April 6, 2026
Okay, so Dutch food may not be on your radar as much as Indian or Chinese. There are, however, plenty of unique culinary experiences to tantalise a traveller’s tastebuds. I tried a fair few quintessential Dutch dishes on my recent trip to Amsterdam. And for those that didn’t tick the veggie box, I had my trusted friends as tasting guinea pigs. Here are 7 ways to eat like a local in Amsterdam with these Dutch specialties:
Travel Tip: There are also plenty of fun things to do in Amsterdam if you’re looking to fill up your itinerary.
Dutch cuisine in Amsterdam
Poffertjes
These small, fluffy baby pancakes are made with yeast and buckwheat flour. The best way to eat these is fresh and hot with a dollop of butter and powdered sugar from a street vendor. We found these beauties on our last day in Amsterdam at a food market outside of the Rijksmuseum. Such a yummy treat!
Cheese
Well, we can’t talk about Dutch food and not mention Kaas (Dutch for cheese)! We’ve all tried the popular varieties of Gouda and Edam back at home. The Dutch are seriously into their cheese, they have it for breakfast, in their sandwiches for lunch, or as a snack in the evening cut into cubes and dipped in mustard.
When in Amsterdam you have to seek out the many Kaas shops or markets and dive into some, street food Amsterdam-style, cheese tasting of your own!
Stamppot
This traditional Dutch dish translated as Mash Pot is made up of a combination of mashed potato with one or several vegetables like kale, carrots, endive, or sauerkraut and is usually served with sausage.
I love sampling local dishes when on holiday and on my hunt for a veggie stamppot came across the quirky restaurant Moeders (Dutch for Mother’s). They whip up classic Dutch comfort food just like Mum used to make. The walls are adorned with photos of, yes you’ve guessed it – Mothers, from all around the world. And they’re still collecting! I’m sending mine over soon.
From the mismatched plates, cutlery, and glasses donated by the diners who attended the opening to the furniture it exudes a real homely and relaxed feel. My vegetarian stamppot came topped with grilled vegetables and a delicious melted feta cheese topping. This is what I call warmth and happiness in a bowl. Trust me, when in Amsterdam head down to the beautiful Jordaan area and do not miss out on a meal at Moeders.
Bitterballen
The ultimate Dutch pub snack devoured with lashings of beer. Found in most cafés, bars, and food markets (like we found), these savoury meat-based balls are deeply fried and traditionally served with mustard. Thankfully I had my chief meaty tasters with me who confirmed the ragout-like mixture of beef, beef broth, butter, flour, and spices coated in crispy breadcrumbs was a perfect meatball snack.
Heineken
All beer guzzlers know it would be a sin not to enjoy an ice-cold Heineken in its birthplace Amsterdam. The Netherlands is known for its pale lagers and you don’t have to stop at just drinking. You can visit Heineken’s first brewery in Amsterdam which has been transformed into an interactive tour ending with a beer-tasting finale. You need to go and refresh the parts other beers cannot reach!
Stroopwafel
Undoubtedly the Stroopwafel is the most popular pastry snack from the Netherlands. A bit like a waffle cookie made from two thin layers stuck together with a layer of sweet caramel syrup (the Stroop). They are best eaten warm and gooey and a great on-the-go sweet snack.
One of the best ways I love eating them is by balancing one over a hot cup of tea or coffee for a couple of minutes to melt the delicious syrup before devouring.
Appeltaart
The Dutch appeltaart is different to the apple pies we’ve grown up with and those of the ‘exceedingly good’ variety. Deeper and with a drier filling, they’re jam-packed with big slices of apple flavoured with lemon, sugar and cinnamon. It’s also enveloped in sweet cakey dough on the bottom and edges and finished with a lattice on the top. De riguer: a nice hot koffie (coffee) and lashings slagroom (whipped cream). Sorry Brexiteers, but I actually preferred it to the British version.
Fancy doing a food tour to try all the delicious Dutch delicacies?
Book Now: Secret Food Tours Amsterdam
Have you tried any of these Dutch specialities? Which ones do you love? Let me know in the comments box below.
Disclaimer: Our meal at Moeders was complimentary. However, all views, opinions and photos, unless otherwise stated are my own and remain a trademark of the Curious Pixie.
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Maggie says:
I need to stop reading food related posts late at night! Totally drooling all over the Appeltaart and the Poffertjes and totally with you on the stroopwafel…balancing them on top of a hot drink is the only way to do them justice! xx
Sima Sthanakiya says:
Who can resist a good old stroopwafel and a cuppa hey?! It was all about the sweet dishes for me in Amsterdam. You and I, we have good taste!
Angie says:
Now that Apple tart looks seriously good!
Sima Sthanakiya says:
It was seriously good. I need to hunt down a Dutch version in London.
Josine says:
It’s so easy to bake yourself! If you want I can send the recipe.
Josine says:
So fun to read. I’m Dutch and this is indeed what we eat. Though most of it are snacks. The stamppot has many variations and is something we love to eat during winter. Did you also try ‘food out of the wall’ at febo?
Sima Sthanakiya says:
No I missed the ‘food out of the wall’, I heard a lot about it. Next time!