One thing you don’t really hear much about the Netherlands is how awesome the food is, but I had some truly great eats while I was there. I mean, one of the country’s biggest foods is cheese (or kaas), and anything involving cheese sounds gouda to me (sorry – I couldn’t resist).
Amsterdam is a prime spot to try all of the traditional Dutch favorites, but I also took notice of just how robust the culinary scene is there. It’s a cultural melting pot and you can find just about any type of cuisine you’re looking for, including a notable selection of vegetarian and vegan. From sit down meals to street food, here are all the things I enjoyed.
The Dining Experience in the Netherlands
Dining out in the Netherlands wasn’t as overwhelming as I thought it would be for someone who speaks little Dutch, as most restaurants had English versions of their menus readily available and most waitstaff spoke English. Tipping is not customary in the Netherlands as servers typically make a fair living wage and there are service charges built into the bill. Only a handful of times I was asked if I wanted to leave an additional tip, but it’s not expected there like it is in the U.S. unless you receive exceptional service and want to leave a little extra. Most places will accept both cash and credit card, but I did find that a few places have stuck with cashless/contactless payment methods adopted during the pandemic.
Pancakes at The Pancake Bakery
You simply cannot go to Amsterdam and not eat pancakes (pannenkoeken). If you are from the United States and have never had a Dutch pancake, get what you know about pancakes out of your mind. Dutch pancakes are not the sweet, fluffy ones that we eat in the States. They are more of a mix between that and a French crepe – they’re larger, flatter and served with either savory or sweet toppings. I was thrown off and a bit hesitant when I saw some of the savory ingredients that they mix into a pancake in the Netherlands, so when I visited The Pancake Bakery in Amsterdam I went for middle ground and got one made with bacon and apple, which was a delicious choice, especially drowned in Dutch pancake syrup. The Pancake Bakery is located on Prinsengracht just steps from the Anne Frank House, so I was able to time it perfectly by going here right at 9:00 when they open to have breakfast before my 10:00 tour time at the Anne Frank House. And by going at 9 I was able to beat the crowds, as this restaurant can get very busy.
More Pancakes at Pancakes Amsterdam
Once I had dabbled in Dutch pancakes I knew I wanted to try a more savory one, so I went to Pancakes Amsterdam on the morning that I was catching my train to Belgium to have a hearty breakfast before the 3-hour train ride. There are a few Pancakes Amsterdam locations, but conveniently there is one just across from Centraal Station near Damrak Canal, so it was easy to stop over here with my luggage en route to the train station. I ordered – and ravenously devoured – the ham and cheese pancake. So good!
Dutch Apple Pie and a Mint Tea at Winkel 43
Winkel 43 is located in the heart of Jordaan, a neighborhood of Amsterdam full of trendy restaurants and boutiques. This one is another must – if nothing else go here just for an afternoon snack. Their apple pie (appeltaart) is probably the best you will get in Amsterdam. It’s warm and crumbly and topped with whipped cream, and best paired with your hot beverage of choice. On a friend’s recommendation I got their mint tea, made with loads of steeping fresh mint leaves. The combo was perfect for a chilly rainy day, and the interior of Winkel 43 was just as warm and cozy.
Flammkuchen at ‘t Nieuwe Kafe
On my first afternoon in Amsterdam after an overnight flight, I was extremely hungry, and had planned to go to Winkel 43 but found it with a line wrapped halfway around the block. Not knowing where else to go on the fly and finding a lot of the restaurants crowded (it was a Saturday right at lunchtime), I walked and walked with no success until I ended up at Dam Square, the town square in the heart of Amsterdam, and found ‘t Nieuwe Kafe with plenty of their outdoor seating open (it was a little chilly out, but not unbearable for me). Despite learning some Dutch, my vocabulary didn’t help me when it came to reading the menu, so I fumbled around with the translate app on my phone until the cute waiter patiently pointed out to my culture shocked and awkward self that there was an English version of the menu a few pages back. Facepalm.
I decided on one of the flammkuchen, a style of flatbread pizza originating in the German-speaking Alsace region of France. I got the flammkuchen traditioneel, which had crème fraîche, Gruyère cheese, red onions, arugula, and spekblokjes (literal translation: bacon cubes). It hit the spot, and I had one of the best seats in town to enjoy a meal – despite the occasional pesky pigeon.
Spare Ribs at Spanjer en Van Twist
This is another gem that I found by wandering in desperate need of food. On the evening I went here I think I was trying to eat an early dinner and was having trouble finding a restaurant whose kitchen was open for dinner yet until I wandered into Spanjer en Van Twist. I sat upstairs in this cozy spot, and ordered the spare rib platter. All I could say was oh my god. This meal was insanely good, and it wasn’t just because I was so hungry. The meat just fell off the bone and was coated in a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce. It was served with corn, a baked sweet potato, and an avocado chutney. Did I clear both plates? Sure did.
Stamppot at Moeders
If it’s not obvious, moeder is the Dutch word for “mother,” and this restaurant embodies the comfort of that word. It has an old-timey diner vibe, and the walls are covered in pictures of mothers. When the restaurant opened in 1990, the owner asked guests to bring their own plate, glass, and cutlery to the opening, and much of that mismatched ware is still in use today. The menu features traditional Dutch dishes, such as the stamppot that I ordered. Stamppot consists of mashed potatoes mixed with veggies and topped with meat. Mine had bacon, smoked sausage, and a meatball. It was comforting and felt like I was eating a homecooked meal, maybe because it didn’t feel too far removed from the kielbasa, sauerkraut, and mashed potato meals I had growing up with German and Polish roots. Between the meal and being surrounded by pictures of moms, I felt so at home here but also had a little bit of homesickness wishing my own mom was there with me. Luckily I was able to eat my feelings by finishing the meal with some yummy apple pie with ice cream!
Bitterballen at Brouwerij de Prael
The Dutch definitely get bar snacks right, and bitterballen are a must when visiting Amsterdam. They’re deep-fried Dutch meatballs that you can find on the menu at just about any bar that serves food. At the microbrewery Brouwerij de Prael, I decided to make bar snacks my meal and ordered the Warm Snack Platter, which consisted of bitterballen along with fried cheese, and frikandelletjes, which are fried ground meat snacks resembling a little sausage.
Fries
The Belgians aren’t the only ones who love their fried potatoes. You’ll find a number of places to get fries throughout Amsterdam, but I got some from Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx, a little hole-in-the-wall place down a side street just off the busy Kalverstraat shopping area. Most places offer an extensive list of sauces, but if you want to eat your fries like the locals, getting them smothered in mayonnaise is the way to go. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to eating fries with ketchup.
Stroopwafel
Stroopwafel is another snack that you’ll easily find all over Amsterdam. These are thin waffle cookies with caramel filling that just melt in your mouth. At some point you’ll probably get a little one served to you on the side when you order a cup of coffee, but you should definitely make it a point to get one as a street snack too – you can get them dipped in chocolate and loaded with your favorite toppings like M&M’s, nuts, or white chocolate. This one that I got at Van Holland Stroopwafels on Kalverstraat was dipped in chocolate with white chocolate shavings. Yum!
Cookies, fries, pancakes, pie.. oh my! You definitely need to pack your stretchy pants to prepare for trying all the delicious Dutch foods (and more) in Amsterdam.
C to Shining C 
Leave a comment