The brewery was founded by Charles Antoine de Pesters (1842–1915), Johannes Hendrikus van Marwijk Kooy (1847–1916) and Willem Eduard Uhlenbroek (1839–1880).

De Pesters and Van Marwijk Kooy were brothers-in-law, both coming from very affluent Amsterdam families.

For the purpose of storing the beer, winter ice from canals was kept in special double-walled cellars.

In 1884 a special export bottling plant was built, where "tropical" beers for the Dutch East Indies and other overseas markets were pasteurised and packaged in metal kegs.

In 1941, Amstel, together with Heineken, bought up the Amsterdam brewery Van Vollenhoven's Bierbrouwerij, which was closed in 1961.

[2] In 1972 the Amstel Brewery in Amsterdam was closed and production was relocated to the main Heineken plant in Zoeterwoude.

At the end of the 20th century, in Spain, Heineken International decided to replace the local centennial brand El Águila and convert it into Amstel.

In France a beer called Amstel Free, with minimal alcohol content –about one per cent ABV– is produced.