Food Lover's Guide to Amsterdam

Mixing influences from all over the world, food in Amsterdam is heavy and hearty, featuring deep-fried goodies both savory and sweet. Whether you prefer a hole-in-the-wall café or a top restaurant, here are a few foods and experiences not to miss.

Must-Try Dishes

*Bitterballenare deep-fried meat croquettes served with mustard. 

Patatorfrites*are thick fried potatoes usually served in a paper cone with toppings like curry ketchup, peanut satay sauce, mayonnaise, or onions. 

*Stamppotis a favorite Dutch comfort food made of potatoes mashed with vegetables and served with a large sausage. 

• Reflecting the Indonesian influence in Amsterdam,Rijstaffelfeatures a variety of small dishes of rice, meats, and curries.

• To satisfy your sweet tooth, try warm, butterypoffertjessprinkled with powdered sugar; a cream-filledtompoucepastry; orstroopwafel, two thin waffles stuck together with a sweet syrup.

Must-Do Experiences

• Visit an Amsterdam cheese shop for a specialwine and cheese tasting, and learn all about Dutch cheeses.

• Head to the streets and the bars for some of the besttraditional Dutch dishes and snacks, many of which can be eaten on the go.

• Spend an evening with a local familylearning how to make Dutch pancakes.

• Take aguided food tourthrough the center of Amsterdam, learning about the city’s history while sampling several favorite Dutch treats.

• Join aculinary tour of Amsterdam’s Jordaan districtto get a flavor of the city’s more sophisticated cuisine.