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What Makes Louis Bar Cafe De Dam Known As The Smallest Pub In Amsterdam?
I have always felt that a bar becomes more memorable when it stands for something.
Biggest, oldest, cheapest, smallest. In this case, I want to talk about a spot that many visitors associate with the smallest title: Louis Bar Cafe De Dam.
What Is Louis Bar Cafe De Dam?
Louis Bar Cafe De Dam is a compact Amsterdam pub that I visited frequently whenever I returned to the Netherlands.
After living abroad for fourteen years, my Dutch was rusty, so it felt comfortable to sit in a place where English was easy to use.
Many English visitors stop by, and the casual atmosphere makes it simple to relax with a drink.
I even wrote a song about a girl I met there once. She had a few hours before leaving the city, and we ended up sharing stories over a couple of beers.
Encounters like that were normal in this bar. If you speak English and are looking for work, it never hurts to ask Louis if he has any openings.
How Small Is Louis Bar Cafe De Dam?
The pub is compact enough that the bar counter takes up most of the interior.
The toilet is upstairs, and reaching it feels like a small adventure.
Many Amsterdam pubs have steep staircases, and climbing down always tests your balance because you can see exactly where you might land. Despite that, I never saw anyone get hurt.
Louis took over the bar in 1986, but the pub itself dates back to 1803. The interior is filled with football scarves.
Visitors like to leave them behind, and Louis never objects. He even enjoys adding more.
Is It Truly The Smallest Pub In Amsterdam?
People often claim that Louis Bar Cafe De Dam is the smallest pub in the city, but that is not accurate.
Another tiny and historic space is the Mandje on the Zeedijk near Central Station. It is well known, but not the smallest either.
The smallest title is most commonly associated with Café De Dokter, which many guides and local publications describe as the smallest pub in Amsterdam.
This is a widely repeated claim rather than an official municipal declaration. The reputation persists because the bar is extremely small and significantly tighter than many others in the city.
What Is The History Of Café De Dokter?
Café De Dokter opened around 1798, about five years before Louis Bar Cafe De Dam began operating.
A doctor who worked in a nearby hospital started the business because he wanted a change of direction. His descendants, the Beems family, still run the place.
The interior measures roughly eighteen square meters. It is set in the Rozenboomsteeg just off Kalverstraat near Het Spui.
The network of small streets makes it slightly challenging to locate if you are not familiar with the area.
Inside, the soundtrack is sophisticated jazz that leans heavily on saxophones.
If you want to try something Dutch, order Osseworst, which is an ox sausage served with pickles.
How Can You Do A Short Pub Crawl Around These Historic Bars?
If you start at Central Station, you can walk through several historic pubs in one simple route, including the oldest and the smallest.
1. Begin At T Aepjen
Look for the bookstore across from Central Station and the Victoria Hotel. If you are unsure where to go, look toward the rooftops for a sign that reads Jesus Loves You.
Walk through the alley below it until you reach the Zeedijk. T Aepjen is on the corner at number one. Ask for a Palm beer from the tap.
2. Continue To De Ooievaar
Cross the street and find De Ooievaar. They specialise in distilled Dutch liquors.
Ask if you can taste one. They often offer a small sample.
3. Walk Down Warmoesstraat Toward Louis Bar
Turn the corner and follow Warmoesstraat, one of the oldest streets in Amsterdam.
The street leads directly to Dam Square. Continue past Hotel Krasnapolsky and head into Damstraat.
Louis Bar Cafe De Dam used to be located along this street, about fifty meters from the corner.
4. Finish At Café De Dokter
If you still want to continue, walk back toward Dam Square and turn left onto Rokin.
Cross the street before turning. After about two hundred yards you will reach traffic lights.
Turn right into Het Spui, then right again into Kalverstraat. Take the first alley on your left and look for number four.
After that, consider taking a taxi home if possible.
Where Are These Pubs Located?
Louis Bar Cafe De Dam
The bar was historically located on Damstraat. Several recent sources report that it has moved from this location.
Visitors should verify its current address before planning a visit.
Café De Dokter
Rozenboomsteeg 4
Phone: (31) 020 626 4427
What Other Unique Bars Can You Explore In Amsterdam?
If you want to continue discovering interesting places to drink beyond the historic pubs mentioned in this guide, explore our overview of secret canal bars in Amsterdam.
These waterside spots offer a different style of atmosphere and are ideal for relaxed summer visits.