Let's be honest about what to eat in Amsterdam. Dutch food does not have a great reputation. People joke that it's boiled potatoes, gray meat and a sad slice of cheese on bread. And yes, the Dutch lunch is famously plain. A cheese sandwich and a glass of milk is a real meal here. Nobody is embarrassed about it.
But that's only half the story. Amsterdam is a port city. For 400 years, ships brought spices, people and recipes from all over the world. So Dutch food in Amsterdam is really two things. There's the old Dutch comfort food: fried, salty, buttery and made for cold, wet days. And there's the food that came from the old colonies and trade routes: Indonesian rice tables, Surinamese roti and sandwiches that will ruin all other sandwiches for you.
We've been feeding hungry guests since 2012. Our founder Erik came here from Philadelphia, a city that takes its sandwiches very seriously. He was skeptical at first. Then he ate his first broodje pom and had to call home. This guide covers Amsterdam street food, sit-down Dutch classics, sweet treats, and yes, the best munchies after a coffeeshop.
What is traditional Dutch food, really?
Traditional Dutch food is farm food. It was made to keep workers warm and full. Think potatoes, cabbage, sausages, cheese, bread and butter. Lots of butter.
The Dutch eat a cold, simple breakfast and lunch. Bread with cheese. Bread with ham. Bread with hagelslag, which means chocolate sprinkles. Yes, adults eat chocolate sprinkles on buttered bread for breakfast. Every day. Americans, this is your sign to stop judging Pop-Tarts.
Dinner is the hot meal, and it's early. Many Dutch families eat around 6 pm. Back in the UK, that's normal "tea" time. In the US, it's about when you'd think about dinner. Restaurants in Amsterdam stay open later, so don't worry.
Which Amsterdam street food should you try first?
Amsterdam street food is where the city really shines. Here's our must-eat list. Try as many as you can.
- Fries (patat or friet) in a paper cone with mayo.
- Raw herring (haring) with onions and pickles.
- Kibbeling, fried chunks of white fish with garlic sauce.
- Bitterballen, fried gravy balls with mustard.
- Kroket, a long fried roll of meat ragout, often in a bun.
- Stroopwafel, a thin waffle sandwich with warm caramel syrup.
- Poffertjes, tiny fluffy pancakes with butter and powdered sugar.
- Oliebollen, fried dough balls, mostly around New Year.
Fries: the Dutch way
Dutch fries are thick, crispy and fried twice. They come in a paper cone with a little wooden fork. The Dutch don't use ketchup much. They use mayo. And it's thicker and a bit sweeter than American mayo.
Feeling brave? Order patatje oorlog. That means "little war fries." You get mayo, a spicy peanut sauce (called satésaus), and chopped raw onions. It looks like a crime scene. It tastes amazing. Brits, it's a bit like your chippy chips, but they went to art school.
Raw herring: be brave once
Haring is herring. The Dutch eat it raw, but it's lightly salted and cleaned first. It's soft, silky and tastes like a cold wave on a sunny day. You'll find herring carts on bridges and street corners.
Here's how locals eat it. Hold the fish by the tail. Dip it in chopped onions. Tip your head back. Lower it into your mouth. Tourists can order it cut into pieces with a toothpick or in a little bun called a broodje haring. No shame. The best season is early summer, when the new catch arrives. The Dutch call it Hollandse Nieuwe (Dutch new herring).
Kibbeling: herring's friendlier cousin
Not ready for raw fish? Get kibbeling. It's chunks of white fish, battered and fried hot. It comes with a garlic or tartar sauce. It's basically fish and chips without the chips. Brits, you'll feel right at home. Look for it at street markets like the Albert Cuyp Market or the Saturday markets in the Jordaan. Read our Jordaan neighborhood guide for those.
What are bitterballen and kroketten?
These two are the kings of Dutch bar food. Both start with a thick meat gravy, called ragout. It gets chilled, rolled, breaded and deep-fried.
Bitterballen
Bitterballen are small and round, about the size of a golf ball. They come in a basket with a pot of mustard. You order them with beer at a brown café. That's an old Dutch pub with dark wood walls.
Warning: the inside is lava. Every single tourist burns their mouth on the first one. Bite a tiny hole. Let it breathe. Then go in.
Kroketten and the FEBO wall
A kroket is the long version, like a fried cigar. Locals eat it on a soft white bun with mustard. It's called a broodje kroket.
The most famous way to get one is at FEBO. It's a fast-food chain with a wall of tiny glass doors. You tap your card, open a little window, and pull out a hot snack. It's like a vending machine from 1970s science fiction. Is it fine dining? Absolutely not. Is it fun at midnight? Absolutely yes.
What Dutch sweets should you try?
The Dutch have a serious sweet tooth. Here are the big ones.
Stroopwafels
A stroopwafel is two thin, crisp waffles glued together with caramel syrup. Stroop means syrup. Buy one fresh and warm from a market stall. The syrup melts and stretches. It smells like brown sugar and butter.
Pro tip: if you buy packaged stroopwafels, put one on top of your hot coffee cup for a minute. The steam softens the syrup. Then eat it. This is a Dutch life hack.
Appeltaart
Dutch appeltaart is apple pie, but deeper and taller. It's packed with apples, cinnamon and sometimes raisins. Always order it "met slagroom," with whipped cream. Winkel 43 in the Jordaan is famous for it, and the line proves it.
Poffertjes
Poffertjes are tiny, puffy pancakes. They come in a pile of 10 or more, with a chunk of butter and a snowfall of powdered sugar. Kids love them. So do grown men on stag parties at 4 pm.
Oliebollen
Oliebollen means "oil balls." Delicious name, right? They're fried dough balls, sometimes with raisins, dusted in powdered sugar. You'll see stands selling them in winter, especially around New Year's Eve.
Which international dishes are a must in Amsterdam?
This is where Amsterdam food gets really exciting. Some of the city's best food comes from Indonesia and Suriname. Both were Dutch colonies. Their people and their cooking shaped this city. It's a complicated history, and the food is part of how those communities kept their culture alive.
Indonesian rijsttafel
Rijsttafel means "rice table." It's a big Indonesian feast with rice and many small dishes. Think satay, spicy beef rendang, curries, pickles, peanut sauce and crispy shrimp crackers. One meal can have 10 to 20 little plates.
It's perfect for groups. Go hungry. Share everything. Ask your server which dishes are spicy. Some will light your mouth on fire.
Surinamese roti and broodje pom
Suriname is in South America. Surinamese food mixes African, Indian, Javanese, Chinese and Dutch cooking. Two dishes you need:
- Roti: a soft flatbread with curried chicken, potatoes, long beans and egg.
- Broodje pom: a sandwich filled with pom, a baked dish of chicken and a root vegetable called pomtajer. It's tangy, juicy and a little sweet.
Most Surinamese shops are casual takeout spots. Not fancy. Cheap. Life-changing. Erik says the broodje pom is the closest thing in Amsterdam to a Philly cheesesteak moment. Big words from a Philadelphian.
What do the Dutch eat in winter?
Amsterdam winters are dark, wet and windy. The cold wind off the IJ river cuts right through your coat. The Dutch answer is stamppot.
Stamppot means "mash pot." It's mashed potatoes mixed with a vegetable, like kale (boerenkool), sauerkraut (zuurkool) or carrots and onions (hutspot). It comes with a big smoked sausage called rookworst and a pool of gravy. It's heavy. It's simple. On a cold night, it's perfect.
Also try erwtensoep, a thick pea soup. The Dutch say a spoon should stand up in it.
What should you drink with Dutch food?
Beer
Dutch beer is everywhere. Order "een biertje," a little beer. It comes in a small glass with a tall head of foam. That's how it's supposed to be. Amsterdam also has plenty of craft breweries now.
Jenever
Jenever is Dutch gin. It came before British gin. It's maltier and softer. In old tasting houses like Wynand Fockink, near Dam Square, the glass is filled right to the brim. You bend down and take the first sip without picking it up. It's tradition.
Coffee
The Dutch drink a lot of coffee. Real coffee comes from a café. Not a coffeeshop. A coffeeshop sells cannabis. More on that below.
Where can you find the best munchies in Amsterdam?
Okay. Here's the fun part. If you've just spent an afternoon in a coffeeshop, you're going to get hungry. Very hungry. In a "would eat a cardboard box if it had mayo on it" way.
This is a big part of our Cannabis Culture and Coffeeshop Etiquette tour. We visit two or three licensed coffeeshops, and guests always ask the same question at the end: "Where do we eat?" So here's our munchies guide.
Our top munchies picks
- Fries with everything. A cone of patatje oorlog is the ultimate munchie. Salty, creamy, spicy, crunchy. It hits every button.
- The FEBO wall. Tapping your card and pulling a hot kroket out of a tiny door is hilarious when you're high. It's also cheap and fast.
- Fresh stroopwafels. Warm, sticky, sweet. Get a big one from a market.
- Albert Heijn runs. Albert Heijn is the main Dutch supermarket chain. You'll find them everywhere. Grab cookies, cheese, chips with weird Dutch flavors, and a bottle of water. Look for stroopwafel cookies and drop (Dutch black licorice). Warning: some drop is salty. Very salty. It's a prank on your tongue.
- A real meal. Honestly, a plate of rijsttafel or a roti is the best munchies meal in town.
Eat before, not just after
Here's our serious tip. Eat a real meal before you visit a coffeeshop. Not just after. Cannabis on an empty stomach can hit harder. We always ask guests to eat first and stay hydrated. Don't mix weed with alcohol either. That's how good nights turn into bad ones.
If you try space cake, remember: take a quarter or half, then wait at least 1.5 to 2 hours. Effects can last 6 hours or more. If you feel bad, sit somewhere calm, drink water and eat something sugary. It passes. Our space cake guide explains it all. And never smoke in the street in the Red Light District. Read our guide to smoking weed on Amsterdam streets first.
What are the biggest Amsterdam food tourist traps?
Let's call them out.
- Nutella waffles on the Damrak. They're not Dutch. They're sugar bombs for tourists. Skip them.
- "Cheese museums" with free samples. Fun, but they're shops. Prices can be high. Real cheese shops are calmer and often better.
- Restaurants with picture menus and a guy outside. If someone stands on the street begging you to come in, keep walking.
- Overpriced "Dutch pancake" spots near Dam Square. Pancakes are great. Just walk a few minutes away from the main square first.
For a fancy night out instead, see our list of fun luxury restaurants in Amsterdam.
How much does food cost in Amsterdam?
Rough guide, at the time of writing:
- Fries from a stand: a few euros.
- A herring sandwich: a few euros, a bit more than fries.
- A FEBO snack: cheap, just a few euros.
- A casual café lunch: around €10 to €20.
- A sit-down dinner: €25 to €60+ per person, depending on the place.
Tipping is not required. For good service, round up or leave 5 to 10 percent. Americans, no need for 20 percent. Brits, carry on as usual. Cards work almost everywhere. Some places are card-only.
Can a private tour include food stops?
Yes! Any of our tours can be private — just your group, your date, your pace. Private tours start at €295 excl. VAT for the whole group. Want a canal walk with herring, cheese and a brown café stop? We can do that. Want a cannabis tour followed by a big munchies feast? We can point you to the right spots.
Our concierge day in Amsterdam includes hotel pickup, dinner reservations and more. Read our first time in Amsterdam tips to plan the rest of your trip.
Quick answers
What is the most famous food in Amsterdam?
Stroopwafels, raw herring, fries with mayo and bitterballen are the most famous. For a full meal, Indonesian rijsttafel is an Amsterdam classic. Try at least one of each.
Is Dutch food good?
Yes, if you know what to order. Old Dutch food is simple comfort food. The street snacks and Indonesian and Surinamese dishes are where Amsterdam really shines.
What are the best munchies in Amsterdam?
Fries with patatje oorlog, a FEBO kroket and a warm stroopwafel are local favorites. An Albert Heijn snack run is cheap and fun too. Just remember to eat a real meal before you visit a coffeeshop.
Is raw herring safe to eat?
Yes. It's cleaned, lightly salted and frozen first, as Dutch rules require. It's soft and mild, not "fishy." Try it with onions and pickles.
Do I need to tip at restaurants in Amsterdam?
No, tipping isn't required. For good service, round up or leave 5 to 10 percent. Staff earn a proper wage.
Book your Amsterdam food and cannabis tour with Oranje Umbrella
The best way to eat in Amsterdam is with someone who knows where the locals go. Join one of our Amsterdam walking tours or our cannabis culture tour, and leave knowing exactly where to find your next snack. Oranje Umbrella has been guiding hungry guests since 2012.
Want it just for your group? Book a private tour on any date and time you choose.
Questions? Email Erik@oranjeumbrella.com or message us on Instagram @oranjeumbrella.