{"id":8208,"date":"2025-07-24T11:47:56","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T11:47:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meininger-hotels.com\/blog\/?p=8208\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T14:19:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T14:19:50","slug":"dutch-food-amsterdam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meininger-hotels.com\/blog\/en\/dutch-food-amsterdam\/","title":{"rendered":"Must-try Dutch food in Amsterdam"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

5 must-try Dutch food for your stay in Amsterdam \ud83c\udf5b<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most visitors to Amsterdam know very little about Dutch food before they arrive. Depending on where they\u2019re from, they may have tried some rubbery imitation Gouda or Edam cheese, or they might be under the illusion that everyone eats hash brownies for breakfast. Luckily, neither of these are the reality. And while Dutch food is still pretty undiscovered internationally, this only makes it more of an adventure for the first-time visitor to try it\u2026 So if you\u2019re coming to Amsterdam, here are five foods you simply can\u2019t leave without trying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s dive into some must-try local food in Amsterdam! <\/sub><\/p>\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Stroopwafels<\/strong> \ud83e\uddc7<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with dessert. Or rather, a sweet snack you can find an excuse for at any time of the day. Stroopwafel<\/a><\/strong> literally means \u201csyrup waffle\u201d and is essentially a spiced wafer split in half and sandwiched with a layer of caramel. You may have had them abroad in cafes, but you probably haven\u2019t had one fresh from the waffle press, with caramel still warm and oozing out of the sides. You can find them at Lanskroon bakery on the Singel canal, or at various market stalls. They\u2019re way better than the plastic-wrapped supermarket versions and are the perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best places to try waffles in Amsterdam<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\uddc7 Lanskroon Bakery<\/a><\/strong> (near Singel canal) 
\ud83e\uddc7 Wonder Waffle<\/a><\/strong> at Lindengracht market <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staying at MEININGER Hotel Amsterdam City West<\/a><\/strong>? Here\u2019s a local fave you\u2019ve gotta try: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\uddc7 Rudi\u2019s Original Stroopwafels<\/a><\/strong> at Albert Cuyp Market: Handmade, warm, gooey, and super authentic. They bake them right in front of you. 
\ud83e\uddc7 Melly\u2019s Stroopwafels<\/a><\/strong> near Dam Square: Lots of toppings (Oreo, white choc, vegan options too!) 
\ud83e\uddc7 Van Wonderen Stroopwafels<\/a><\/strong> on Kalverstraat: Insta-famous for a reason and so tasty<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Bitterballen<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Searingly hot in the middle, bitterballen<\/a><\/strong> are the kings of Amsterdam bar snacks. Bitterballen are hard to describe because their recipe is rather mysterious: picture a round, crunchy beef meatball filled with creamy stew. The breadcrumbs on the outside are deep-fried to golden perfection, while the mushy, beefy inside heats up to nuclear temperatures. Almost every brown caf\u00e9 serves these popular beer snacks, so you\u2019ll have no problem finding them. Dip them in mustard and enjoy them with a beer (and maybe a burned tongue if you\u2019re too eager). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Crispy
Crispy bitterballen with mustard dip, a must-try Dutch snack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Gouda (the real deal!)<\/strong> \ud83e\uddc0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not until you come to Holland that you will try real-deal Gouda, matured for up to two years to give it that salty, grainy, almost crystalized texture that can resemble the best Parmigiano-Reggiano. If that\u2019s a little strong for your taste, there are plenty of younger, more accessible versions available that are creamy and moreish (nothing like the plasticky stuff in the supermarkets back home). Again, the Dutch love their cheese dipped in mustard alongside a beer (sounds familiar?).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Herring<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a fan of sashimi, you\u2019ll love the raw herring that\u2019s sold at fish stalls and fishmongers throughout the city. Dutch herring is brined, not pickled, so it doesn\u2019t have that vinegary flavour you associate with rollmops or bismarck herring. And it\u2019s not as salty as you\u2019d think, either. The best time to eat herring is when the Hollandse Nieuwe (new herring) comes in from the North Sea (usually in early June) but it\u2019s good any time of year. The Amsterdammers eat it with raw onions \u2013 definitely not a first date food. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"A
A classic Dutch snack: raw herring with pickles and chopped onions<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

5. Indonesian rijsttafel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While this may not sound very Dutch, it\u2019s a speciality you absolutely must try when in Amsterdam. Indonesia was a colony of the Netherlands for many years, which means the city has a high concentration of Indonesian restaurants serving up a so-called \u201crijsttafel<\/a><\/strong>\u201d. Although it\u2019s something of a Dutch invention (locals in Indonesia aren\u2019t eating rijsttafels), it\u2019s a great way to try lots of dishes in one meal. Literally translating as \u201crice table\u201d, you\u2019ll be presented with dozens of small dishes, ranging from mild to super-spicy, to eat with rice. As we say in Dutch, eet smakelijk<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonus: Patat (Dutch fries) \ud83c\udf5f<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You haven\u2019t done Amsterdam properly until you\u2019ve eaten patat (which is probably the most famous Dutch food)\u2014thick, crispy fries with toppings that go way beyond ketchup.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Must-try combos: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udf5f Patat met<\/em> \u2013 classic with mayo 
\ud83c\udf5f Patat oorlog<\/em> \u2013 \u201cwar fries\u201d with satay peanut sauce, mayo, and raw onions 
\ud83c\udf5f Patat speciaal<\/em> \u2013 curry ketchup, mayo, and onions <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll find patat at every corner: food stalls, \u201cPatatzaak\u201d shops, and market fry stands. It\u2019s probably the best street food in Amsterdam for a quick, hot, budget-friendly snack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t

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Must-try Dutch food in Amsterdam: FAQs<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t