On my left is a counter with liquor bottles and knicknacks of yesteryear. An old fashioned cash register takes pride of place. It is like an old fashioned typewriter. But instead of letters there are numbers on the keys. When pressed a little flap pops up and displays the amount to be paid.

On my left is the ‘drinks organ’. It is a collection of wooden casks lying on their sides. Each cask has a small tap. In the old days people used to come with a jug or other container to tap jenever. Jenever is like gin, it is distilled grain alcohol flavoured with juniper berries.

This ‘drinks organ’ is still in use the only difference is that these days bottles are filled from it. This ‘drinks organ’ dates from 1820 and the casks are made of 700-year-old oak wood, at least this is what I was told and why shouldn’t I believe it.

At the back of the shop there is an exhibition of authentic distillery equipment, old labels, old photos, old bottles. Jenever is often sold in square bottles. This has a reason. Sailors used to take jenever with them to while away the time. Round bottles were not very practical as they would roll over in heavy storms. Square bottles would remain in place.

Van Kleef & Zoon is closed on Sundays. It is open from Monday to Saturday from 11am–6pm.