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	The photo to the left was taken on the first day of opening of 't Arendsnest, a Speciality "Dutch Beer" bar, in Amsterdam, on the 12th of July, 2000. The first beer is being drawn by Peter van der Arend Snr, with the world renowned beer writer, Michael Jackson (1942-), and the proprietor, Peter van der Arend, looking on. The photo was taken by Ellen Zwietering.

Speciality Beer Bar of the Month: November
	't Arendsnest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Herengracht 90, tel 020 421 20 57, www.arendsnest.nl (Bookmark) A world-class bar with over 150 different Specialty Beers: all Dutch

This White Beer Travels "Pub of the Month" was selected by John White, of White Beer Travels. Descriptions of places such as this are generally taken from Beer Guides that have been prepared for White Beer Travels Beer Hunts, all participants getting copies: they typically get access to well over 100 A4 pages of information per trip. This particular write-up is based on one of the handouts for White Beer Travels Beer Hunts based in Amsterdam in 1994, 1995 and 2003, and a 2000 Beer Hunt, based in Bruges, in Belgium, and Rotterdam, in The Netherlands, from where a day trip was undertaken to the country's best beer festival, the PINT Bokbierfestival in Amsterdam, see www.pint.nl, the website of The Netherlands' premier beer consumers' organisation, PINT. For details of these trips, click on Past [Beer Hunts], in this sentence, or at the top or bottom of this page. The write-ups on other Pubs of the Month can be accessed by clicking on Archives, or by using the "Previous Month" and "Next Month" links at the top and bottom of this page. The White Beer Travels fifty-three page "Guide To Amsterdam" is one of a number of guides that can be obtained from the Downloads page of the site.

Amsterdam is The Netherlands' Number One tourist destination, and deservedly so. It is a marvellous place for the general visitor, having some world-class museums and other don't-miss tourist attractions. Of course, many are attracted by the city's infamous Red Light District. The city's facilities are complemented by marvellous restaurants and hotels to suit all price ranges. For information on its tourist attractions and what's on, see the following websites: www.amsterdam.nl, www.visitamsterdam.nl, and www.timeout.com/amsterdam. Major museums include: the Vincent van Gogh Museum, www.vangoghmuseum.nl; the Anne Frank House, www.annefrank.nl; the Rijksmuseum (www.rijksmuseum.nl), which means National Museum; and Nemo (New Metropolis), www.e-nemo.nl, a Science Museum for all ages. A good way to get a very quick introduction to the city and the rest of The Netherlands, is to visit the "Holland Experience 3D Movie Theatre", at Waterlooplein 17.

Although Amsterdam is world famous as a general tourist destination, it is also of major importance when it comes to Speciality Beer (Speciale Bieren). In the early 1970s, a number of cafés with large beer lists were set up, including one, the Café Gollem, Raamsteeg 4 (www.cafegollem.nl), which went on to be described as the best Speciality/Specialty/Craft Beer bar in the world, by Michael Jackson (www.beerhunter.com). Subsequently, world-class places such as In de Wildeman, Kolksteeg 3 (www.indewildeman.nl), came along, both inspired and spawned from it, including a second Café Gollem (Daniel Stalpertstraat 74). Note that opposite the original Café Gollem, there is a very good beer shop, that opened in 2005, De Gekraakte Ketel (The Cracked Kettle), Raamsteeg 3 (www.crackedkettle.com), run by Jeff Cunningham, who hails from Boston, in the USA.

Many Speciality Beer bars in the city feature beers from two small breweries in the city itself, which were set up on the wave of the growing interest in Specialty Beers: 't IJ (www.brouwerijhetij.nl, see also the excellent, fan's site, which has some good links, brouwerij-t-ij.tmfweb.nl) and Maximiliaan (closed in late 2002 -  reopened as De Bekeerde Suster (www.debekeerdesuster.nl), a Brew Pub in the Beiaard Group (www.beiaardgroep.nl) in May, 2003 (the first brew was in November, 2004)). In 2005, Harrie Vermeer, who was with De Koningshoeven Trappist Brewery, see below, for twenty years, became De Bekeerde Suster's brewer. 't IJ's truly marvellous beers can be drunk on the premises, without pre-booking, indeed, 't IJ, which is alongside a windmill, has an adjoining bar. In 2002, 't IJ and Maximiliaan were joined by a new brewery, De Prael (www.deprael.nl) ("former" De Parel), in the Oud Zuid (Old South) suburb, at Helicopterstraat 13-15 (1e) (tel 020 408 44 70). These three breweries are covered in detail in the White Beer Travels Guide to Amsterdam, mentioned above.

Nederlands Biercafé & Proeflokaal 't Arendsnest ('t Arendsnest Dutch Beer Bar & Tasting Place), to give it its full title, should not be missed by any serious beer drinker when in Amsterdam. It is quite simply one of the world's greatest Speciality Beer bars, right up there with: De Heeren van Liedekercke (come.to/heerenvanliedekercke, White Beer Travels Web page), in Denderleeuw, Belgium; Kroegske, in Emelgem, Belgium (www.kroegske.be, White Beer Travels Web page); 't Brugs Beertje (www.brugsbeertje.be), in Bruges, Belgium (White Beer Travels Web page); De Bierkamer, in Kluizen, in Belgium (www.debierkamer.be, White Beer Travels Web page); the already mentioned Amsterdam classic, In de Wildeman; and the Wynkoop (www.wynkoop.com, White Beer Travels Web page), in Denver, Colorado, USA.

Many will know that at 't Arendsnest's address, there was once a celebrated Specialty Beer bar called De Beiaard (no relation to and not in the same group as the place of the same name, on Spui, and De Bekeerde Suster, the replacement for the Maximiliaan mentioned above). When I last visited the Herengracht 90 one, in 1995, it was outstanding. Unfortunately, subsequent reports suggested that a change of ownership following my visit had resulted in major decline. However, the reopening by Peter van der Arend, on the 12th of July, 2000, has transformed the place, both in décor, beer philosophy and beer quality. It has, quite simply, truly become, as has already been stated above, one of the best Speciality Beer bars in the world!

Peter, who was thirty-eight years of age in 2007, chose the name 't Arendsnest, the Eagle's Nest, in memory of his Grandparents. They had a house in Delft with this name, but it was subject to compulsory purchase to make way for a tunnel to be dug in front of the railway station. Peter developed an interest in Specialty Beer, in 1994, after getting a present of Peter Crombecq's Bierjaarboek (Beer Year Book), a classic book covering beer in Belgium and The Netherlands (click here for more details). To gain experience of bar work, he also got a part time job in De Still, an Amsterdam Whisky Bar that is covered below. Eventually, Peter changed his day job into one connected with top-class beer (as a salesman for Jopen Beers in Haarlem (www.jopen.nl), and he also formed the Noord-Holland (North Holland) branch of PINT www.prnh.pint.nl) (this covering places such as Amsterdam, Alkmaar and Haarlem), and ran a major beer festival of theirs, the Meibockfestival. But he always wanted to have his own bar, and when the opportunity came he took it; the truly brilliant 't Arendsnest is the result. Note that Jopen is not presently a brewery, but commissions beers from others, such as Bios (Van Steenberge), in Belgium, and Halve Maan, in The Netherlands. However, it is expected that, in 2007, it will open its own brewery in Haarlem. Many of its beers are based on old Haarlem recipes (the city was once a major brewing centre), such as Jopen Koyt, which is flavoured with Herbs rather than Hops.

Peter did not simply move out De Beiaard's stock of largely Belgian Beers and replace them with Dutch ones, and give the walls the odd lick of paint; he carried out major renovation. For example, he raised the ceiling by 1.1 metres above the original panelling, making the place much lighter and airier. It would have been physically possible to have raised it by 1.6 metres, but the hidden 500 millimetres is used to provide sound insulation to the dwelling above. Not that the place is noisy; there is unobtrusive background music (jazz, swing, easy listening) and quiet chat about the outstanding range of Dutch Beers on offer.

There are activities in the basement cellar, the Proeflokaal Bartholomeus (Bartholomy's Tasting Room), such as organised group visits, tutored tastings, PINT meetings and brewing courses. These are covered on the website, www.bierproeverijen.nl. The Tasting Room is very nicely decorated with appropriate breweriana, etc. In the photo, above left, which was taken by John White, in January, 2006, world-renowned beer writer, Roger Protz (1939-) (www.beer-pages.com), is examining the photos of Dutch brew houses that cover one wall of the Proeflokaal. The photo to its right was taken by Roger at the same time, upstairs, in 't Arendsnest's main bar. In the photo, Peter van der Arend is signing a copy of his book, which is covered above, for yours truly. Roger and I were in Amsterdam on the eve of a visit to De Koningshoeven Trappist Brewery, see below, this visit being covered in a White Beer Travels Web page, which can be reached by clicking here.

In 2000, Peter van der Arend set up Het Geheim Genootschap Arendsnest (GGA) (The Arendsnest Secret Society), a form of Guild, which is involved in activities such as tastings in the Proeflokaal Bartholomeus. Click here for the appropriate page from 't Arendsnest's website, which includes a photo with Michael Jackson holding his membership card. No doubt, Kim van der Arend, Peter's wife, is also a member. For Peter and Kim's 2004 wedding, there was, of course, a special beer: Blonde Peter.

Marcel Snater joined 't Arendsnest, in the Autumn of 2001. The photograph of him, on the left above, with John White, was taken in November, 2002, by Joyce White. However, Marcel had been home brewing for over ten years and thus it is he who develops the house beers, which, from October, 2003, he has done to the exclusion of working in the bar, although he was in there in October, 2003, when John White took the photo, above right, of his replacement, Robin Brilleman, who, appropriately is pulling a Bokbier at the time of the Bokbierfestival, see above. Robin worked at the marvellous In de Wildeman, see above, prior to coming to 't Arendsnest. Robin is the author of a book called Schotse Malt Whisky: De Gids (Kosmos-Z&K uitgevers, ISBN 90 215 9820 5). Robin has a website, www.robinbrilleman.nl, entitled "De Schotse Malt Whisky Cursus" (The Scottish Malt Whisky Course).

Marcel takes all the ingredients required to a brewery, which he hires for the day, where he does the brew himself. In the picture to the left with yours truly, Marcel is drawing a glass of the 7% 't Swarte Schaep. He described it as being in the style of a German Helles Bok (Pale Bock). For me, it was just a little dark for a Helles, but it was a superb beer. Each new De Snaterende Arend beer is brewed by Marcel. For example, on a January, 2006 visit, a draught "De Snaterende Arend" beer available was Lokvogel (5%) (Decoy [Bird]), that is brewed in De Friese Bierbrouwerij, in Bolsward, in Friesland, www.bierbrouwerij-usheit.nl. There is also a bottled version of Lokvogel, which is brewed at de 3 Horne.

After the purchase and closure of De Kroon, in Oirschot, by the large Dutch brewery, Bavaria, www.bavaria.nl, Kroon beers were initially brewed, within the cloisters of a Trappist Monastery, in the same brewery (the Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven) as the La Trappe Dubbel, i.e. in De Koningshoeven Monastery, in Berkel-Enschot, near Tilburg, www.koningshoeven.nl (Abdij Koningshoeven), www.latrappe.nl (brewery) and White Beer Travels Web page. The monastery can be seen on the top half of Peter van der Arend's 2005 book, see above. The Kroon beers are now brewed in Bavaria's brewery in Lieshout. 't Arendsnest's pub sign is badged Kroon of Oirschot, see the photo above. Note that the La Trappe range of beers had the Authentic Trappist Product logo on the bottles removed in 1999, following the involvement of Bavaria in the brewery within De Koningshoeven Monastery. Pope John Paul II (Papa Giovanni Paulo II) (Karol Wojtyla) (1920-2005) was rumoured to be involved in the decision to stop De Koningshoeven using the logo, but this was not the case, although the General Abbot and his council of the Trappist Order, which is based in Rome, were involved. However, in 2005, the logo was reinstated, by the International Trappist Association (Internationale Vereniging Trappist, Association Internationale Trappist), www.trappist.be, i.e. in October, 2005, Broeder Bernardus Peeters, the Monastery's then Prior (he became the Abbot in December, 2005), announced that The International Trappist Association, after investigation, had come up with the view that whilst Bavaria continue to be involved in the running of the brewery within the monastery, there is sufficient involvement of members of the community of monks in the production of the La Trappe range of beers, to justify the reinstatement of the Authentic Trappist Product designation to these beers. An English version of the press release can be seen by clicking here. Bavaria, who produce everyday Pils, as well as Speciality Beers, such as Hooghe Bock (6.5%), in its own brewery, have provided brewery personnel, and the quality of the La Trappe range has improved under their stewardship.

The Dutch Trappist Brewery is referred to as the Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven (King's Farmsteads [Beer] Brewery). One also comes across its former name, De Schaapskooi (The Sheepfold). The land on which it stands formerly belonged to Dutch royalty, that once included three adjacent farmsteads. The King in question was the Dutch King William II (Koning Willem II) (1792-1849); the farmsteads were called Annahoeve (Anna's Farmstead), Willemshoeve (William's Farmstead) and Sophiahoeve (Sophia's Farmstead). Anna Palowna Romanov (1795-1865), the sister of Tsar Alexander I of Russia (1777-1825), was Willem II's wife, and Sophia of Württemberg (1818-77) was the wife of his son, Willem III (1817-90). Adjacent to the farmsteads was the building called the Schaapskooi. Eventually, the complex of farmsteads and this building were collectively referred to as The Schaapskooi.

There are also around thirty aged beers, described in the menu as oude bieren (V.S.O.B = Very Special Old Beer).

In keeping with the Dutch theme, the Genevers are supplied by Wijnand Fockinck (www.wynand-fockink.nl), a superb Amsterdam don't-miss. The Vodka available is produced by "R. Jelínek", in Vizovice, in the Czech Republic (www.rjelinek.cz). This clearly does not follow the all-Dutch philosophy, although Peter did point out that Jelinek is, in Dutch, a type of clinic that one goes to should one be seeking treatment for a drink problem! Note that the most common of Rudolf Jelínek's spirits is Slivovice, a fiery Plum Brandy sold in an unusually shaped bottle; I still have one at home, picked up on a White Beer Travels Beer Hunt, based in Prague, which is described on the Past Beer Hunts page. Note also that there is usually at least one draught beer available from S.N.A.B. (Stichting Noord-Hollandse Brouwerijen (Association of North Holland Breweries)) (www.snab.nl). Their beers, are, in fact brewed in Belgium, by De "Proef" Brouwerij (BVBA Andelot (www.proefbrouwerij.com), in Lochristi-Hijfte, near Ghent, but, as they are commissioned by a Dutch organisation and are brewed to their specification, they come under the mantle of "Dutch Beers" as far as 't Arendsnest is concerned; they are typically excellent beers, which often win awards.

Snacks (listed under 't Arendsnest Happen, the latter meaning bite) include: Borrelballen (Meat Balls, twelve of them) €3.63 (November, 2000, as per the other food prices); Bier Bommetjes (Mini Hot Dogs, seven of them) €2.95; Leverworst (Liver Sausage) €2.72; Gelderse Worst (Sausage from the Province of Gelderland) €3.40; Salami €2.95; Nootjes (Peanuts and Cashews) from €1.36; Tosti (a toastie, usually, as here a Ham/Cheese one) €4; and "Trappistenkaas" (Trappist Cheese) €4.54. Note that the cheeses offered are top-class, but are not Trappist ones, and they do not emanate from The Netherlands, but from Belgium, i.e. the semi-soft and flavoursome Père Joseph and Passendale. Fire regulations do not permit the use of cooking fat in the building. Hence all the hot dishes are microwaved, including the pre-prepared toasties. In addition to beer, these can be washed down with orange juice, squeezed on order.

When in The Netherlands, a useful booklet for seeking out great Specialty Beer bars is Bijzondere (Special) Biercafés in Nederland. This is published by ABT, the Alliantie van Biertapperijen (Alliance of Beer Tappers (Pubs)) (www.alliantie-van-biertapperijen.nl). Member bars undertake to supply beers in the correct glass, but must also take a certain volume of a [draught] beer of the month, chosen by the Alliance. Some good cafés do not wish to do this, and thus are not in the booklet. When I asked Peter about ABT membership in 2000, he said that he had been approached, but that he had told the ABT that he would only take the Beer of the Month when it was Dutch; he did not want to compromise his Dutch beer philosophy. This was eventually agreed, 't Arendsnest having become an ABT member in August, 2002. When the ABT Beer of the Month is not Dutch, 't Arendsnest does not stock it. This special place is indeed listed in a special category (currently on its own) on the ABT's website: "Buitengewon lid". This means "Special Member", which, of course, it is, very much so. Note that Tim Webb no longer covers The Netherlands (Holland). i.e. his Good Beer Guide Belgium (www.booksaboutbeer.com, White Beer Travels Web page) used to have "& Holland" on the end of its title. Should you need bar and brewery information on The Netherlands, don't worry, as it is superbly covered by Amsterdam resident, Ron Pattinson's on-line "Dutch Pub Guide", www.europeanbeerguide.net/hollpubs.htm. This is part of Ron's European  Beer Guide website, www.europeanbeerguide.net.

Yes, 't Arendsnest is a Speciality Beer bar of true quality. Such a place, concentrating on Dutch Specialty Beers, had been long awaited. But now we have it. I urge you to pay it a visit. It is on the edge of the Jordaan district, near the Brouwersgracht (Brewers' Canal) end of Herengracht (Gentlemen's Canal), near the corner with Herenstraat. This is an elegant, quiet part of the city. The place is in a row of high gabled canal-side properties. Note that it has spurred other bars to follow suit, and feature a good selection of beers, all of which are Dutch, see below.

Of course, it is very high up in the list of favourite bars of those who are interested in Speciality Beer. In setting up 't Arendsnest, in 2000, Peter has clearly become a foremost ambassador of Dutch Specialty Beer and this has been recognised by PINT, when they awarded him their Gouden PINT 2005 (Golden PINT 2005) award. He follows his name on e-mails with "Uitbater & Bieroloog" (Proprietor and Beerologist); he has a certificate to prove that he is a Bieroloog, one of only four that were issued. However, 't Arendsnest and its founder, Peter van der Arend, are also recognised by the general catering profession in The Netherlands. 't Arendsnest appears in the 2006 list of 100 best bars, as selected by the respected Misset Horeca magazine, the current list and the previous year's being provided on the "Cafe Top 100" website, www.cafetop100.nl. In 2005, Peter was named the "Meest Markante Horecaondernemer van Amsterdam 2005" (Most Outstanding Horeca Proprietor, in Amsterdam), click here to see the Koninklijk Horeca Nederland (Royal Dutch Horeca)'s report on Peter's award on this Horeca (Hotel, Restaurant and Catering) organisation's website, www.horeca.org. So 2005 was certainly a good year for Peter and 't Arendsnest, and more good years are sure to follow for Peter and this most special of places.

If you are also visiting In de Wildeman, and you are on a tight schedule, the two places are quite close together. Turn left out of In De Wildeman, cross Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and turn left along it and then take the next right off it, Korte Lijnbaansteeg, and then keep going straight (with street name changes to Lijnbaansteeg and Blauw Burgwal), crossing Spuistraat and then Singel, before reaching the required Herengracht. 't Arendsnest is on the other side of the Gracht (Canal), just a little diagonally to the left, near the corner with Herenstraat, the extension of Blauw Burgwal. Herengracht is the most prestigious canal in Amsterdam, with the best of the city's famed gabled properties. More information on the Herengracht and other Amsterdam canals is given in the entry for the Papeneiland, in the White Beer Travels downloadable guide to Amsterdam, mentioned above. The Papeneiland, which is a superb locals' pub that vies for the "City's Oldest" title, is close to 't Arendsnest.

't Arendsnest is, of course, one of the bars featured on the BDA (Beer Drinkers of Amsterdam) website, www.thebda.com. The BDA is a drinking club, based in Amsterdam. The BDA's excellent website has lots of useful information on the Speciality/Specialty/Craft Beer scene in Amsterdam and the surrounding area. It also incorporates a Message Board, which is a very good place to seek out up to the minute information from Speciality Beer loving Amsterdam locals and recent visitors to the city. One can, of course, reciprocate, by providing any information that you might have.

Further information on 't Arendsnest can be found on the place's excellent website, www.arendsnest.nl, which contains a beer list, useful hyperlinks, including a number to the sites of the breweries featured in the bar (for which information is provided on the site), and one to a Web page of Michael Jackson's in which he describes the place: www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-001217.html. Both Michael's and 't Arendsnest's websites include photographs of the opening ceremony, the ones used at the top of this page coming from 't Arendsnest's. In 't Arendsnest, ask to see the full photo album of the ceremony and the renovations to the building. The opening of this place was Michael's third guest appearance of the day. First he was involved in an event to mark something to do with 500 Whiskies at the Whisky Café De Still, Spuistraat 326 (tel 020 620 13 49, www.destill.nl), a bar now run by Peter's friend, Léon Elshoff; Michael is also a world-renowned expert on Malt Whisky; as beer is likewise produced from Malt, "The Beer Hunter", Michael Jackson, is also referred to as "The Maven of Malt". After De Still, Michael then had a beer cuisine luncheon at the outstanding Boulevard Café, Cruquiusweg 3. Note that the whisky place was set up by Henk Eggens, who after leaving the Café Gollem (see above) also set up the famous Speciality Beer bar, In de Wildeman, see above. Henk still owns In de Wildeman, but, following illness, leaves the running of it to others. As already stated, at one time, Peter used to work in De Still. It has some beers, including Kroon Pils. De Still is very much involved in a major international Whisky Festival held each year in Amsterdam, see its website: www.whiskyfestival.nl.

't Arendsnest opens every day of the week at 4pm. It closes on Sunday to Thursday at Midnight. On Friday and Saturday, it stays open until 2am. It is not open on the 25th and the 26th of December, and the 1st of January.

Fairly close to 't Arendsnest, the Café Brandon, Keizersgracht 157 (on the corner with Leliegracht), is worth a look in, although there are no beers to interest the Speciality Beer Hunter. It is badged "De Ooivaar Genevers" and "Vergunning - Biljart" (Licensed - Billiards), and has a sign for a beer that I do not mention on my Web pages. It was owned by Jan and Corry Brandon, but reopened in 2003, under new ownership, after having being shut for over twenty years. Inside, it is like a time warp, since everything has been left from this time. White Beer Travels Beer Hunt regular, Geoff Lowis, visited in October, 2003 and had the following to say about the place: "Yes, a somewhat bizarre experience. I can't remember what I had, but it was bog standard, perhaps ... . The room off to the side has had the stripped pine and candle treatment, but was redeemed by pictures of Cruyff, Neeskens and Co from the glory days of Ajax. The billiard table was covered over, which was a shame. This had clearly been a working class cafe in the 1970s, but the area has gentrified. The toilets are as they were before the closure." When I passed it on a Sunday evening at 9pm, in October, 2003, it looked great and was packed. I understand the opening time to be "from 4pm", according to John Roest, a barman from In de Wildeman who recommended it.

Round the other corner from 't Arendsnest, in October, 2003, we had a nice meal in Top Thai, at Herenstraat 22 (tel 020 620 13 49, www.topthai.nl), which is open seven days a week, from 4.30pm to 10.30pm. Next door to 't Arendsnest, there is a restaurant with Belgian Food and Beers: Lieve Belgisch Restaurant, Herengracht 88, tel 020 624 96 35, www.restaurantlieve.nl.

Also close to 't Arendsnest, is a particularly elegant chocolate shop, Puccini Bomboni, at Singel 184 (on the corner with Oude Leliestraat, (tel 020 427 83 41, www.puccinibomboni.com). Its chocolates are huge and superb; they make for well-received presents, provided you can resist not eating them before you get home!

Note that, should you wish to stay overnight in Amsterdam, whilst visiting this place and the city's other major Specialty Beer attractions or whatever, it should be borne in mind that Amsterdam is a particularly popular tourist destination, so it is well advised to find your accommodation in advance. I have found the website www.hotels-holland.com to be an efficient way of finding hotels at a discount price, in Amsterdam. It has sister sites that can be accessed from www.hotels-europe.com and www.hotels-world.com. I have had similarly good experiences with these sites. The following are also recommended: www.amsterdamby.com and www.hotel-traveling.com.

The deserved success of 't Arendsnest has encouraged at least one other bar that I know of to sell exclusively Dutch Beers, the Café Muk (www.cafe-muk.nl), Daalsedwarsweg 21-23, Nijmegen, in the Province of Gelderland, tel 024 324 58 00. This went exclusively Dutch on the 16th of October, 2005. Formerly called 't Hoekje (it is on a corner), Muk is the nickname of Edith Leutscher, the joint proprietor, with Willem van Kalker. Its draught beers have included or include Grunn Bock (7.5%) (www.grunn-speciaalbier.nl) and Kruisheren Augustinus Tripel (8%) from the Groningse Stadsbrouwerij (www.speciaalbier.info). There are around sixty different bottled beers. It is open on Tuesday to Thursday from 4pm to Midnight, on Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 2am, and on Sunday from 2pm to 10pm. It does not open on Mondays.

An interesting "Theme Pub", in the Dutch Province of Limburg, on sort of similar lines to 't Arendsnest, is: Limburgs Bierkefee "De Roeëje Lieuw", Steenstraat 4, Venlo, tel 077 463 32 87, www.limburgsbiercafe.nl. "De Roeëje Lieuw" is local dialect for "De Rode Leeuw" (The Red Lion) and one of these appears in the Coat of Arms of both the Dutch Province of Limburg and the neighbouring Belgian Province of Limburg, this being a clue to the pub's theme, i.e. it solely features beers from these two Provinces; note that the historic German territory of Limburg no longer exists, and the two German towns called Limburg do not have breweries. De Roeëje Lieuw aims to stock all available bottled beers from these two Provinces, and throughout the year, a big selection (all?) of their draught/tap ones. In décor, "De Roeëje Lieuw" is a Brown Bar; it is run by beer and brewery enthusiast, Louis Klaassens; if you have any queries about former Vemlo brweries, Louis is your man. De Roeëje Lieuw is open on Wednesday from 6pm to 2am, on Thursday and Friday from 4pm to 2am, and on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 2am. In the future, it is expected that De Roeëje Lieuw will have its own brewery. Watch this space!

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