I was station in Netherlands for 2yrs... best part of my military career!

There are pubs all over the place, all you have to do is start walking and you'll find one... they usually have a really good selection of dutch, belgian and english beers in them...
As for the putting coaster over your glass when you're done... If you go into any pub and order a 'pils', you're going to get that small glass he mentions and if you're sitting at the bar, they will keep filling it for you until you put your coaster over it...if you're at a table they'll come around and ask if you want another round... My buddies and I would go into a pub and order 30 pils... there are no pitchers over there. But they can put about 12-15 of those glasses on one tray then put another tray on top and fill it up then bring it to your table... we'd just sit and BS and drink.. no need to constantly wave down a waiter, just sit back, drink, talk, birdwatch and have a good time! I sure miss that place! And if you've never been to the red light district, you have to go at least walk around. Whether you participate or not its something you have to see.
As far as I remember you could buy beer at the airport but there were no bars there at that time, just in the food court area. and there wasn't anything 'near by' the airport as far as waiting for a layover... but all you have to do is ask a cabbie.