FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 32 OF 40

A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY

Amsterdam is a city built on water, trade and creativity, so it seems fitting that today’s gin stop brings together two things the Dutch have given the world — a rich distilling heritage and one of the most recognisable artistic movements in history.


When you think of Amsterdam, it’s almost impossible not to think of Van Gogh, although surprisingly he actually spent relatively little time in the city. He moved there in 1877 at the age of 24 to study theology and lived with his uncle, who worked in a shipyard. His studies didn’t quite go to plan, but his year in Amsterdam introduced him to the city’s museums and art collections, which helped shape his growing interest in art.


After leaving Amsterdam, Van Gogh returned only briefly on a couple of occasions — including visits to see his cousin and the newly opened Rijksmuseum. It was elsewhere, particularly in Paris, Arles and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, that he would develop the bold style and expressive use of colour that would make him one of the most influential artists in history.


Van Gogh Gin is a tribute to both Dutch distilling heritage and the artist whose work continues to inspire millions. Although Amsterdam itself did not create modern gin, the Netherlands played a crucial role in its history through jenever, the Dutch spirit which provided the foundation for the gin styles that followed over 300 years ago.

The bottle artwork beautifully captures the connection between Amsterdam and Van Gogh. Rather than reproducing one of his paintings, the design is a tribute to his unmistakable style — the famous canals and narrow gabled houses of Amsterdam sit beneath a swirling night sky, reminiscent of the movement, colour and energy found in works such as The Starry Night. The result is a bottle that feels like a little piece of Dutch culture, blending the city’s architecture with Van Gogh’s dreamlike vision.


Van Gogh Gin is distilled in Schiedam by Royal Dirkzwager Distillery, a city with a remarkable history of spirit production and once considered the heart of Dutch jenever-making.


The botanicals are sourced from around the world but are inspired by traditional gin-making, creating a classic, approachable style.


It’s a citrus-forward gin with a clean, balanced profile. Orange works beautifully as a garnish or with a dash of orange bitters in a G&T, and it also stands up well in a Negroni-style serve, where the juniper and citrus notes balance the bitterness of the Campari.


A fitting tribute to a country that gave the world a spirit tradition and one of its greatest artistic visionaries.


A Dutch gin where canals, creativity and Van Gogh’s starry skies meet.





For this stop in Amsterdam, I’ve kept the cocktail simple but with a Dutch twist — equal parts gin, Campari and red Port instead of vermouth. And of course, because no Amsterdam-inspired serve would be complete for me, there has to be a Lotus Biscoff on the side for those who believe gin and snacks are a perfect pairing!









"Show me a bottle and I’ll tell you a story."