn't a fan of them. After taste was just not enjoyable. And it was a bit too pricy for the what the whole experience was. I will say that their pornstar drink is very good though. read more

This way a cool way to spend some of our time in Amsterdam. Especially since I love cocktails. The entry price was 15€ and this includes a cocktail at the end. You don't make the cocktail, but you pick from a self service electronic machine that puts drinks into categories. It gives you the ingredients and a visual of what the drink will look like. You take up the receipt to the bar and they create your chosen piece. If you want more cocktails, they charge 5€ each. So the exhibition was interesting with some information about the history and process. They have an interactive section in which you use your senses. Then it ends with the bar. The drinks are very strong and delicious. I was really impressed with them. Also you can take home the bit of paper with the recipe. I would definitely recommend it!! read more

Bols Cocktail Experience Amsterdam - Museums Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

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