This authentic 'Proeflokaal' (Dutch for tasting room/bar) has retained its 17th century character and product assortment. A wide variety of juniper and liqueurs are served here. Among the various liqueurs you will find many old Dutch liqueurs such as 'Volmaakt Geluk' , 'Bruidstranen' and 'Hansje in de Kelder' that have Wynand Fockink world famous.
Alongside these delicious liqueurs, genevers and fruit brandies, you can also enjoy some excellent beers on tap.
It is also possible to book a tasting at the distillery, and between tastings you will be guided through the history, production and flavors of the products.
Wynand Fockink History
In the 17th century, when VOC ships brought herbs, spices, and sugar to Amsterdam, distillers began distilling liquor on a large scale. The reason Amsterdam's liquor industry was becoming so important was that the city had become very prosperous and that liquor, unlike beer and genever, was an expensive drink that only the wealthy could afford to drink regularly.
When in 1724 Wynand Fockink purchased the distillery and bar in the Pijlsteeg dating back to 1679, Amsterdam was still a rich and prosperous city with a thriving liquor industry. In 1778 Wynand Fockink died and left the company to his only surviving heir, his daughter Maria. After her father's death, Maria continued the distillery along with distiller Dentzel. Business was flourishing and through Maria's granddaughters it passed in the hands of Schmitz family. Until the acquisition by Lucas Bols in 1954, the company was run by the descendants of Wynand Fockink. Under Wynand Fockink and his descendants, the liquor distillery became one of the largest Dutch distilleries. At the end of the 18th century, the company owned six large premises on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and another six in the Pijlsteeg.
In the first decade of the nineteenth century the company also expanded through exports. At that time, Wynand Fockink owned trading houses in Berlin, Vienna, Brussels and Paris. Between 1815 and 1860, France was one of the biggest liquor customers. In those days, a passage between the Damstraat and the Pijlsteeg was built to increase the visibility of the current Wynand Fockink proeflokaal.
Around 1870 Wynand Fockink had 80 employees, operated five stills and used a 30 horsepower steam engine. In the same era, exports to the United States began to grow and in 1920 Wynand Fockink became a publicly owned company, until that year it had always been a family business.
After World War II, Wynand Fockink had an increasingly difficult time. In 1954 it was acquired by its largest competitor Lucas Bols. At that time, production was moved to the Bols factory on the Rozengracht, maintaining product quality and ensuring that customers were not lost. The Proeflokaal (tasting tavern) and the liquor store also kept their staff and remained operational. Later, the tasting tavern and the store were exploited by a third party.
At the end of 2013, the distillery was renovated and expanded with two large copper stills and continued under the name Lucas Bols Distilleerderij. As before, Wynand Fockink liqueurs and genevers are made in the traditional craft method and at the same time the heart of the Amsterdam Bols Genever and various distillates for Bols liqueurs and Damrak Gin are also made here.