“The taproom of Brouwerij De Eeuwige Jeugd — they brew their own beer, have board games on the tables, and the vibe makes you stay longer than planned. Every time.”
Cafe de Jeugd — The Youth — is the taproom of Brouwerij De Eeuwige Jeugd, which translates to Brewery of Eternal Youth. The name is perfect because there is something about this place that makes you feel like you have nowhere to be and all the time in the world.
My friend Bram introduced me to De Jeugd on our first Linnaeusstraat crawl about two years ago. We were supposed to stop for one beer. We stayed for three hours. There were board games on the table, the music was good, the beers were excellent, and neither of us could come up with a good reason to leave. That has happened every single time since.
They brew their own beers and they are genuinely good. Not "good for a brewpub" — actually good. The lineup rotates but there is usually a solid IPA, something darker for winter, and a couple of lighter options for when you do not want to commit to a heavy pour. The bartenders know every beer by heart because they probably helped brew it. Bram always asks "what is new" and whatever they recommend has never let us down.
The space is cozy without being cramped. Wooden tables, warm lighting, the kind of interior that feels like someone's very cool living room. There are board games scattered around and people actually play them. I watched a group of four adults get deeply invested in a round of Settlers of Catan while drinking saisons. That is the De Jeugd experience.
The food is comfort food done right. Think sharing plates, good cheese, hearty snacks. Not a full restaurant menu but enough to keep you fed during a long session. And sessions here tend to be long. Something about the combination of their own beer, the relaxed atmosphere, and the board games creates a gravitational pull that is hard to escape.
De Jeugd is stop three on our Oost pub crawl and it is always the stop where we lose track of time. Bram has a theory that the name is not about the brewery — it is about what happens to your sense of time when you sit down. You become young again, with nowhere to be. I think he might be onto something.
Go on a weekday evening for the best experience. Weekends are busier but still manageable. And if someone at the next table invites you to join their board game, say yes. That is how Bram met half his friend group.
You might also like
Bar Oldenhof
My neighbor took me here on my birthday and I genuinely did not want to leave. It feels like drinking cocktails in a 19th-century living room.
Local FavoriteBrouwerij 't IJ
A brewery in a windmill. Yes, really. My friend Sara brings every single visitor here and it never disappoints. Try the IJwit and sit outside if the weather is decent.
Local FavoriteParadiso
A concert venue in a former church. My roommate saw her favorite band here and said the acoustics gave her goosebumps. Check what is on — the lineup is always solid.