When the Netherlands comes to mind, most people think of Amsterdam’s romantic canals, the Red Light District, and the country’s lax marijuana laws. What they don’t think of, though, is Dutch cuisine.
And while that doesn’t come as much of a surprise, it is a real shame; there are quite a few Dutch dishes that deserve some recognition!
Here are the top 10 Dutch foods to try in Amsterdam!
10 Dutch Foods to Try in Amsterdam
#1 Stroopwafels
If you like caramel, you’re going to love stroopwafels. This traditional Dutch treat comes in the form of two thinly pressed waffles, glued together with a mixture of syrup, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Stroopwafels can be eaten alone or accompanied by tea/coffee. Either way, these things are downright scrumptious.
#2 Poffertjes
Poffertjes are another traditional sweet treat that you’ve got to try while in Amsterdam! Basically, poffertjes are Dutch pancakes, dressed in powdered sugar, butter, and syrup. Unlike American pancakes, however, poffertjes have a light, spongy texture; and of course, they’re mini!
Our favorite place to eat poffertjes in Amsterdam is The Pancake Bakery, located on the Prinsengracht.
If you want to make your own poffertjes at home, click here for our poffertjes recipe!
#3 Pannekoeken
Next up are pannekoeken, or pancakes. Dutch pannekoeken are very thin, light pancakes which are usually about a foot in diameter. Pannekoeken can be made either sweet or savory, with various toppings such as bacon, cheese, apples, raisins, or the typical combination of powdered sugar, butter, and syrup. Really, the options are endless!
At The Pancake Bakery, we went the savory route. We ordered the Caprese pancake, topped with melted cheese, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, pesto, and fresh basil (see the featured photo)!
#4 Appeltaart
And you thought apple pie was American all along, didn’t you? Turns out, apple pie, or appeltaart, is incredibly Dutch. The filling of an appeltaart consists of slices of apples, sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, raisins, and sometimes nuts and liqueur. Appeltaart is usually topped with a lattice of pie crust, but can also have a crumbly topping, or no topping at all.
If you ask Amsterdam locals where to find the best appeltaart, they’ll likely tell you to go to Winkel 43, in the Jordaan district. But be prepared for chaos and a long wait – this place is popular!
#5 Bitterballen
Our Dutch friends have often told us, “Don’t ask what’s inside bitterballen, just eat them.” When I wouldn’t take that for an answer, they would reply, “No one actually knows what’s inside.” In conclusion, bitterballen are just balls of deep-fried goodness, served piping hot, with mustard for dipping.
But if you really want to know the secret, I’ll tell you! Bitterballen usually contain a roux of butter and flour, minced beef or veal, beef broth, parsley, salt, and pepper. Some of the bitterballen we sampled in Amsterdam also had notes of curry! So good!
#6 Loempia
If you didn’t already know, the Dutch controlled Indonesia until after World War II. For this reason, Indonesian flavors have become commonplace in the Netherlands, and of course, Dutch influences still remain in Indonesia, too.
One popular dish in both countries is loempia, which are deep-fried spring rolls stuffed with varieties of meats and vegetables.
While in Amsterdam, we visited the Foodhallen with a Dutch friend, and sampled loempia from a stand called Viet View. Delicious!
#7 Frieten met mayonaise
Love it or hate it, the Dutch will put mayonnaise on just about anything. Well, maybe not anything. But they do generously dollop mayo onto one dish in particular: frieten met mayonaise. French fries with mayo is wildly popular in the Netherlands. Give it a try, won’t you?
#8 Kaastengels
Kaastengels are another direct reflection of the Netherlands’ history with Indonesia. Kaastengels are basically deep-fried loempia, filled with Gouda or Edam cheese. They are served hot, with a bowl of spicy chili sauce for dipping.
A fair warning: Kaastengels are dangerously delicious. While in Amsterdam, I couldn’t stop at just one serving. I kept ordering more and more kaastengels for the whole table (but mostly for me) to snack on.
#9 Kaas
If there’s one food the Dutch are famous for, it’s their kaas! By far, the most famous Dutch cheeses are Gouda, Edam, and Old Amsterdam, but don’t stop there. There are plenty of other Dutch cheeses to discover. Pop into the cheese shops, outdoor markets, and grocery stores to sample them all!
#10 Tony’s Chocoloney
The last on this list of foods to try in Amsterdam isn’t exactly traditional. However, it does come from Amsterdam, and the Dutch absolutely love it. Tony’s Chocoloney is probably the best chocolate on the planet. And with flavors like sea salt caramel, dark coffee crunch, and dark pecan coconut, this stuff can’t be beaten. You can find Tony’s Chocoloney in just about any grocery store in Amsterdam!
So next time you visit…
Those are the top 10 Dutch foods to try in Amsterdam! We tried them all out, and they certainly passed the taste test! We loved ’em all.
Of course, there are other Dutch foods you could try, like pickled herring or drop (a licorice-flavored candy), however these 10 foods to try in Amsterdam are sure to be crowd-pleasers, no matter what!
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Over to you! Have you ever visited Amsterdam, or anywhere else in the Netherlands? How many of these Dutch foods did you try?
Stroopwafels are the best. I think they have them at Starbucks now,… however I’m sure they are not as good as the real thing!
They are!
No, probably not as good. I haven’t seen just regular caramel flavored stroopwafels at Starbucks either… just weird chocolate ones!
yummy I want all of these
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
They’re all SO good!
This food looks delicious! Will have to stay few days in Amsterdam to try them all.
Yeah, definitely! :)
OMG stroop waffles are my favourite things in the whole world, I always end up picking a packet when I go shopping ♥
tipscapsule.blogspot.com
Aren’t they the best?! I brought a few packs home so my family could try them!
Nice selection. I must admit trying local food is all part of the travel experience.
A few years ago when I was in The Netherlands some locals kept asking me if I’d tried something which I think they called “Drop”. It was a kind of sweet. I was game to give it a try. It tasted like liquorice but I must admit to not liking it much. Have you ever come across Drop?
Haha! I’m not at all a fan of anything licorice, so I didn’t include it in my list of must tries. We did come across drop in the Netherlands, and I actually mentioned it at the bottom of this post saying you could also try pickled herring and drop, but my 10 selections might be a little more likable. ;)
Wow, so many foods that I didn’t even know about and now I want to try everything! Those pancakes look delicious served with fruit and fresh cream. Now I’m hungry! Thanks for sharing Maddy and have a great weekend :)
https://www.mintnotion.com
Yes, try them all! They’re all delicious! :)
OMG I love poffertjes so much! This is such a great list- wish I would’ve noticed the fried spring rolls while I was there! Guess I’ll have to go back :)
Poffertjes… Yes! SO good!
I guess so… ;)
I didn’t try everything but it’s on my list ;)
Talking about cheese, my favorite in the Netherlands is the one with cumin, it’s soooooo good ! And the Bitterballen tastes also super good.
Also it doesn’t have anything to do with this article (and I’m sorry to ask the question here) but I’m going to Prague with some friends so what should I DEFINITELY see that is not super famous from the tourists eyes ? :)
Great article btw !
Kenza from https://travelwithkenza.blogspot.fr/
Haha! My favorite cheese in the Netherlands is called Reypenaer – it’s incredible. And don’t even get me started on Bitterballen… Mmmmm.
For Prague, that’s hard because it’s such a touristy city, but in a good way. There’s nothing touristy that you won’t want to see, like the Old Town Square and the Charles Bridge. I would say that you should explore more of the Mala Strana side of Prague instead of staying just in the Old Town area. I think that side of the river is much more authentic, less touristy, and it’s very beautiful. I would also recommend going to the Charles Bridge at sunrise. It’s so gorgeous and that’s the only time to see the bridge as it truly is, without millions of tourists and people selling things. I also really love the Jewish Quarter of Prague. The Jewish Cemetery is amazing. You can buy a pass to get into the Jewish museums, synagogues, and the cemetery… I can’t really think of much else at the moment. Of course make sure to go up to the castle/St. Vitus Cathedral, see the Dancing House if you’re into contemporary architecture. Male Strana side all the way, though, for sure! :)
And I’ll take one of each please :)
Me too!
This is a great post! I’m traveling to Amsterdam in a few months, but my mouth is already watering!!
Thanks! Definitely try these when you go! :)
Oh my goodness; stroopwaffels might be one of my favourite things to eat. Like, ever!!!
Seriously!
These all look so delicious, especially the stroop wafels! I make waffle cookies with my gramma every year, but I have never put caramel in between two of them – definitely going to try that!
They’re so yummy. I bet your variation would be awesome!
Hahaah, this is literally my to-do list everytime I fly home to Holland. I can’t believe you mentioned Tony’s! I am dreaming of the popcorn one right now.
Next time your are in NL I would recommend Calve peanut butter.
If you’re from NL and this is your to-do list, I’d say I did a pretty good job with this list then! ;)
Tony’s was probably the best discovery we made during our last trip to Europe!
Thanks for the tip!
Pretty sure I just butchered the pronunciation of every single food on this list but I DON’T CARE I’LL STILL EAT THEM. The Poffertjes sound like the Aebelskiver I made a while back on my blog, so I know I’d definitely love those. And I totally agree, Stroopwafels are AMAZING.
Great list!
-Claire
tallgirlbigworld.com
Haha! Thanks for stopping by! :)
I didn’t know too much about Dutch food when I went to Amsterdam, I wish I had this guide with me! At least next time I’ll be equipped to try all this food that looks so yummy! I especially want to try the poffertjes. Thanks for sharing!
Characters & Carry-ons
Next time make sure to bring this guide around with you! Trust us, you’ll be happy you did! So much good food… :)
I’m saving this for when I get to go to Amsterdam! I’m suddenly so hungry and I’m craving spring rolls :)
Definitely save it! All of this awesome Dutch food will make your trip one to remember! :)
Is it also spelled lumpia? I’ve had it before but had no idea it was eaten in the Amsterdam! It’s sooo good. I also had no idea the Dutch controlled Indonesia for a while. Good info!
My grandma makes the Poffertjes and they are super delish!
Yes, it’s spelled both ways! Poffertjes are amazing. I want to make them at home soon. I’ve been craving them!
Stroopwafels! I can eat kilos of this when I’m in Amsterdam..
Right?! Stroopwafels are life.