De Pelgrim Brewery, Rotterdam

In a beer-loving country like The Netherlands it's no wonder to find a plethora of regional and even seasonal brews. Quite naturally, the city of Rotterdam is no exception in this respect and has its own landmark brewery, called De Pelgrim (“The Pilgrim”), where award-wining beers are brewed using local water and the best-sourced ingredients including aromatic hops and pure yeast.

The brewery is sitting next to the Pilgrim Fathers’ Church, hence the name, and as such is a distinctive local attraction. Operational since May 9, 1996, this is the first ever brewery in Rotterdam – a city where, prior to that, no other beer-making facility had been present.

De Pelgrim's building, dating from 1580, was initially designed to accommodate the Town Hall of Delfshaven (then a separate municipality from Rotterdam). Centuries later, Harry van de Wiel, a beer lover and entrepreneur, saw it as a perfect location for his long-coveted brewing business.

The result has been a beautiful, traditional brewing installation whose signature robust, artisanal beers now can be enjoyed, both draught and bottled (0.75 liter and 3 liters units), in De Pelgrim’s own Tasting Room as well as other establishments throughout the city.

Two varieties are brewed here permanently: Pelgrim 1580 and Mayflower Tripel, where the former is a fresh bitter based on the Altbier from Düsseldorf, Germany; and the latter has a full spicy flavor thanks to the special hops added. It is also possible to request your own brew, subject to available options. Just make sure to get your precious purchase properly packaged afterwards for a long trip back home.