From Pilsner Desert to Craft Beer Oasis: The Rise of Craft Brewing in the Netherlands

In this chapter, we describe and attempt to explain the rise of craft brewing in the Netherlands through a qualitative study of the industry’s evolution. Similar to other countries, the Dutch beer brewing industry experienced unprecedented concentration followed by a remarkable revival of craft brewing. Our study describes the historical evolution of the industry and subsequently traces the chain of events that led to the proliferation of craft brewing. We then compare our observations to relevant theories on resource partitioning and social movements to identify factors on both the demand and supply side that may explain the successful renewal. On the demand side, we point to the role of consumer resistance and broader changes in consumer preferences for food. On the supply side, we point to hobby brewing associations, the emergence of online communities, new forms of financing, and recyclable remnants of old breweries