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Benelux beers are ubiquitous these days, but there was a time when few venues purveyed pilsners and lagers from the Low Countries. This ornate-fronted hostelry on the edge of Chinatown was always the historic exception. First a refuge for homesick Dutch sailors, then an overseas base for the wartime Resistance, De Hems is now a convivial two-floor pub whose dark wood interior and sturdy bar counter, lined with Grolsch Weizen, Maredsous and Bellevue Kriek taps, are unmistakably Netherlandish. More unusual beers such as Orval, Vedett, Kwak and many other bottled varieties are stored behind the bar, and a menu board alongside offers bitterballen, frikadellen and other Dutch snacks.
Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9
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Great Belgian beers, decent Dutch snacks, cosmopolitan ambience. A haven for people who love the Low Countries.
during my previous visits: The chips were not the same as in holland , the satay sauce was too thin. Bitterballen were good. It could be better overall! Bottled beer overprized.
Doorstaff (bouncer) not friendly at all. I went there straight after work. It was a busy night with football, but I needed to speak urgently to my boyfriend who was inside. His phone was dead and they did not let me in. Told me they heard this joke many time before and told me to join the queue. the queue didn't move for 10 minutes.
I was just alone and not trying to jump the queue or anything like that! I'm a normal civilised person and was just hoping the bouncer could help me. I asked them to come with me upstairs then (where I asked my boyfriend to wait for me), I even didn't want to stay there anymore, I just wanted to get him out and go home! Again I heard NO as answer. I asked them to hold my phone for 2 minutes so I could get my boyfriend & promissed to come straight back. Also that was not allowed.
I understand it was busy, but he was not friendly at all. I was close to calling the police as there was no other way. After I started crying they let me in. Ridiculous. I will never go there again and I will advise all my friends and work colleagues to do the same.