The Dutch have been a trading nation for centuries. As a result, Dutch brewers were quick off the mark with their commercial approach. Meeting the needs of the global market, they successfully mastered international styles of beer-making. A downside of this marketing approach may have been a less distinctive character of Dutch beers. This attitude seems to have changed over the last few decades.
Since the eighties, there has been increasing interest in and a growing appreciation for traditional Dutch beers. A great many beer enthusiasts favour typically Dutch beer makes like Kuit, and these days Dutch brewers frequently win international awards. Also, beer culture in the Netherlands is as dynamic as ever, small breweries keep coming up and new beers are continually being put to the test.