A taste for coffee: The Netherlands – a paradise for coffee lovers

By Malin Norman

With a long history in importing coffee beans and exporting roasted coffee, the Netherlands has a deeply rooted coffee tradition and its people rank among the top coffee drinkers in the world. Check out our feature on the Dutch market, with a nice cup of coffee in hand.

Coffee is deeply embedded in Dutch culture. According to CBI (Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries), 83 per cent of the population consume coffee, with the average drinker consuming 3.6 cups per day – among the highest in the world.

Photo: Amsterdam Coffee Festival

The report on the Dutch market potential for coffee also states that the total value of the coffee market in the Netherlands is around 1.2 billion euro. Consumers value quality and sustainability, and certified products have a strong presence. Did you know that the Fairtrade certification label has Dutch roots? Started in 1988 under the name Max Havelaar, with fair distribution of profits as the goal, it changed name in 2021 to Fairtrade Nederland.

Photo: Back to Black

Coffee trade and established brands

The CBI report also states that the Netherlands is the sixth largest importer of green coffee in Europe with around 222,400 tonnes in 2024. Meanwhile, the country is one of the largest exporters of roasted coffee in the world, exporting some 96,000 tonnes. Only Italy, Germany and Switzerland export larger volumes of roasted coffee.

Photo: Jan Bijl Fotografie

One of the oldest and most famous Dutch coffee brands is Douwe Egberts. Established as a grocery store in Joure, Friesland, by Egbert Douwes and his wife Akke Thijsses back in 1753, Douwe Egberts is still a trusted, qualitative coffee brand.

Photo: Amsterdam Coffee Festival

The demand for speciality coffee is high and growing, however, and the Netherlands is home to some of the finest speciality coffee roasters in Europe, including Koffiestation, 30ML and Friedhats. Arabica remains the dominating coffee, with Robustas appearing as an interesting alternative.

Another famous Dutch brand in the world of coffee is Technivorm, most known as the manufacturer of the popular coffee maker Moccamaster. Handcrafted in the Netherlands since 1964, the Moccamaster is designed to make the best cup of coffee – with precision and care. Over the years, Technivorm has developed into a global leader in premium coffee solutions.

Photo: Amsterdam Coffee Festival

Festival for coffee and creativity

Started in 2015, Amsterdam Coffee Festival (ACF) is a not-to-be-missed event for coffee connoisseurs. Attracting around 12,000 visitors, the festival celebrates the vibrant Dutch coffee culture and fosters cutting-edge innovation with must-see booths, hands-on workshops, tastings and demonstrations, live sessions and competitions, plus more.

Visitors can see the barista champions show off their skills, meet experts from around Europe and hear about new products and trends, and taste what some of the best coffee bars have to offer. Amsterdam Coffee Festival returns next spring for a new edition of the world-class celebration of coffee and creativity.

Photo: Unsplash, Nenad Kaevik

Amsterdam Coffee Festival
Dates for the 2027 edition to be announced
Instagram: @amsterdamcoffeefestival
LinkedIn: The Amsterdam Coffee Festival

Some of the best coffee spots in Amsterdam:

Monks Coffee Roasters
Opened in the bustling Oud West district in 2016, Monks is committed to offer great coffee, responsibly and sustainably.
monkscoffee.nl

The Coffee Virus
Coffee fanatics that take coffee seriously. They have two locations; Amsterdam A Lab and Amsterdam Startup Village.
thecoffeevirus.nl

Screaming Beans Coffee Roasters
Will provide you with a proper caffeine fix. Currently in three locations: Runstraat 6, Utrechtsestraat 75, and Waterlooplein 129.
screamingbeans.nl

Lot 61
Run by two Australians, who by way of New York came to Amsterdam. Exists at a number of locations, including Amsterdam Centraal Station.
lot61.com

Bocca Coffee
A pioneer in speciality coffee, the first in the Netherlands to control the process from bean to cup – setting the standard for third-wave coffee. bocca.nl

Back to Black
Quality and sustainability are at the core of this speciality coffee bar and concept store. Back to Black also sells art and design products.
backtoblackcoffee.nl

Five Ways Coffee
Five Ways has been making waves since 2017. Working with trusted green bean importers and roasting on a S35 Loring roaster, they aim for unmatched coffee experiences.
fivewayscoffee.com

For more tips on where to go for great coffee, see www.iamsterdam.com