Brouwer

Brouwer is a display typeface loosely inspired by a forgotten episode of Dutch design history. While studying the original blueprints of the Heineken brewery’s façade, Ramiro Espinoza discovered an unused alphabet in a style related to the Amsterdam School. The almost certain author of this blueprint alphabet was architect Bert J. Ouëndag, who designed the building. This early, technically oriented alphabet became the starting point for Brouwer.
Rather than reconstructing the letterforms literally, Espinoza distilled their essential qualities—sturdy proportions and geometric structure—into a versatile typeface suitable for logos, web design, editorial headlines, and advertising. Brouwer balances utility with expressiveness, echoing the character of early twentieth-century industrial lettering while remaining clearly contemporary.
By reviving what might have been, Brouwer pays tribute to Dutch architectural heritage. Now available through Brutal Types, it invites designers to give new life to a nearly lost alphabet.