Born in Amsterdam. Raised by the World.
In 1863, a 22-year-old Gerard Adriaan Heineken put everything on the line. He bet that Amsterdam was ready for a better beer. He was right. 162 years later, that same uncompromising spirit is still the first ingredient in every bottle.
The Founder — He didn’t just buy a brewery; he sparked a revolution.
The Scientist — The man who mastered the yeast, gave the Star its soul, and ensured lasting quality.
The Architect — The marketing genius who turned a green bottle into a global icon.
The Timeline: From One Brew to a Global Icon.
Grab a glass and travel back to 1863. From a single haystack in Amsterdam to the world’s most famous red star, see the moments that defined a century and a half of brewing excellence.
→ From Amsterdam to the World: The 160-Year Journey
The People Behind the Star
Behind every bottle is a person who dared to do it differently. From the founders who risked it all to the master brewers who protected the secret, meet the legends who built the brand.
→ Meet the Legends Behind the Star
The World is Green: The Heineken Time Machine
This isn’t just a map; it’s a window into the past. Step into the interactive time machine to see the world through Heineken’s eyes. Select any year—from 1864 to today—to watch the Red Star conquer new borders, discover ‘lost’ breweries, and see exactly what was on tap in 1899..
→ Spin the Global Time Machine
The Global Portfolio
From Amsterdam to the world. Explore our comprehensive archive of every brand, brewery, and bottle that has defined the Heineken legacy across six continents.
→ Crack open the heritage collection
The Global Production Heritage
Discover the 160+ locations where the Red Star has been brewed—from historic 19th-century Amsterdam plants to the modern hubs of Asia and Africa.
→ From Historic Hearths to Modern Hubs
Symbols & Identity
A green bottle is just glass until you put a soul behind it. Trace the evolution of our icons—from the ‘smiling e’ and the first labels to the campaigns that made the world thirsty.
→ The Evolution of an Icon