Die Port van Cleve celebrates 155th anniversary in historic year for Amsterdam

In 2025, Amsterdam will celebrate its 750th anniversary - a historic moment that Die Port van Cleve is proud to be a part of. This recently renovated iconic hotel-restaurant is celebrating its 155th anniversary this year, marking a century and a half of hospitality, history and culinary tradition in the heart of the capital.

In honour of this milestone and on the occasion of its Amsterdam anniversary, Die Port van Cleve is introducing a special promotion from 15 May 2025: an anniversary beer, both o,o% and regular, for €1.55. This symbolic price underlines the number of years Die Port van Cleve has now been a fixture in the city centre. "It is a privilege to celebrate our own anniversary in such a historic year," said Maikel Stabij, Managing Director at Die Port van Cleve. "With this action, we want to show our appreciation to our guests and the city we are so closely associated with in an accessible way."

Since 1870, Die Port van Cleve has been a familiar name, with a rich history dating back to Heineken's first brewery, the numbered steak and Cleve's little garden, among other things. The building breathes history, but will continue to be a vibrant meeting place for Amsterdam residents and visitors from all over the world in 2025.

Die Port van Cleve - 155 years of history in the heart of Amsterdam

Die Port van Cleve opened its doors in 1870 and has been an inseparable part of Amsterdam history ever since. On this spot, on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, Gerard Adriaan Heineken's very first brewery once began. When the canal was filled in and thereby Heineken moved its brewery to Stadhouderskade, the Hulscher brothers took over the site. They initially bottled the famous "Hooibergbier" and eventually transformed the premises into a beer house and eatery: Die Port van Cleve.

In the years that followed, it grew into a renowned place, known for its historic interior, including the unique 1887 blue tile frieze made by the Porcelyne Fles depicting the entry in honour of Emperor Maximilian. But also known for its numbered steaks - a tradition that continues to this day. Each steak served has its own number; the tally now stands at nearly 6 million steaks served.

At the time, they were quite progressive as 'Het Tuintje van Cleve' proves, one of the first places in the city where women could drink tea independently outside the house - a revolutionary fact in the 19th century. Or the fact that it was one of the first establishments in Amsterdam where electric lights were lit at night, giving it a modern and progressive character.

Jubilee year - Together 155 years of Die Port van Cleve and 750 years of Amsterdam

The year 2025 not only marks the 155th anniversary of Die Port van Cleve, it also coincides with the celebration of 750 years of Amsterdam. A unique occasion where two historical icons - the city and the establishment - look back on a rich past together.

Although the 150th anniversary could unfortunately not be celebrated in a grand manner in 2020 due to the coronapandemie, there is plenty of room to still celebrate this year. With pride, Die Port van Cleve looks back on its role in the city and the many stories created within its walls.

Moreover, since 2021, Die Port van Cleve has carried the designation 'Hofleverancier', a recognition of the reliability, continuity and quality that Die Port van Cleve has offered to both Amsterdam residents and international guests for decades.

€1.55 beer - Toasting to 155 years

As a festive tribute to 155 years of hospitality, Die Port van Cleve is introducing a special anniversary promotion from 15 May 2025: a glass of beer for just €1.55 - a direct reference to the number of years that Die Port van Cleve has now existed. This promotion applies to both a regular beer and an alcohol-free 0.0 variant, so that everyone can join in toasting to this special milestone.

The beer history of Die Port van Cleve goes deep: The history books even go back to 1592 with the first mention of Brewery De Hooiberg run by a woman named Weyntgen Elberts. The property, as mentioned earlier, was the birthplace of Heineken's first brewery. When it moved, the Hulscher brothers took over the property and continued the beer tradition there by bottling Hooiberg beer. In doing so, they laid the foundation for what is now a unique combination of historical charm and Amsterdam cosiness.

The action is designed to reflect with guests - young and old, local and international - on the rich past and future of one of the capital's most iconic places.