Naeckte Brouwers

The Netherlands

"We brew organic beers and strive to be accessible and transparent."

After an earlier visit to Naeckte Brouwers in Amstelveen, we knew we wanted to return to capture this unique craft brewery. Our first visit took place during the holiday season, when the brewery was decorated for Christmas, creating a festive atmosphere, but not the ideal setting for the photos we had in mind. Of course, there are always people who would love to spend the whole year in the Christmas spirit. We’re not among them. So we came back on a different day, and we did so without much reluctance.

Making a virtue of necessity: let’s start a brewery!

When the financial crisis hit the Netherlands and was taking its toll on many people, founders of Naeckte Brouwers, Michel Lagrand and Ab van der Veen, decided it was time for a new direction. Rather than looking for another job, they turned their passion for homebrewing into a business. That hobby was already starting to get a bit out of hand, with a 90-liter brewing setup.

In 2011, Naeckte Brouwers was born. The name is not about brewing without clothes, but about brewing with pure, natural ingredients and an honest approach to beer. To meet growing demand, they initially brewed larger batches at a brewery in Belgium. Two years later, they opened their own brewery on an industrial site in Amstelveen, complete with a custom-designed brewhouse.

Brewing in a historic church

As the brewery continued to grow, reaching a production capacity of 8,000 litres in 2014, Michel and Ab were presented with an opportunity few brewers ever get: the chance to build a brewery inside a historic church. The former St. Anna Church in Amstelveen had stood empty since 2013 as declining church attendance led to its closure.

Built in 1928 and recognised as a municipal monument, the red-brick church was saved from demolition. Ultimately, Rijkswaterstaat (Directorate General for Public Works and Water Management) purchased the church because the adjacent A9 highway is set to be widened. While the rectory was demolished, the church was given a new purpose. It now is one of the more distinctive brewery locations in the Netherlands.

Converting a church into a fully functioning brewery required plenty of creative engineering. The custom-built brewhouse now occupies the space where the altar once stood, while the spent grain is transported outside through a specially designed chute for collection by a local farmer.

Even the fermentation tanks had to be custom-made: taller and slimmer than standard models so they could fit through the church's front entrance. With a few adjustments here and there, brewing inside a church creates a brewery experience unlike any other.

ANNA: a brewery, tasting room and cultural hub

A visit to Naeckte Brouwers is about much more than great craft beer. Today, the former St. Anna Church is home to ANNA, a tasting room and cultural venue that pays tribute to the building's original name. For beer lovers, ANNA is the perfect place to sample the brewery’s craft beers straight from the source. The tasting room also serves a selection of food, with every dish accompanied by a carefully chosen beer pairing to enhance the flavours of both the meal and the beer.

Beyond brewing and hospitality, ANNA has become a cultural centre for the local community. Throughout the year, the historic church hosts exhibitions, creative workshops, live music performances and stand-up comedy.

Naeckte Brouwers organic craft beers

Since 2022, De Naeckte Brouwers has been a certified organic brewery, with almost its entire range brewed using organically grown ingredients. We wholeheartedly support that. By choosing grains and hops cultivated without synthetic pesticides, the brewery combines sustainable brewing with a strong focus on quality and flavour.

The core range offers something for every craft beer enthusiast, featuring approachable yet characterful styles such as an Amber, Weizen, Blond, IPA, Dubbel and Tripel. Rather than chasing extremes, Naeckte Brouwers puts its own modern spin on classic beer styles.

Alongside these favourites, the brewery also produces a Pilsner, Saison, seasonal Bock beers and several low-alcohol options. Plenty of choice, and with the perfect food pairings which you can even enjoy inside a church… we don’t need to explain that this is a place well worth a visit.

Updated: 09-07-2026