The inventory of bankrupt Eindhoven-based brewery Lighttown Brewers in the Netherlands is being auctioned via Troostwijk Auctions. The auction takes place against the backdrop of a beer market that, after years of growth, is clearly starting to shift. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the Netherlands still had 740 breweries on 1 January 2025, 40 fewer than one year earlier. This marks the first decline in the number of breweries since 2010.

After years of growth, the beer market is shifting

In recent years, the number of Dutch breweries grew strongly, partly driven by the rise of speciality beer and local craft beer brands. Today, market sentiment has changed. Smaller and independent brewers are facing a combination of rising costs, geopolitical uncertainty and changing consumer behaviour.

Industry association CRAFT previously pointed to the impact of increased costs for energy, raw materials and packaging materials, among other things. Larger brewers are also seeing pressure in the Western European beer market, driven in part by high costs, lower volumes and changing consumption patterns.

Lighttown Brewers as an example of broader market pressure

Lighttown Brewers was founded in 2023 as a joint production brewery by 100 Watt Brewery, Van Moll Craft Beer and Stadsbrouwerij 013. From a large facility on Dirk Boutslaan in Eindhoven, the three independent breweries aimed to combine their production capacity, achieve economies of scale and jointly respond to growing demand for craft beer.

The brewery was regarded as one of the larger craft breweries in the Netherlands. According to Bierista, the joint production site was intended to eventually grow into a brewery with a capacity of around 2.5 million litres of beer per year. The fact that precisely this kind of joint production facility has been declared bankrupt illustrates the pressure that even ambitious and professionally organised breweries can come under.

Rising costs and changing demand put pressure on margins

The challenges in the beer market are caused by a combination of factors. Energy and raw material prices have risen sharply in recent years, while geopolitical uncertainty is putting pressure on international supply chains and cost structures. At the same time, consumer drinking behaviour is changing. Younger consumers in particular are increasingly choosing alcohol-free, low-alcohol or other beverage categories.

For breweries, this means that investments in capacity, sustainability and distribution are becoming increasingly difficult to recoup. Especially for smaller and independent players, which lack the scale of large international brewers, this combination can put margins under pressure.

Brewing equipment gets a second life through auction

Through Troostwijk Auctions’ online auction, the inventory of Lighttown Brewers is being made available to the market. The lots include brewing installations, tanks, filling equipment, cooling systems and warehouse inventory.

The auction gives existing breweries, start-up beer entrepreneurs, hospitality businesses and international buyers the opportunity to put professional brewing capacity back into use. At the same time, it contributes to achieving the highest possible return.

“The beer market is under pressure, but demand for professional equipment and efficient production capacity remains,” says Sjoerd Baars, Account Manager at Troostwijk Auctions. “Through this auction, high-quality brewery assets are given a second life. That is relevant for entrepreneurs looking to expand or renew their operations, but also for the client, as we aim to achieve the highest possible return through a transparent international auction process.”