Number of brewers more than quadrupled since 2007

© CBS
The number of beer breweries in the Netherlands has increased more than fourfold: from 90 in 2007 to 370 in 2017, mainly consisting of microbreweries. The strongest growth was seen in Amsterdam. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on recent figures on business establishments in the Netherlands.

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As 270 out of the 370 craft brewers are one-man businesses, this means the number of small-scale breweries has increased more than sixfold: from 40 in 2007 to 270 in 2017. An upward trend is also seen among breweries with two to four employees, but much more modest: from 20 to 60. The number of large breweries with a workforce of five or more persons has risen from 25 to 35.

Number of breweries, 1 April 2017
 1 employee2 to 4 employees5 or more employeestotal
200740202590
200840152580
200945152590
201050153090
2011502025100
2012651525110
2013852030130
2014953030155
20151355030215
20161956530290
20172706035370

More brewers in Noord-Holland

In 2007, most beer brewing companies were located in the provinces of Limburg and Noord-Brabant. At present, most brewers by far (95) are found in the province of Noord-Holland, followed by Noord-Brabant and Zuid-Holland. Ten years ago, there were no more than ten breweries in Noord-Holland.

Nearly half of all brewers in Noord-Holland are based in Amsterdam, with 45 establishments also the craft beer capital of the Netherlands. The city is host to as many breweries as the provinces of Flevoland, Drenthe, Zeeland, Groningen and Friesland combined. The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht follow Amsterdam at some distance with ten breweries each. There were only five breweries in Amsterdam in 2007.

Breweries by province
 1 April 20071 April 2017
Noord-Holland1095
Noord-Brabant2065
Zuid-Holland1545
Gelderland540
Utrecht535
Limburg2025
Friesland015
Overijssel515
Groningen010
Zeeland510
Drenthe05
Flevoland55

Most large breweries also found in Noord-Holland

Even if one-man businesses are excluded, Noord-Holland tops the list of most breweries with two or more employees, namely thirty. This is more than in Noord-Brabant, which has fifteen such breweries. Utrecht and Zuid-Holland have a strikingly high number of microbreweries and drop in ranking if one-man businesses are not included.

If only beer brewing companies with five or more employees are taken into account, Noord-Holland and Noord-Brabant rank highest. Limburg will then be in third place.