Just a stone’s throw away from the loud and lecherous Leidseplein you can find this mecca for Belgian brews and south-of-the-border hospitality. De Zotte (“the fool”)’s interior has an overabundance of oak and can become very crowded from the early evening until closing time, making it a good place to brush up on your barstool conquering skills.

Their collection of 130 mostly Belgian and Dutch beers is supplemented with a couple of international brews, guaranteeing that you’re not likely to work your way through the menu in a couple of sittings. Whenever you start to crave something more solid for sustenance, you can order a fine Flemish steak with homemade fries or a chunk of whole wheat bread with a generous slice of pâté or abbey cheese.

The staff of De Zotte have a preference for dark and gloomy tunes, but if you can stand a bit of new wave or bluesy singer-songwriter material, you’ll be able to manage, the volume is never so loud as to make pleasant conversation impossible.