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Dutch meals typically will get overshadowed by a number of the different big-name cuisines in Europe, like Italian and French. However because the individuals who’ve gone on one in all my Amsterdam meals excursions will inform you, town’s culinary panorama is extremely various and way more than Dutch fries.

Whether or not you wish to dine cheaply at street-side meals markets or want a sit-down meal at a neighborhood restaurant, a wealth of gastronomic delights awaits within the capital of the Netherlands. This information will present you the entire tastiest Dutch bites to pattern if you go to and my favourite locations to strive them.

The Necessities of Dutch Delicacies

Dutch delicacies is often simplistic however comforting, bursting with taste, with loads of fried snacks like crispy, meat-filled bitterballen. Past the native classics, the meals scene has been closely influenced by outdated Dutch colonies like Indonesia and Suriname, including much more selection to the gastronomic scene.

Regardless of the place you wish to eat, you’ll discover nice meals throughout, from Dutch fries in cozy brown cafés to uncooked herring with onions at markets, and satisfying servings of stamppot in trendy eating places.

The place to Attempt the Greatest Native Dishes in Amsterdam

Restaurant ‘t Zwaantje

A captivating throwback to outdated Amsterdam cafes, Restaurant ’t Zwaantje on Berenstraat has been serving guests since 1973. The vibe right here is that of an genuine Dutch eatery, image crisp white tablecloths masking the tables and polished wooden interiors. I at all times come right here for his or her hearty, conventional pea soup, a wealthy bowl of goodness filled with earthy flavors. This spot is not at all a hidden gem, so e-book forward, otherwise you may find yourself being turned away.

Restaurant ‘t Zwaantje – (€20-€30) – Berenstraat 12 – Closed each Sunday and Monday and open each Tuesday to Sunday from 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm.

Hollands Hap Hmm Restaurant

Photograph credit score: Hollands Hap Hmm Restaurant

For some comforting Dutch meals in Amsterdam, head over to the intimate Hollands Hap Hmm Restaurant close to Vondelpark, which has gained awards for its dishes like stamppot. I settled into the cosy vibe of the place, eyeing up all of the tempting specialties on the menu, however in the long run, I went for the deep-fried schnitzel. It got here out golden, crispy, and each mouthful had butteriness to it with a balanced zesty edge.

Hollands Hap Hmm Restaurant – (€20-€30) – Eerste Helmersstraat 33 – Open each Monday to Friday from 5:00 pm to 9:15 pm and closed each Saturday and Sunday.

De Haven van Texel

Photograph credit score: De Haven van Texel

Searching over the attractive canals of Zeedijk, De Haven van Texel is a canalside terraced restaurant brimming with character. Right here, they whip up all types of conventional Dutch dishes, however I wasn’t that hungry and needed one thing candy, so I opted for the stroopwaffel pie. It was nothing wanting phenomenal, loaded with candy syrup and a facet of luscious whipped cream that tied all of it collectively. Plan your timing correctly to take a seat exterior on the terrace, otherwise you’ll be left disillusioned.

De Haven van Texel – (€20-€30) – Sint Olofssteeg 11 – Closed each Monday, open each Tuesday to Thursday from 1:00 pm to 11:30 pm, Friday and Saturday from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am, and each Sunday from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

Café Restaurant van Kerkwijk

Photograph credit score: Café Restaurant van Kerkwijk

A brief stroll from the notorious Crimson Mild District, Café Restaurant van Kerkwijk is one spot on our Amsterdam meals information you simply must strive. It has a glossy, up-to-date really feel with the choice to take a seat exterior and people-watch, which makes consuming right here even higher. I couldn’t resist the sound of their Indonesian-style burger, so I gave it a shot. The meat was extremely juicy and tender, and the prawn crackers added a good little bit of crunch.

Café Restaurant van Kerkwijk – (€30-€40) – Nes 41 – Open each day from 11:00 am to 12:00 am.

Moeders

Photograph credit score: Moeders

If you end up close to Rozengracht, pop into Moeders, which interprets to ‘moms.’ The meals on this quirky cafe/restaurant tastes similar to it got here from a Dutch mother’s kitchen, and the entire place is a tribute to moms in all places with footage of them all around the partitions. I ordered the insanely scrumptious stamppot, made with creamy mash melded with smoky meats like sausage and bacon. Even in the event you’re caught ready for a desk, they’ll set you up with a drink and a few bites outdoor to make the wait extra bearable.

Moeders – (€20-€30) – Rozengracht 251 – Open each day from 5:00 pm to 11:30 pm.

Snacks, Avenue Meals & Candy Treats

Ought to you end up getting peckish and wish a fast pick-me-up between meals, preserve an eye fixed out for these sought-after avenue meals in Amsterdam:

• Bitterballen: Wash down these deep-fried meatballs with an ice-cold beer and a tangy mustard at a cafés.
• Stroopwafels: Munch on a roasted syrup-soaked confection at a avenue stall.
• Poffertjes: Dig right into a serving of mini sugar-coated pancakes at Albert Cuyp Market.
• Dutch fries: Stroll alongside one of many metropolis’s many canals with a paper cone of Dutch fries topped with ketchup or peanut sauce.

Meals Halls, Markets & Multicultural Gems

Photograph credit score: De Foodhallen

If you wish to department out and have a distinctive eating expertise, hit up one in all Amsterdam’s meals halls like De Foodhallen and take a look at a wide range of cuisines equivalent to Indonesian and Turkish specialties. Each the Albert Cuyp Market and Ten Katemarkt are additionally very genuine and supply an excellent mixture of must-try meals in Amsterdam. That manner, you possibly can pattern an array of flavors from all over the world in a single sitting.

When & How Locals Eat

Throughout Amsterdam, dinner is the primary meal of the day, whereas lunch is extra targeted on bread-based meals as they’re simpler to eat all through the workday. Simply because someplace is labeled a coffeeshop, doesn’t imply {that a} heat cup of arabica is all they promote, and most cafés within the Dutch capital serve full meals as effectively.

When the climate is nice, and also you’re questioning the place to eat in Amsterdam, you’ll discover the Dutch eating outdoor. You’ll see indicators of this throughout Amsterdam, with loads of eating places providing alfresco settings. Most institutions that open for lunch or drinks and snacks don’t require a reserving, however for fancier locations that open for dinner, you’ll probably want a reservation. All the time carry some cash with you, as choose native favorites solely settle for money cost.

Closing Ideas: Consuming Your Approach By means of Amsterdam

The meals scene in Amsterdam is one in all unimaginable flavors and informal vibes, making it a delight to discover. A typical day for a foodie right here is spent snacking on herring alongside the canal or having fun with a rijsttafel with associates. Though it could be the capital metropolis, you possibly can have a very good feed right here with out spending huge on meals at a elaborate restaurant. 

Sources:

Consuming Europe. (2025, August 12). Conventional Dutch meals: A style of Dutch heritage. Consuming Europe Weblog. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/weblog/traditional-dutch-food/

Consuming Europe. (n.d.). Amsterdam meals excursions. Consuming Europe. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/amsterdam/

‘t Zwaantje. (n.d.). House. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://zwaantje-restaurant.nl/

Hap-Hmm. (2025, August 12). Amsterdams restaurant Hap-Hmm. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://www.hap-hmm.nl/ Hap-Hmm

Haven van Texel. (2025, August 12). Haven van Texel. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://havenvantexel.org/ Haven van Texel

Café Restaurant van Kerkwijk. (n.d.). House. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://www.vankerkwijk.com/en/

Moeders. (n.d.). Conventional Dutch delicacies Amsterdam. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://moeders.com/en/residence Moeders