De Hems Since 1688, a public house has stood on the area now occupied by, De Hems. In 1890, De Hems was given its name from one of its former owners, a Dutch Seaman De Hem. At first, De Hems operated as an oyster bar serving oysters and stout, there was little waste from the oysters, as over 300,000 oyster shells were used to decorate the walls! The Dutch community have long been linked with De Hems, and even used the upstairs bar as a meeting place for the Dutch Resisitance during WWI (sic). Since the 1980's De Hems has had a number of refurbishments, always staying true to it's Dutch roots. Selling over quarter of a millioin pints of Oranjeboom bier each year, along with Genever and other Dutch specialities, De Hems will continue to stay true to it's origins!