Food in Amsterdam: 10 Quintessentially Dutch Dishes and Where To Eat Them

When it comes to iconic Dutch dishes in Amsterdam, stroopwafels might just take the biscuit. Beloved across the Netherlands (and among most travelers, too), this sweet treat consists of two thin, perfectly crispy wafers sandwiched together with gooey caramel, aka “stroop.”

When it comes to how—and where—to eat stroopwafels in Amsterdam, there are two main camps: the purists, who believe classic is best, and the more modern, who like to take their pick of all sorts of funky flavors and toppings, ranging from pistachio to pepernoten, Oreo, and more.

Where to try stroopwafels in Amsterdam: While you can find stroopwafels all over the city, from artisanal bakeries to street food stalls and even in the supermarket, Rudi’s Original Stroopwafels and Croissanterie Hans Egstorf are renowned for their sweet treats. Or, if you fancy trying your wafels with more than just stroop, check out Van Wonderen or Melly’s Stroopwafels near Dam Square.

One of the most revered Dutch snacks, haring (raw herring) in Amsterdam is a must-try on Amsterdam food tours, with plenty of pop-up stalls—haringhandels—dotted around the streets. While most locals prefer eating it the classic way—cured in salt with diced onions and pickles—you can also try it in sandwiches—broodje haring—or as part of a gourmet meal. Alternatively, if you prefer your fish battered and fried, then you may want to opt for another local delicacy, kibbeling (bite-size chunks of battered, salted codfish) instead.

Where to try haring in Amsterdam: Some of the best places to try traditional haring in Amsterdam are Frens Haringhandel near Bloemenmarkt, Stubbe’s Haring on Haarlemmerstraat, or Vishandel at Albert Cuyp Market—which is also known for its kibbeling. If you’d prefer to try an upmarket version, head to Wilde Zwijnen in Amsterdam Oost.

There are two main types of Dutch pancakes: poffertjes (small, fluffy pancakes usually sold by the bagful and topped with powdered sugar) and bigger crepe-style pannenkoeken, which are delicious loaded with sweet or savory toppings. The main difference is that the former is a popular street food—or even a canal cruise snack—whereas the latter is often a sit-down meal all in itself. Many restaurants offer gluten-free and vegan options, too.

Where to try pancakes in Amsterdam: When it comes to poffertjes in Amsterdam, you can’t go wrong with Pat’s Poffertjes in Jordaan, or Poffertjes Albert Cuyp. For pannekoeken, check out Happy Pig Pancake Shop, PANCAKES Amsterdam, or Upstairs Pannenkoekenhuis in the Red Light District. You can also make a day of it by taking a trip out to Boerderij Meerzicht near Amsterdamse Bos—a Hansel and Gretel–style pancake house with its own farm.

Bitterballen are a delicious pick-me-up after a long Amsterdam sightseeing tour—or even as a midday break. Traditionally enjoyed as bar snacks alongside a cold beer or a local jenever (Dutch spirit), bitterballen are savory balls stuffed with a creamy beef or vegetable ragout and rolled in breadcrumbs, before being deep-fried and served with a mustard dip. Now, though, you can find them all over the city.

Where to try bitterballen in Amsterdam: Some spots, like De BallenBar in De Foodhallen, have a variety of flavors available, from bouillabaisse to Old Dutch cheese, while others, like Café Smalle and Café De Klos near the Anne Frank House in Jordaan, are better known for their classic options.

In the Netherlands, frietjes aren’t just a delicious treat, they’re a cultural institution—thick-cut, hot, crispy on the outside, fluffy in the middle, with the perfect amount of salt, and usually served with mayonnaise. While most establishments offer a choice of dipping sauces, if you want to go extra Dutch, check out the local favorite, patatje oorlog. Roughly translated as “war fries,” this early predecessor to loaded fries—topped with mayonnaise, peanut sauce, and raw onions—is one of the most unique foods in Amsterdam.

Where to try frietjes in Amsterdam: While you’ll find fry stands all over the city, some of the best can be found at Vlaams Friethuis Vlemincx, Fabel Friet, and Manneken Pis Amsterdam, along with De Patatzaak, a snack bar underneath an old windmill, Freddy Fryday, or Café Loetje, which is as famous for its fries as it is for its steaks.

Nowhere does the munchies like the Netherlands—especially when it comes to deep-fried deliciousness. Popular since the 18th century, kroketten—croquettes—are usually filled with a meat, seafood, or vegetable ragout in a crispy breadcrumb shell. Beloved by most locals, kroketten are so popular that even McDonald’s have created their own take on them: the McKroket. The broodje kroket sandwich is also a popular lunchtime treat.

Where to try kroketten in Amsterdam: While you can find them in most bars and brown cafés—named after their tobacco-stained wooden interiors—or from high-end patisseries like Patisserie Holtkamp (which supplies the Dutch Royal Family), nothing hits the spot quite like those from a FEBO vending machine, especially after a big night out.

In the Netherlands, you’ll find kass (cheese) in any meal of the day—or as a deep-fried snack. Entire eateries are dedicated to all things cheese, including kaasfondue (cheese fondue). While you can find Dutch cheeses—like gouda, geitenkaas, or maasdammer—all around the city and in many forms, including FEBO’s famed kassouffle, cheese is so beloved in Amsterdam that you can even join a cheese cruise or take tours to cheese farms.

Where to try kaas in Amsterdam: For a full Dutch cheese tasting in Amsterdam experience, Henri Willig is a good spot to start. Kaasbar Amsterdam is fun for novelty value alone—it even has a cheese train!—while, for something more traditional, Proeflokaal A. van Wees on Herengracht is well worth a visit. The upmarket RIJKS restaurant in the Rijksmuseum is also renowned for its cheeseboards.

When it comes to Dutch comfort food, you can’t get much better than stamppot. One of the oldest Dutch dishes—its origins date back to the 16th century—stamppot literally translates as “mashed pot.” Often cooked in one pot, this hearty combination of potatoes and vegetables—such as hutspot (carrot and onion), zuurkoolstamppot (sauerkraut), boerenkoolstamppot (kale), and andijviestamppot (endive), as well as fruit like hete bliksem (apple)—is often paired with a smoky sausage, such as rookworst or bacon and gravy.

Where to try stamppot in Amsterdam: Especially delicious on cold winter days, stamppot can be found at top local restaurants in Amsterdam, including 't Heemelrijck in De Pijp—which is also known for its snert (green split pea and pork soup) and stews—along with Restaurant Moeders and De Silveren Spiegel.

Another local culinary classic, tompouce may technically be derived from the French millefeuille. Yet having put its own stamp on it, including swapping the powdered sugar or chocolate stripes for pink icing, this decadent Dutch dessert is now in a class of its own—and quite a specific class, too, with regulations around what does and doesn’t constitute a tompouce. Easy enough to find all over the city, the toughest part about tompouce is actually eating it, with many jokes made about how messy it can be.

Where to try tompouce in Amsterdam: Offering a prime demonstration of Dutch patisserie prowess, Patisserie Holtkamp is one of the best-known. If you don’t fancy waiting in line, you can find tompouce in almost all bakeries in Amsterdam or head to HEMA, where you can also grab a couple to take home.

Though not traditionally Dutch, rijsttafel—literally “rice table”—dates back to the heyday of the VOC and was originally developed as a way to bring the flavors of Indonesia to the streets (and houses) of the Netherlands. Rather than being a one-plate meal, rijsttafel usually features a big portion of rice surrounded by 10–20 small plates of Indonesian dishes, giving diners the chance to try a bit of everything.

Where to try rijsttafel in Amsterdam: Today, rijsttafel, along with roti, satay, and spekkoek (a spiced layer cake), can be found all over the capital. For some of the best in the west, check out Blauw, Café Jakarta, Sampurna, or Ron Gastrobar Indonesia—where Barack Obama tried rijsttafel on his 2023 trip to the city.