Two names you’ll recognize right away if you’ve lived in the city for a few years. Bols, the world’s oldest cocktail brand, founded in 1575. And the Amstel Hotel, which has stood on the banks of that same river for more than 158 years. It actually makes perfect sense that these two would team up to create a summer terrace, even though it’s never been done before. The result is the Bols Spritz Garden: a green outdoor space along the water, designed as a lounge terrace with a view of the Amstel and the setting sun.
The drink menu is entirely centered around spritzes made with Bols liqueurs. Five varieties take center stage: the Elderflower Spritz (Bols Elderflower Liqueur, prosecco, soda, lemon, and thyme), the Royal Blue Spritz (Bols Blue 1575, prosecco, soda, orange), the Peach Spritz (Bols Peach Liqueur, prosecco, soda, peach), the Pink Grapefruit Spritz (Bols Pink Grapefruit Liqueur, prosecco, soda, grapefruit), and the Lychee Spritz (Bols Lychee Liqueur, prosecco, pink grapefruit soda, lychee). Every Thursday starting at 5:00 p.m., DJs DJ Girl With The Pearl and Aatz.dj spin during the regular Sunset Sessions. That’s when the terrace fills up, and you can look out over the water as the city slowly winds down.
The space itself is the outdoor garden of the InterContinental Amstel Hotel on Professor Tulpplein, a 19th-century building known in the city as the Grande Dame. Greenery, water, and the classic facade in the background. It’s not a trendy pop-up bar in a warehouse, but a terrace befitting a hotel that has stood in the same spot for a century and a half. The decor is understated and well-maintained: lounge chairs, a view of the river, and plenty of space to sit without overhearing each other’s conversations.
Bols, the world’s oldest cocktail brand, founded in 1575, and the Amstel Hotel, which has stood on the banks of that same river for more than 158 years.
The Bols Spritz Garden will be open throughout the summer of 2026. The Amstel Hotel has always owned this part of the city, but it has rarely been as accessible as it is now. Sitting here on a weeknight with a drink and the river right in front of you—that’s not something you can take for granted in a city that’s getting busier by the day. Two Amsterdam institutions, one terrace: that’s actually just a great idea.