Top 5 Pubs in Bourtange (2026)
Bourtange is a star-shaped fortress village with only a few hundred residents — and it still pours its own beer. After a walk along the ramparts and cannons, a cold glass on the old market square simply tastes better.
TL;DR: The best pubs and bars in Bourtange for 2026 are Eetcafé 't Oal Kroegie, Café Restaurant 's Lands Huys, the Herberg at Hotel Vesting Bourtange, Wijnschenkerij Gerrit Schuit, and Jes Theetuin. All five are based on real visitor reviews, and you can walk between them in minutes.
Note: In the Netherlands, a "coffeeshop" sells cannabis, while a "café" or "eetcafé" is a normal pub-style bar with beer, wine, and food. This guide is about the pubs and bars where you can grab a proper drink.
1. Eetcafé 't Oal Kroegie
The name means "the old little pub" in the local dialect, and that's exactly what it is. You'll find it at Marktplein 8, right on the market square inside the fortress. Warm wood, friendly faces, and a terrace with a front-row view of village life.
Beer fans, this is your stop. It's the place to try Bourtanger Vestingbier, the local fortress beer. One visitor wrote: "We enjoyed our stay very much and can recommend their own brewed beer." Guests also praise the honest pricing — "reasonable, and not inflated for tourists," as one review puts it. Order a schnitzel with your pint and you're set.
2. Café Restaurant 's Lands Huys
Just across the square at Marktplein 2, this café-bar sits in a building that goes back to the 1630s, when it housed the fort's officers. Today it has two terraces: one at the front under the trees on the square, and a quieter one at the back.
Reviewers keep mentioning the cosy feel. One guest described it as "cosy and atmospheric, with a terrace on the square and another at the back." Another fan added: "Friendly staff, and the saté plate is a real recommendation." It gets busy on sunny afternoons, so be a little patient — or claim that back terrace.
3. Herberg at Hotel Vesting Bourtange
Not every good drink in Bourtange hides inside the walls. This inn sits at Willem Lodewijkstraat 33, a five-minute walk from the fortress gates. It's part of a small hotel, with a relaxed bar-restaurant that also serves classic Dutch pancakes.
The magic here happens after sunset, when the day-trippers leave and the village goes quiet. One guest shared: "The location is magnificent. It was a bit desolate in January, but the restaurant was excellent." Perfect for a slow evening beer without the crowds.
4. Wijnschenkerij Gerrit Schuit
Beer isn't your thing? Bourtange has an answer for that too. This tiny wine tavern at Zodenpandweg 17 pours wine inside the historic fortress. It's small, personal, and easy to miss if you're not looking for it.
You won't find many online reviews yet, and that's part of the charm — visitors who stumble in call it a hidden gem. Opening times can change with the season, so check before you go. If the door is open, step in for a glass and a chat.
5. Jes Theetuin
Let's be honest: this one isn't a pub at all. Jes Theetuin is a small tea garden at Wollingboerweg 18, just outside the walls — and it's the perfect soft landing after a pub evening. Think cosy seats between the flowers, a picnic field with wide views, and a covered lounge for rainy days.
Guests love the calm. One visitor described it as "a nice quiet location with a friendly hostess and a nice little menu." It's open from 10:00 to 17:00 and closed on Wednesdays. Homemade treats and a pot of tea — sometimes that's all you need.
Bourtange may host one of the smallest pub crawls in the Netherlands — you can walk all five spots in about fifteen minutes. Start with a Vestingbier at 't Oal Kroegie, watch the square from 's Lands Huys, and stay past sunset when the fortress turns quiet and golden. Check opening times outside the summer season, because this village runs on its own calm rhythm. Proost!
