When going to a new country, for me it is important to sample the local cuisine. Here’s some of my ‘You Must Eat This’ items for Holland, and particularly, Amsterdam.
Herring
I’ve been visiting my Hunk in Holland for quite a while, but I’ve never been game enough to try the Dutch delicacy, raw Herring.
There are Herring vans in numerous spots across the city and every time I spot someone leaving a van with some, I stop to watch their reaction.
As my mum was in town, I decided we should try Herring for the first time together! We went into the herring van and I was already scrunching my nose at the look of eating the whole fish (besides the head). How am I meant to swallow bones?!
My mother the good sport and my Hunk teamed up against me and insisted that the bones are very healthy to swallow and tried to talk me into it.
We chose to have Herring within a bun with the usual toppings of raw onion and pickle. After finding a spot on a bench nearby, we tucked in. My first reaction was “oh… This isn’t so bad.” I love sushi, especially eating raw salmon so I don’t think eating a herring is that much different to eating raw salmon.
You can see the thin, almost clear bones of the herring jutting out which for me was off-putting. I kept trying to eat it without looking at it or thinking about eating bones.
My natural reaction is that the fish bones will get stuck in my throat if I eat them. But I know they are so thin and small that this isn’t a concern. But it somehow still was.
I struggled through most of my sandwich, enjoying the flavour, but not enjoying my brain constantly telling me it’s crazy to eat bones… before I gave my Hunk the last mouthful. The taste was nice and if it wasn’t for my brain getting in the way, I would have really enjoyed the herring!
Will I eat Herring again? Yes, maybe next summer!
Bitterballen
Okay, so I’m currently having a love affair with bitterballen.
It is a mystery as to what Bitterbollen actually IS, however, it’s extremely yummy! To give you an idea, when out for a few beers with friends, this is a common snack to have for the Dutch. It is some kind of meat in a mashed potato-like consistency, rolled in breadcrumbs and FRIED. These balls come to you with a side of mustard – your bitterballen ‘dipping sauce’.
There is nothing to be afraid of, whilst not knowing what is actually inside them. They are pure deliciousness and I’m already salivating over when I’ll get to have my next bitterballen!
Stroopwafels
Stroopwafels are those small cookie looking things you have seen in your local Starbucks, except in Holland they are made fresh and are way more delicious!
The are a thin waffle layered with fresh warm caramel, topped with another thin waffle, to create essentially a waffle caramel sandwich.
If you find yourself pounding the pavement on a Saturday along Amsterdam’s Kalverstraat, you might think to stop for a Stroopwafel for some much needed energy to continue your day of shopping!
Oliebollen
Another ball shaped food (as you can see within the name), Oliebollen are traditionally eaten on New Years Eve. They are deep-fried balls of dough, sometimes with the addition of raisins or currents in the batter. They are served hot, with powdered sugar on top.
A simple sweet/snack, but something that if you are in Holland during the Christmas/New Year festivities, you must try.
Fries
Now, we’ve all eaten fries before. But until you’ve had Dutch fries, you really are missing out.
The Dutch (and Belgians) LOVE their fries. They make them thick-cut and they are lovely and soft on the inside, and nice and crispy on the outside, and they come in a paper cone and a little wooden fork!
Generally I get the fries with mayonnaise, ketchup and raw onions. This is absolutely delicious! You can also get many other combos including one I must try, peanut satay sauce on your fries.
I was not a huge fries-eater before going to Amsterdam, but now, each and every time I return, it’s a must on the food list.
FEBO
This is your ‘McDonald’s’ of Dutch snacks. FEBO is quite literally a small shop with a wall of food. Each of the food items has it’s own little chamber so to get the food item you want, you must put money in a slot and one of the doors for the type of food you wanted will open.
It’s essentially a friend food vending machine. And, well, you must try it at least once, if only for the experience of getting your hot snacks from a giant vending machine!
Indonesian
This is broad as this is a whole cuisine in itself. However, it’s very popular in Holland due to the Dutch colonialism of Indonesia, which when the Dutch came back to Holland, brought with them the love of satay sauce.
You can find many Indonesian restaurants across Amsterdam, as well as little Indonesian cafes and takeaway shops. The food is sensational and if you aren’t in the mood for more fries, this is a nice change for your taste-buds.
The Pancake Bakery
My mum is the cutest human being alive. Whilst I got the tall genes from my dad, my mum is petite and short (to me) and adorable. Now put this cuteness with a giant plate, covered in a giant pancake, and you’ve got a pretty cute visual.
Going to this pancake restaurant was on the list for Amsterdam because it’s the most famous of its kind and friends have given me rave reviews. After a bicycle ride around Jordaan, we walked the canals until we reached a queue. Hunk said “Noooo way I am not lining up for a pancake!”
Well, we lined up for pancakes.
We spent about 20 minutes queuing before we were seated, right in the lunch time rush so it turned out to be a short wait. Once inside you are confronted with a pretty extensive menu which makes the decision of which epic pancake to order impossible!
Mum chose the salmon and crème fraîche pancake. Hunk chose a classic Dutch choice, bacon and cheese. I myself was torn. Do I go for something a little out there? Or do I go for a typically Dutch option? I decided that since I was in Holland, I was choosing a Dutch pancake, the ham and cheese.
These pancakes are already the size of a large pizza, and are then filled with the toppings. As it was so filling (and yummy!) there was no way I was going to finish it, only getting through half of my pancake before I was done. Hunk ate his whole pancake and my other half, and my little mum got through all of her pancake! Legend.
This place is definitely a must for anyone visiting, and a perfect post-Anne Frank Huis meal which is only a short walk away.
Now go on and eat it all!
Have you been to Holland? Eaten any of the above? Which is your favourite?!
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!
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