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Dutch snacks provide a glimpse into the wealthy culinary heritage of Amsterdam, by mixing candy and savory flavors. From iconic cheese and sausages to festive treats and deep-fried favorites, these snacks are a must-try for any Amsterdam meals tour.

Cheese and Sausages: The Coronary heart of Dutch Snack Tradition

Amsterdam is a veritable treasure trove of Dutch snacks, wealthy with tasty cheeses and succulent sausages that tantalize the senses.

Well-liked Cheese Snacks in Amsterdam

Previous Amsterdam Cheese is a mature gouda cheese with a wealthy, nutty taste and crumbly texture. It’s sometimes loved as a snack with mustard or paired with a beer.

Kaasblokjes are seemingly easy cheese cubes which can be served at borrel Dutch social gatherings. You usually discover them on serving trays as bite-sized cubes of gouda or edam. They’re normally served together with mustard or pickles, which helps reduce the wealthy fattiness of the cheese and retains your palate awake.

Kaassoufflé is a deep-fried snack made with a skinny dough shell stuffed with gooey, melted cheese. You discover it loads in Amsterdam’s snack bars.

Boerenkaas is a kind of farmer’s cheese made out of uncooked milk. You discover it all through Amsterdam in numerous aged varieties. It’s normally served as a country snack with bread and butter. That is the form of factor that’s onerous to return by within the US and is certainly value attempting a couple of occasions.

Stroopwafel with cheese is a contemporary twist on the traditional stroopwafel, by combining the candy caramel layers with a touch of aged Dutch cheese. There’s a sweet-savory component to it that makes it an excellent any-time-of-day snack.

Well-liked Sausage Snacks in Amsterdam

Rookworst is a juicy smoked Dutch sausage that you simply usually discover being served with stamppot mashed vegetable dish. But in Amsterdam, you’ll usually discover it pleasant as a standalone snack. Particularly in winter or on festive events like Sinterklaas.

Ossenworst is a cured and frivolously smoked beef sausage that’s sometimes sliced and served with mustard. In Amsterdam you usually discover it being served as a bar snack.

Gelderse Worst is a coarse-ground spiced sausage that’s initially from the Gelderland area. Nowadays it’s more and more widespread in Amsterdam’s markets and butcher outlets, because it’s an ideal snack meat.

Grillworst is a seasoned sausage that’s grilled to crisp the pores and skin and provides it a snap while you chew into it. You usually discover it in Amsterdam at deli counters and snack stands.

Leverworst is a smooth, spreadable liver sausage continuously loved on bread or crackers. It’s usually served at Dutch social gatherings.

Frikandel is a skinless, deep-fried sausage generally eaten with mayonnaise, curry ketchup, or particular “frikandel particular” toppings. Well-liked at snack bars and sporting occasions.

Dutch Festive Meals: Seasonal Treats and Celebrations

There are particular snacks that you simply discover in Amsterdam throughout Dutch festivals, celebrations, and particular events.

Sinterklaas Specialties

Pepernoten & Kruidnoten are small, spiced gingerbread-like cookies historically scattered by Sinterklaas and his helpers.

Speculaas are spiced short-crust cookies, usually formed into windmills or Sinterklaas figures.

Banketletter is basically a puff pastry letter stuffed with almond paste.

Chocolate Letters are giant chocolate treats within the form of letters meant to suggest a baby’s initials. Whereas they’re usually given to kids, many adults nonetheless get pleasure from them too.

New Yr’s Delights

Oliebollen are similar to deep-fried doughnut holes. They’re usually dusted with powdered sugar and loved on New Yr’s Eve.

Appelbeignets are deep-fried and breaded apple slices. They’re commonest across the holidays and also you need to get them after they’re recent and crisp proper out of the fryer.

Kniepertjes are skinny, crispy waffle cookies you usually discover in Amsterdam within the final weeks of the yr. They’re usually rolled as much as symbolize new beginnings.

King’s Day Favorites

Tompouce is an oblong puff pastry, stuffed with custard cream, after which topped with shiny orange icing.

Oranje Bitter is a powerful orange-flavored liqueur, sipped in celebration of the Dutch monarchy.

Haring are recent herring, usually loved with pickles and onions, a avenue meals favourite throughout festivities.

Iconic Dutch Pastries to Savor

Should you had been to ask me what the highest Dutch pastries are to savor on an Amsterdam meals tour, I’d decide the next.

Stroopwafel

A skinny, crispy waffle sandwich that’s usually stuffed with caramel syrup. Ideally, you need to get it recent from a market stand to eat it heat. In a pinch, you possibly can place it over a scorching cup of espresso to melt the filling on a cold day.

Tompouce

A traditional staple in Amsterdam bakeries, tompouce is an oblong pastry with layers of crisp puff pastry and creamy custard, topped with shiny pink icing. On King’s Day bakeries and avenue distributors will cease it with orange icing.  

Appeltaart

That is primarily a Dutch apple pie with a thick, buttery crust and a filling of spiced apples, raisins, and cinnamon. Served with whipped cream, it’s excellent for a comfortable café break.

Bossche Bol

Initially from Hertogenbosch however widespread in Amsterdam, this can be a large cream puff coated in shiny chocolate. It’s wealthy, indulgent, and messy but scrumptious.

The place to Discover Dutch Snacks

Amsterdam has tons of nice markets, snack bars, and festivals providing the prime alternative to get pleasure from iconic Dutch snack meals.

Well-liked Amsterdam Markets

Photograph credit score: Albert Cuyp Market

Albert Cuyp Market is Amsterdam’s most well-known avenue market and affords an array of Dutch treats. Signature snacks embody freshly made stroopwafels to crispy poffertjes mini pancakes.

Dappermarkt is a well-liked multicultural market the place you possibly can attempt traditional Dutch herring or heat kibbeling. It’s an reasonably priced and full of life spot to discover Amsterdam’s worldwide avenue meals scene.

Noordermarkt is a well-liked natural farmers’ market and is the right place to pattern recent Dutch cheeses and artisan apple pie. It’s a favourite amongst locals for its high-quality, farm-fresh produce.

Nieuwmarkt is a historic market close to Amsterdam’s Chinatown. Signature snacks embody bitterballen and domestically made Gouda cheese. It’s surrounded by cafés and is very full of life on weekends.

Well-liked Amsterdam Snack Bars

FEBO is an iconic Dutch snack bar that contains a distinctive automat merchandising machines. It’s an excellent place to seize a crispy kroketten and frikandel spiced sausage on the go. It’s a enjoyable, fast, and reasonably priced solution to get a fast style of genuine Dutch Snacks.

Photograph credit score: Van Dobben

Van Dobben snack bar close to Rembrandtplein is known for its ultra-creamy beef kroketten and broodje bal meatball sandwich. The no-frills ambiance makes it a favourite amongst locals.

Eetsalon Van Westerveen is a hidden gem of a snack store serving a few of the greatest patat oorlog fries with peanut sauce and onions. This cozy, conventional snack bar is a must-visit for fried meals lovers.

Het Vlaamse Friteshuis Vleminckx is considered one of Amsterdam’s most well-known fry stands, serving thick-cut fries with a selection of over 25 sauces. The road is commonly lengthy, however the crispy, golden fries are well worth the wait.

Festivals in Amsterdam with Nice Snacks

Sinterklaas is a beloved Dutch vacation the place households trade presents, recite humorous poems, and revel in festive treats. Signature snacks embody pepernoten spiced cookies, speculaas spiced shortcrust biscuits, chocolate letters, and banketletter crammed pastries.

King’s Day on April twenty seventh is the Netherlands’ largest avenue occasion, and a primary alternative to get pleasure from Amsterdam’s avenue meals snack scene. Meals stalls provide tompouce custard-filled pastry with shiny orange icing, haring and bitterballen deep-fried meat snacks.

Sources:

Eetsalon Van Dobben. (n.d.). Eetsalon Van Dobben. Retrieved March 17, 2025, from http://www.eetsalonvandobben.nl/

Consuming Europe. (n.d.). Amsterdam meals excursions. Retrieved March 17, 2025, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/amsterdam/

Nieuwmarkt. (n.d.). Nieuwmarkt. In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 17, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nieuwmarkt

Noorder Market. (n.d.). Noordermarkt Amsterdam. Retrieved March 17, 2025, from https://www.noordermarkt-amsterdam.nl/en/home-en

Vleminckx Sausmeesters. (n.d.). Vleminckx De Sausmeester. Retrieved March 17, 2025, from http://vleminckxdesausmeester.nl/

Albert Cuyp Markt. (n.d.). Albert Cuyp Market. Retrieved March 17, 2025, from https://albertcuyp-markt.amsterdam/?lang=en