10 Dutch Foods to Try in Amsterdam

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.

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#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!

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#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)!

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#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!

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#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?

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#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.

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#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!

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#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!

What to Pack

Keep in mind that the season of your visit will help determine what you need to pack. Winter gets VERY cold!

Of course, summer is warmer, and you can dress as you would in this part of Europe. But as expected the winter is very cold. Always bring a beautiful coat in winter!

Here are a few top tips of what to wear:

• Wool coat: During the colder months a beautiful wool coat is essential for style and practicality. You will fit in with the locals with this one. For the deeper parts of winter a down jacket is needed as an extra layer.
• Comfortable boots: As expected, you’ll walk a lot, so opt for a comfortable but stylish boot that you’ve worn in. You can’t go wrong with a smart Chelsea boot, like these. In the winter pair with good socks to keep extra warm.
• Hat, scarf and gloves: For the winter you absolutely need these to keep warm
• Floaty dress: In the summer opt for a long floaty dress so you stay cool, and bring a light scarf so you are always prepared to enter religious sites and cover your shoulders.
• Camera: There are too many beautiful things to see, you’ll want to take plenty of photos.
• Sunscreen: Nothing spoils your trip (and your photos!) more than sunburn. Remember to prepare with a good, natural sunscreen, even in the winter the sun is strong here so stay protected.
• Reusable water bottle: Remember to keep hydrated during your adventures; it can’t all be wine and coffee all the time! Bring a reusable water bottle so you can keep topped up.
• Tote bag: For those souvenirs and treasures found on your travels
• Travel insurance: As with any trip, you should ALWAYS purchase travel insurance in case anything goes wrong. I’ve had my fair share of travel mishaps! 

Quick Tips

• HOTEL: I use this website for scoring amazing deals on accommodation worldwide.
• HOSTELWORLD: If you’re traveling on a budget, this is the best website to score cheap hostel deals.
• VACATION RENTAL: I use this site for finding the perfect vacation rental for an unforgettable getaway. 
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: Never go on a trip without travel insurance! It isn’t worth the risk if something goes wrong.
• GUIDED TOURS & EXCURSIONS: Many of the tours I recommend are hosted with Viator, which also works with local tour operators. Search them all here.
• CHEAP FLIGHTS: Get great deals on flights using my favorite flight fare aggregator.
• TRAVEL GEAR: A collection of all of my must-have travel gear are all listed here. Most important to remember is comfortable shoes and a scarf to use when visiting religious sites or if it gets a little cold.
• CAR RENTAL: If you need to rent a car book car rental in advance here for the best deals.

Over to you! Have you ever visited Amsterdam, or anywhere else in the Netherlands? How many of these Dutch foods did you try?