Some say Dutch food isn’t so good. Well, you know what I think? Those people are wrong. Dutch food is hearty, delicious, sweet, and sometimes a little unusual. What’s not to love about that?!
Here are my top 10 Dutch foods to try when you are in this wonderful country!:
Dutch Cheese
Dutch = “Kaas”
There’s so much cheese in The Netherlands. Everywhere you look there are cheese shops selling hundreds of different kinds of the smelly stuff, always offering free tastings. Dutch supermarkets also offer an excellent range of cheese.
When buying cheese in Holland, check out Kaashuis Tromp if you are feeling fancy. However, buying from the touristy cheese shops in Amsterdam’s centre is also a good choice! Better yet, every Friday from April to October you can see Alkmaar’s traditional cheese market in action!
Dutch Gin
Dutch = “Jenever”
Whether you like alcohol or not, you have to try the famous Dutch liquor – Jenever. Crossed between a Vodka, Gin and Whiskey (depending on its age), it’s quite a potent drink. The jenevers can also come in hundreds of flavours, so if you head to a traditional proeflokaal (tasting bar) you can try many variations.
My favourite proeflokaal in Amsterdam is Wynand Fockink, located in the Red Light District right behind Dam Square. The set up inside is still the same authentic 17 century environment, and there are drinking rules that must be adhered to in order to have a traditional experience!
One must bow to the drink and slurp the first sip from a traditional tulip glass, without using hands.
Fresh Caramel Waffles
Dutch = “Stroopwafels” – syrup wafels
Yes, you can get these sugary snacks at every Starbucks across the planet. However, having a freshly made stroopwafel with a thin warm waffle and freshly spread caramel syrup is far superior to any of those packaged ones. The one pictured was purchased (and devoured) at the Albert Cupy Markt!
Raw Herring
Dutch = “Haring”
This Dutch food is not something for everyone. Best eaten in June/July, Dutch herring is traditionally eaten by dropping the fish by the tail into your mouth and eaten in one go. You can also get herring on a bun with pickles and raw onions, or just on a plate in pieces. The bones are incredible thin and you cannot feel them when eating the herring, though it is hard to get past if you aren’t used to eating fish bones! Either way, if you’ve eaten sushi before, give this a try.
Battered Fish Bites
Dutch = “Kibbeling”
While I’m discussing fish, I can’t go past kibbeling. It’s a yummier version of the fish you have in fish & chips – yes I said it! Kibbeling is found everywhere and usually served with gherkin pickle and a dipping sauce. You can find it often in street-food vans land even on the beach in a roving truck!
Beer Snacks
Dutch = “Borrelhapjes/Bitterballen”
I blame these glorious fried treats for my weight gain after moving to Amsterdam. Bitterballen are balls of fried meat stew/gravy which you typically dip into a mustard – the best kind are made by Van Dobben and I straight up worship them.
Vlammetjes are “little flames” and are a spicy spring roll which you dip into sweet chilli sauce. Best eaten alongside your favourite Dutch beer (I recommend the Brouwerij t’IJ Ij Wit).
Fries
Dutch = “Frietjes”
What’s better than a cone of fries? A cone of fries topped with mayonaise, raw onion and satay sauce! An unlikely but heavenly concoction! This is called Frietjes Oorlog, meaning ‘War’, probably because it is odd to put an Asian sauce on top of fries. However odd it may be, it’s delicious!
The best place for fries in Amsterdam is Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx where there is always a queue and it’s always worth the wait!
Chocolate Letters
Dutch = “Chocolade”
During Sinterklaas, the Sint puts a chocolate letter in your shoe – with the letter representing the first letter of your name. The chocolate in The Netherlands is particularly good, being so close to Belgium, and with such a large serving of chocolate it’s a huge treat! Unsure of what Sinterklaas is? Here’s a post I wrote on the tradition!
Important: my name begins with the letter L, if you are considering gifting me a chocolate letter this year 😉
Hot Chocolate
Dutch = “Warme chocolade melk”
When ordering a hot chocolate here in The Netherlands, you will likely be drinking Chocomel. Chocomel is a brand of Chocolate milk here in Holland and by rights, the most popular. It’s absolutely heavenly! Best served hot inside a pub on a cold day and topped with whipped cream.
Coming to The Netherlands in summertime? No problems, Chocomel is also packaged in cans, found in your local stores refrigerator and in the airports, so you can drink it cold, too!
Mashed Potato Stew
Dutch = “Stamppot”
Best enjoyed in the winter months, stamppot is mashed potato with kale cooked into it, and topped with gravy, apple sauce and a steamed sausage. It’s totally homey and completely delicious! Many traditional Dutch cafes serve this dish (and many variations of it) but I have always had it homemade (part of my Dutch integration 😉 )
Chicken Satay
Dutch = “Kip Saté”
This dish is a classic pub meal in The Netherlands and can be found almost anywhere. Chicken, topped with a delicious peanut-ty satay sauce served with pickled vegetable, prawn crackers and fries. I’ve eaten it a lot and I have to give a shout out to Cafe Kadijk for the best version of this BY FAR!
Have you got a favourite Dutch Food? Let me know in the comments below!
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Australian expat, married to a Dutch guy, living in Amsterdam. Previously lived in London for 3 years, too! Lover of travel, coffee, brunch, beaches, fresh flowers, and family. Now a new mum, navigating life with a baby!
6 thoughts on “10 Dutch Foods You Need To Try”
Those some people are crazy!
Nice blogpost btw! Makes me hungry!
All of this food makes me want a cheat day! Great post!
I struggle to even create cheat days when I’m surrounded by delicious food every day!
I need to return to Holland it was my daughters favourite holiday!
Nice one! What was your favourite Dutch food when you were last in Holland?!