Founded in Amsterdam in 1575, the House of Bols is one the world’s oldest spirits makers, not to mention one of the oldest firms on record. Its renowned jenever recipe dates back to as early as 1664 and was introduced to the British roughly 25 years later where it was modified to English tastes and produced locally as gin. Although the venerable company moved away to a location near The Hague in 1969 it opened this amazing tasting experience and bartending school near the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in 2007. The award-winning Genever Experience showcases the roughly 40 liqueurs it sells in 110 countries around the world as well as the wide varieties of jenevers it produces. Take a self-guided, interactive tour and learn about the history of the House of Bols, discover the importance of both smell, taste and colour in the drinking process, practice your bartending skills in the flair simulator and, best of all, taste a delicious cocktail prepared by graduates of the upstairs drinks pouring school in the trendy Mirror Bar. Just choose your desired cocktail on the touch screen, print out the recipe and hand it to the bartender. Additional cocktails cost only €5 each so you can make an evening of it every Friday night! A souvenir shop sells all manner of gifts from personalised liquor bottles and clothing to Delftware spirits receptacles.