Out of all the nice little cafés and brown cafés we visited during our time in the Netherlands, Café DeRat in Utrecht was probably our favourite. The space was cozy, the staff was friendly, and we were welcomed by a personable cat named Josefien.
We were the first visitors when they opened, though others trickled in later. Josefien was waiting impatiently at the door for us, followed us to our table, and then hopped up and watched as we examined the beer list.
The beer list was in fact excellent, with a large variety of international craft beers. I changed things up from the Belgian and Dutch beers I’d been drinking all week and went for a Bedhead Breakfast Stout from Black Isle Brewery in Northern Scotland. It was delicious, flavourful but easy drinking.
If we ever make it back to Utrecht I think DeRat will definitely be our first stop.
