What to Eat in Amsterdam: Local Specialities and Where to Find Them

Bitterballen, stroopwafels, raw herring, fries… Amsterdam food goes far beyond cheese! Before our weekend in Amsterdam, we looked through a few websites and blogs to track down some good cheese shops, and we never expected to find so many tasty things. Dutch cuisine is often reduced to cheese (and space cakes^^), but you’ll also find fried snacks on every street corner, hearty winter dishes, trendy spots and cafés with the cutest décor. Either way, we had a feast! Here’s what to eat in Amsterdam, plus our favourite places to try it all.

✤✤✤ 

What to eat in Amsterdam: at a glance

Traditional Dutch food to try in Amsterdam

Some Dutch specialities are known the world over, like fries and cheese. It’s not a cliché: these products really are part of the country’s food heritage. But you know us, we dug a little deeper and also found you some typical pastries and other snacks.

Dutch cheese

Of course, Edam and Gouda are famous worldwide, and they really do come from here. Cheese is a true institution in the Netherlands, and you can see it everywhere. The capital is packed with specialist shops where you’ll find everything: entire walls of cheese, in every colour and shape. And no, I’m not exaggerating one bit! It’s more of a Dutch speciality than an Amsterdam one, really. By the way, did you know that Gouda and Edam are two towns in the Netherlands? One day I’ll go… That’s for sure! Ha ha

A little anecdote: I (Cécilia) had already been to the Netherlands when I was 6. I don’t remember much, apart from the train journey, my doll Sarah… and eating lots and lots of cheese! Yes, it’s a total cliché, but sorry, that’s the honest truth! Ha ha!

Bitterballen

These are small breaded balls filled with a meaty ragout, eaten as a starter or with drinks. We often spotted them on café terraces, served with a beer.

Kroket

A longer cousin of the bitterbal, the kroket is a breaded croquette filled with a creamy beef or veal ragout. The Dutch eat it on its own or in a soft roll with mustard (a broodje kroket). It’s also the star of the famous fast-food vending machines we tell you about below… We haven’t tried it, but it’s on our list for our next weekend in Amsterdam!

Ossenworst

Here’s a speciality that’s 100% Amsterdam: ossenworst is a raw beef sausage, lightly smoked and flavoured with spices (cloves, nutmeg, pepper…). It’s eaten in slices with drinks, with mustard and pickles, often in the bruin cafés, the city’s traditional pubs with their dark wood panelling. We didn’t try it, but if you like charcuterie, it’s probably the most typical speciality in town.

Dutch fries

Just like in Belgium, fries are everywhere in the Netherlands. And if you want to try a local speciality, go for patatje oorlog: fries topped with mayonnaise, satay (peanut) sauce and raw onions. For us, it was peanut sauce and classic mayo! Perfect for a quick bite in Amsterdam. You’ll find our favourite chip shops further down.

Raw herring

We spotted a few “broodje haring” stalls and quickly worked out what they were. These raw herring sandwiches, usually served with pickles and/or onions, are a hugely popular snack. But sorry, we’re not big herring fans, so we didn’t dare try one!

On another trip to the Netherlands, in Haarlem, my travel companions finally tried Hollandse Nieuwe, the new-season herring sold from June. As for me, at 10.30 in the morning, I still wasn’t ready to start the day with fish… Ha ha!

Kibbeling

Kibbeling is bite-sized pieces of battered white fish, served in a paper tray with garlic or tartare sauce. You’ll find it at the same stalls as herring and at markets: a good alternative if, like us, raw fish puts you off a little! We haven’t tried it yet, it’s on the list for next time.

Stamppot

We recommend this dish if you’re visiting in winter. Stamppot is a hearty dish of mashed potatoes mixed with cabbage, served with smoked sausage. Think of it as a cross between a French pot-au-feu and sauerkraut, with sausage and potatoes.

Erwtensoep

Another winter dish, erwtensoep (also called snert) is a split pea soup so thick that, according to tradition, your spoon should stand up in it! It comes with smoked sausage and bacon, and is often served with rye bread. Like stamppot, it’s the ultimate comfort food if you visit Amsterdam between November and February.

Fast-food vending machines (FEBO)

So… we’d already seen pizza vending machines in Paris, bread vending machines in northern France and cupcake vending machines in New York… But burger and hot dog vending machines? Never! We find this kind of concept really fun. The place was open, so we were served at the counter, but these machines are pretty common across the country… I’d go as far as saying they’re a must when it comes to eating in Amsterdam, ha ha! The best-known chain is FEBO, you can’t miss it.

Apple pie (appeltaart)

I’d always thought of apple pie as a British classic… But it turns out the Dutch love it too, in a thick, generous version somewhere between a cake and a tart. And the café said to serve the best one in the whole country is in Amsterdam, perfect!

Stroopwafels

Just before this weekend in Amsterdam, we spent a few days in Lille, so of course these waffles reminded us of the ones from northern France. The packaged ones we picked up at the supermarket were pretty good. But the best were the ones we had at the Albert Cuyp Market, made on the spot and served warm: delicious! I also found out there are workshops where you can learn to make them… It’s gone straight onto my bucket list for our next weekend in Amsterdam! Ha ha!

Poffertjes

These are a kind of thick mini pancake topped with icing sugar or melted chocolate, eaten for dessert or as an afternoon treat. We only had them once and didn’t find them amazing, but that may have been down to the place where we tried them… Either way, they’re no match for a big pancake!

Oliebollen

Oliebollen are round doughnuts, sometimes studded with raisins and generously dusted with icing sugar. You’ll mostly find them at the end of the year, in little stalls that pop up around the city from November to New Year: the Dutch traditionally eat them on New Year’s Eve. We didn’t get the chance to try them, but if you visit Amsterdam in winter, don’t miss out!

Drop

Drop is Dutch liquorice, and the Netherlands is one of the biggest consumers in the world! There are dozens of varieties: sweet, salty (zoute drop) and even very salty… The taste can be quite a surprise for a French palate, so we’d suggest trying a small bag before bringing a whole kilo home! Ha ha

Hagelslag

At breakfast, the Dutch have a habit that always raises a smile: hagelslag, chocolate sprinkles scattered over a slice of buttered bread. You’ll find them in every supermarket, De Ruijter being the best-known brand. It’s a fun little sweet souvenir that’s easy to slip into your suitcase.

Indonesian rijsttafel

A legacy of the Netherlands’ colonial history with Indonesia, the rijsttafel (“rice table”) has become an Amsterdam classic. The idea: rice served with a whole array of small dishes (satay, rendang, vegetables in coconut milk, sambal…) shared around the table. As we mention below, we didn’t have time to try an Indonesian restaurant on this weekend, but it’s definitely the next food experience on our list!

✤✤✤

Where to eat in Amsterdam: our favourite places

We didn’t eat at many traditional Dutch restaurants this weekend, and the one we chose was pretty average. On the other hand, we never expected to discover so many trendy and organic spots, cafés with the cutest décor, pancake restaurants and more. We didn’t have time to try them, but there are also lots of Indonesian restaurants here.

Brunch, lunch & dinner:

The Avocado Show – Now this is a place you have to earn! We were turned away once, then turned up when the restaurant was closed… Third time lucky! As you’ve probably guessed, the theme here is… avocado! Simply put, everything is delicious and beautiful, and we really recommend going. We chose poke bowls, which were very original since the avocado itself is shaped into a bowl. Of course, as every dish is avocado-based, prices are a little high, but the quality is excellent.

Dignita – We wanted lunch or brunch that day, but something other than pancakes… So we went to Dignita! We had delicious avocado toasts with salmon and bacon, washed down with fresh juice… A treat! The restaurant also has a lovely terrace for sunny days.

The Butcher – we ended up here more or less by chance! We were heading to The Avocado Show, but it was closed, and it started to rain! The burger was really delicious, although the wait was a bit long. Don’t miss the sweet potato fries, they’re super good.

Chip shops:

Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx (on Voetboogstraat, near the Spui) – one of the must-visit places for fries on the go.

Manneken Pis (on the Damrak, next to the station) – right by the station, we couldn’t resist trying these fries either, they looked heavenly.

Dutch breweries:

There are lots of breweries in the Netherlands, and Amsterdam has a few local producers too. We recommend Brouwerij ‘t IJ, which has a wide range of beers and a very impressive windmill, right in the heart of the city!

Pancakes in Amsterdam:

Did you know that pancakes are a real institution in Amsterdam too? Personally, I never thought I’d eat so many pancakes here… We noted down 3 places that are apparently the best of the best: Moak Pancakes, Pancakes Amsterdam and The Pancake Bakery. We only tried one, so we’re saving the others for next time ^^.

Moak Pancakes: such a cute setting, with little flowers on the tables and fresh fruit in the window. We chose pancakes, savoury for Alcino and sweet for me, plus a small avocado toast. All washed down with fresh fruit juice and a “ginger boost”, really good and filling.

Albert Cuyp Market

At this market, you can buy cheese, local produce, clothes and even handbags. But above all, it’s the place we recommend for trying stroopwafels: they’re made in front of you and come out piping hot!

Where to stop for an afternoon treat in Amsterdam?

Van Stapele Koekmakerij – for incredibly delicious cookies, crunchy on the outside and gooey in the middle.

Café Winkel 43 – if you want to try the famous apple pie I mentioned above, this is the place to go. Its reputation shows in the queue outside, but it moves fairly quickly.

Where to buy cheese in Amsterdam?

As for cheese… You obviously have to eat some in Amsterdam… But you also have to bring some home… It’s compulsory… Ha ha! Here are the 2 shops we liked best for buying Dutch cheese:

De Kaaskamer van Amsterdam – THE paradise for cheese lovers like us. There’s cheese literally everywhere, stacked from floor to ceiling, in every colour and from every region. It’s mostly Dutch cheese, but there are also plenty of French ones. We loved the old-fashioned cheese shop feel, the personalised advice from the shopkeeper and the little tastings…

Dutch Delicacy – Just like the first shop, there’s cheese on almost every wall. Part of the shop is also a bakery, and it sells other products besides cheese.

What to bring back from Amsterdam

➺ Don’t miss the article by Les Amoureux Voyageux on their favourite places to eat in Amsterdam (in French), it’ll make your mouth water^^.

✤✤✤

Given the articles we’d come across, we knew we’d eat well, but honestly, not this well! Between great brunches, cosy spots for coffee or an afternoon treat, cheese and sweet treats… Eating in Amsterdam is a real pleasure, there’s so much to try! Did you know it was such a foodie city?

To plan the rest of your trip, check out our itinerary to visit Amsterdam in 3 days (in French), our day out at the Keukenhof tulip fields (in French) and our visit to the Zaanse Schans windmills. And if you have an extra day, head to Haarlem, about fifteen minutes away by train.

Amsterdam food FAQ