Drinking Guide
Legal BAC
0.05%
Drinking Age
18+
New Drivers
Zero BAC
Dutch beer giants known worldwide. Best enjoyed fresh at a "bruin café."
The Dutch ancestor of gin, served neat in a tulip glass. "Jonge" (young) is lighter; "oude" (old) is richer.
The Netherlands has a "gezellig" (cozy/convivial) drinking culture centered around brown cafés — warm, wood-paneled bars. Beer culture is strong, with many craft breweries. Amsterdam's nightlife is vibrant but increasingly regulated.
BAC 0.05-0.13%: fine €350-750. BAC 0.13-0.15%: fine €850-1,000, possible license suspension. BAC 0.15%+: criminal offense, fine up to €9,000, imprisonment, license revoked. New drivers (< 5 years): BAC limit 0.02%.
Visit a "bruin café" (brown café) for the authentic Dutch drinking experience.
Try jenever the traditional way — lean over and sip from an overfilled tulip glass.
Amsterdam's Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are the main nightlife squares.
Bikes are everywhere — do NOT bike drunk, it's dangerous and finable.
New drivers have a strict 0.02% BAC limit for the first 5 years.
HowDrunk knows Netherlands's local drinks and legal limits. Get your personalized drink limit in seconds.