Brewery Het Brouwdok

The Netherlands

"We love beer. It's that simple."

After visiting Maallust Brewery in the historic village of Veenhuizen, we were eager to continue our journey through the craft beer scene of Northern Netherlands. We headed north-west into the province of Friesland and eventually arrived in the harbour city of Harlingen.

From homebrewing to craft brewery

Like many craft breweries, Het Brouwdok traces its origins back to a passion for homebrewing. The brewery's story is a familiar one in the world of craft beer, where experimentation in a home kitchen or garage often lays the foundation for a professional brewing venture.

We had already sampled several beers from Het Brouwdok at a beer festival, so we knew our visit to the brewery in Harlingen would be a rewarding one. Unfortunately, founder and owner Gerard Ypenga was not present during our visit, but his brewing story remains an example of how passion can evolve into a successful brewery.

Gerard's brewing adventure began in 2009 while living in Amsterdam and working in the IT industry. His first beers were brewed in a modest 40-litre kettle, but it quickly became clear that brewing was more than just a hobby. He joined two brewing associations, became a member of the Dutch beer judging community, and further developed his expertise by earning his beer sommelier diploma.

Despite enjoying life in Amsterdam, Gerard never forgot his Frisian roots. When the dream of opening his own brewery became a reality, there was only one logical place to do it: Friesland.

A craft brewery on the Frisian coast

In 2012 Gerard returned to his home province of Friesland and settled in the harbour city of Harlingen. In the early years, brewing remained a small-scale operation, with Gerard and his father producing beer together in the family backyard. As demand for their craft beer grew, an opportunity arose when a vacant building became available on Harlingen’s Havenplein.

The move to a larger location was an easy decision. Around this time, Gerard joined forces with Johan ten Hoor, and brewing activities expanded using a 200-litre brewing system. However, continued growth soon required yet another move, and in 2017 the brewery relocated to its current home in the harbour of Harlingen.

Arriving via the Westerzeedijk you can hardly miss the brewery’s location. Housed in a former timber warehouse overlooking the harbour, Het Brouwdok has become one of the most recognisable craft breweries in Friesland. Transforming the old industrial building into a modern brewery was no small undertaking. When they acquired the property, there were virtually no facilities in place.

Their vision was ambitious: create a brewery capable of producing 2,000 litres of beer per batch. To make this possible, the entire floor had to be raised, a project that required more than one hundred foundation piles. After extensive renovations and a year of preparations, the brewery finally received its hospitality licence, allowing the adjacent tasting room to open its doors.

Brewing beyond the dike in Harlingen

The reason the brewery floor had to be raised becomes clear as soon as you see the location of Het Brouwdok. The brewery and its tasting room, known as Buitendijks (‘outside the dike’), are situated exactly where the name suggests: not behind the sea dike, but directly on the harbour waterfront. This unique location offers stunning views across the harbour, the fishing and sailing vessels moored along the quay, and the nearby Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Brewing outside the dike presents challenges. During periods of exceptionally high water, flood protection becomes essential, making the elevated brewery floor a practical necessity. After all, seawater and brewing equipment are not an ideal combination.

At the heart of the brewery's beer portfolio is the Vaste Bemanning ('Permanent Crew’), the core range of beers brewed by Het Brouwdok. This collection includes a diverse selection of styles, such as Pilsner, Amber Ale, Blond, Tripel, Weizen, and IPA.

Beer lovers looking for more adventurous brews will also find plenty to enjoy. The brewery regularly produces specialty and seasonal beers, including a rich Baltic Porter, a bold Imperial Milk Stout and a smoky Rauch Märzen. After finishing our photography session, we settled down in the tasting room to enjoy a fresh glass of Slim Simmer straight from the tap. This refreshing blond beer contains just 4.2% alcohol, making it an ideal thirst-quencher on a warm day.

Exploring Harlingen: a historic port city with a brewing heritage

The city of Harlingen is one of the famous Eleven Cities of Friesland and a key stop on the legendary Elfstedentocht, the iconic long-distance skating event. Although our visit did not leave enough time to fully explore the city, the harbour alone was well worth the trip.

For centuries, Harlingen's identity has been closely linked to its maritime history as the city played a vital role in trade and shipping. Sailing vessels and steamships departed from here for destinations including England, helping Harlingen develop into a thriving commercial centre.

Historical records* show that during the 17th century the city was home to at least six breweries, bearing colourful names such as Het Gele Hert (The Yellow Deer) and Het Haantje (The Little Rooster). By the middle of the 19th century, however, only one brewery remained, reflecting the decline of local brewing that occurred in many Dutch cities during that period. Today, Het Brouwdok continues Harlingen's brewing tradition.

After our visit to the brewery, we took some time to stroll along the quays and harbour. The waterfront is filled with maritime heritage, including beautifully preserved historic vessels, a lightship, and a traditional ocean-going tugboat that serve as reminders of Harlingen's rich nautical past.

A short walk further along the Westerzeedijk brings visitors to De Stenen Man, one of the city's most recognisable landmarks. This historic stone statue once functioned as a boundary marker. Nowadays it also serves as an excellent meeting point. For visitors combining history, maritime culture and craft beer, Harlingen offers a rewarding destination on the Dutch Wadden Sea coast.

* Elsinga S., Zes brouwerijen in Harlingen (2016)

Updated: 13-06-2026