Becoming the world's leading premium lager
It’s been 140 years since Heineken has been able to call itself a microbrewer. And while we’re proud that 25 million Heineken’s are served each day across 192 countries, we’ve never forgotten that the quality is measured not in the size of our brand but in the purity of our beer. Even as we continue to open up to new worlds, Gerard’s uncompromised drive for quality and perfection still lives on in the Heineken family. Cheers!
Founder and visionary
Gerard Adriaan Heineken is born into an Amsterdam merchant family in 1841. In 1864 he buys brewery ‘De Hooiberg’ (The Haystack) in Amsterdam and immediately turns his focus towards brewing uncompromised premium lager beer. He embraces the latest brewing innovations and becomes the first brewer on the planet to introduce a quality control lab. He also did a lot for the city of Amsterdam.