Dutch Snacks: A Guide to the Best Treats

Dutch snacks offer a glimpse into the rich culinary heritage of Amsterdam, by blending sweet and savory flavors. From iconic cheese and sausages to festive treats and deep-fried favorites, these snacks are a must-try for any Amsterdam food tour.

Cheese and Sausages: The Heart of Dutch Snack Culture

Amsterdam is a veritable treasure trove of Dutch snacks, rich with tasty cheeses and succulent sausages that tantalize the senses.

Popular Cheese Snacks in Amsterdam

Old Amsterdam Cheese is a mature gouda cheese with a rich, nutty flavor and crumbly texture. It’s typically enjoyed as a snack with mustard or paired with a beer.

Kaasblokjes are seemingly simple cheese cubes that are served at borrel Dutch social gatherings. You often find them on serving trays as bite-sized cubes of gouda or edam. They’re usually served along with mustard or pickles, which helps cut the rich fattiness of the cheese and keeps your palate awake.

Kaassoufflé is a deep-fried snack made with a thin dough shell filled with gooey, melted cheese. You find it a lot in Amsterdam’s snack bars.

Boerenkaas is a type of farmer’s cheese made from raw milk. You find it throughout Amsterdam in various aged varieties. It’s usually served as a rustic snack with bread and butter. This is the sort of thing that’s hard to come by in the US and is definitely worth trying a few times.

Stroopwafel with cheese is a modern twist on the classic stroopwafel, by combining the sweet caramel layers with a hint of aged Dutch cheese. There’s a sweet-savory element to it that makes it a great any-time-of-day snack.

Popular Sausage Snacks in Amsterdam

Rookworst is a juicy smoked Dutch sausage that you often find being served with stamppot mashed vegetable dish. Yet in Amsterdam, you’ll often find it enjoyable as a standalone snack. Especially in winter or on festive occasions like Sinterklaas.

Ossenworst is a cured and lightly smoked beef sausage that’s typically sliced and served with mustard. In Amsterdam you often find it being served as a bar snack.

Gelderse Worst is a coarse-ground spiced sausage that’s originally from the Gelderland region. These days it’s increasingly popular in Amsterdam’s markets and butcher shops, as it’s a perfect snack meat.

Grillworst is a seasoned sausage that’s grilled to crisp the skin and give it a snap when you bite into it. You often find it in Amsterdam at deli counters and snack stands.

Leverworst is a soft, spreadable liver sausage frequently enjoyed on bread or crackers. It’s often served at Dutch social gatherings.

Frikandel is a skinless, deep-fried sausage commonly eaten with mayonnaise, curry ketchup, or special “frikandel special” toppings. Popular at snack bars and sporting events.

Dutch Festive Foods: Seasonal Treats and Celebrations

There are special snacks that you find in Amsterdam during Dutch festivals, celebrations, and special occasions.

Sinterklaas Specialties

Pepernoten & Kruidnoten are small, spiced gingerbread-like cookies traditionally scattered by Sinterklaas and his helpers.

Speculaas are spiced short-crust cookies, often shaped into windmills or Sinterklaas figures.

Banketletter is essentially a puff pastry letter filled with almond paste.

Chocolate Letters are large chocolate treats in the shape of letters meant to signify a child’s initials. While they’re often given to children, many adults still enjoy them too.

New Year’s Delights

Oliebollen are very similar to deep-fried doughnut holes. They’re often dusted with powdered sugar and enjoyed on New Year’s Eve.

Appelbeignets are deep-fried and breaded apple slices. They’re most common around the holidays and you want to get them when they’re fresh and crisp right out of the fryer.

Kniepertjes are thin, crispy waffle cookies you often find in Amsterdam in the last weeks of the year. They’re often rolled up to symbolize new beginnings.

King’s Day Favorites

Tompouce is a rectangular puff pastry, filled with custard cream, and then topped with bright orange icing.

Oranje Bitter is a strong orange-flavored liqueur, sipped in celebration of the Dutch monarchy.

Haring are fresh herring, often enjoyed with pickles and onions, a street food favorite during festivities.

Iconic Dutch Pastries to Savor

If you were to ask me what the top Dutch pastries are to savor on an Amsterdam food tour, I would pick the following.

Stroopwafel

A thin, crispy waffle sandwich that is often filled with caramel syrup. Ideally, you want to get it fresh from a market stand to eat it warm. In a pinch, you can place it over a hot cup of coffee to soften the filling on a chilly day.

Tompouce

A classic staple in Amsterdam bakeries, tompouce is a rectangular pastry with layers of crisp puff pastry and creamy custard, topped with bright pink icing. On King’s Day bakeries and street vendors will stop it with orange icing.

Appeltaart

This is essentially a Dutch apple pie with a thick, buttery crust and a filling of spiced apples, raisins, and cinnamon. Served with whipped cream, it’s perfect for a cozy café break.

Bossche Bol

Originally from Hertogenbosch but popular in Amsterdam, this is a giant cream puff coated in glossy chocolate. It’s rich, indulgent, and messy yet delicious.

Where to Find Dutch Snacks

Amsterdam has tons of great markets, snack bars, and festivals offering the prime opportunity to enjoy iconic Dutch snack foods.

Popular Amsterdam Markets

Photo credit: Albert Cuyp Market

Albert Cuyp Market is Amsterdam’s most famous street market and offers an array of Dutch treats. Signature snacks include freshly made stroopwafels to crispy poffertjes mini pancakes.

Dappermarkt is a popular multicultural market where you can try classic Dutch herring or warm kibbeling. It’s an affordable and lively spot to explore Amsterdam’s international street food scene.

Noordermarkt is a popular organic farmers’ market and is the perfect place to sample fresh Dutch cheeses and artisan apple pie. It’s a favorite among locals for its high-quality, farm-fresh produce.

Nieuwmarkt is a historic market near Amsterdam’s Chinatown. Signature snacks include bitterballen and locally made Gouda cheese. It’s surrounded by cafés and is especially lively on weekends.

Popular Amsterdam Snack Bars

FEBO is an iconic Dutch snack bar that features a unique automat vending machines. It’s a great place to grab a crispy kroketten and frikandel spiced sausage on the go. It’s a fun, quick, and affordable way to get a quick taste of authentic Dutch Snacks.

Photo credit: Van Dobben

Van Dobben snack bar near Rembrandtplein is famous for its ultra-creamy beef kroketten and broodje bal meatball sandwich. The no-frills atmosphere makes it a favorite among locals.

Eetsalon Van Westerveen is a hidden gem of a snack shop serving some of the best patat oorlog fries with peanut sauce and onions. This cozy, traditional snack bar is a must-visit for fried food lovers.

Het Vlaamse Friteshuis Vleminckx is one of Amsterdam’s most famous fry stands, serving thick-cut fries with a choice of over 25 sauces. The line is often long, but the crispy, golden fries are worth the wait.

Festivals in Amsterdam with Great Snacks

Sinterklaas is a beloved Dutch holiday where families exchange gifts, recite humorous poems, and enjoy festive treats. Signature snacks include pepernoten spiced cookies, speculaas spiced shortcrust biscuits, chocolate letters, and banketletter filled pastries.

King’s Day on April 27th is the Netherlands’ biggest street party, and a prime opportunity to enjoy Amsterdam’s street food snack scene. Food stalls offer tompouce custard-filled pastry with bright orange icing, haring and bitterballen deep-fried meat snacks.