In t Aepjen — meaning 'in the monkeys' — is in a wooden building from the early 1500s on Zeedijk near Centraal Station. It is one of two surviving wooden buildings in Amsterdam (the other is on the same square). The bar has been pouring beer continuously since the 1600s.
The name comes from sailors who returned from the East Indies and used the bar as their first stop in Amsterdam. They sometimes traded monkeys (their pets from the trip) for beer when they ran out of money. The walls have old maps and ship photographs.
The drinks are simple Dutch beers, jenever, and basic wine. The room is tiny and dark. The crowd is mostly tourists drawn by the history but the bar feels genuinely heritage. Pair with Cafe de Dokter for a complete Amsterdam heritage tour.