EPISODE · Jun 15, 2026 · 6 MIN
The Dutch Brewers Who Beat the English Beer Act of 1644
from The Story of the Netherlands: Trade, Empire, and Innovation — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
Episode 99 of The Story of the Netherlands takes us into the frothy world of Dutch brewing during the Golden Age. In 1644, the English Parliament passed a heavy tax on beer that crippled London's brewers and sent English hops and barley prices crashing. Amsterdam's brouwers, led by the ambitious Jan Claeszoon, saw an opportunity. They imported cheap English grain, built bigger ships, and flooded the Baltic market with Dutch beer. The episode follows the rise of the 'brouwersgracht' breweries, the invention of the kuiper's cold-storage barrel, and the forgotten trade war that pivoted from ale to diplomacy. Lucas and Luna also explore how this beer boom gave Amsterdam's working class a reliable, cheap drink that powered the city's expansion. A story of tariffs, taste, and the global thirst for a good pint. #DutchBeer #AmsterdamBrewing #Brouwersgracht #JanClaeszoon #BeerAct1644 #GoldenAge #DutchTrade #BalticTrade #Kuiper #Hops #Barley #BeerTax #EconomicHistory #FoodHistory #Europe #Netherlands #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
Episode 99 of The Story of the Netherlands takes us into the frothy world of Dutch brewing during the Golden Age. In 1644, the English Parliament passed a heavy tax on beer that crippled London's brewers and sent English hops and barley prices crashing. Amsterdam's brouwers, led by the ambitious Jan Claeszoon, saw an opportunity. They imported cheap English grain, built bigger ships, and flooded the Baltic market with Dutch beer. The episode follows the rise of the 'brouwersgracht' breweries, the invention of the kuiper's cold-storage barrel, and the forgotten trade war that pivoted from ale to diplomacy. Lucas and Luna also explore how this beer boom gave Amsterdam's working class a reliable, cheap drink that powered the city's expansion. A story of tariffs, taste, and the global thirst for a good pint. #DutchBeer #AmsterdamBrewing #Brouwersgracht #JanClaeszoon #BeerAct1644 #GoldenAge #DutchTrade #BalticTrade #Kuiper #Hops #Barley #BeerTax #EconomicHistory #FoodHistory #Europe #Netherlands #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Dutch Brewers Who Beat the English Beer Act of 1644
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