Snacks and street food in Amsterdam
Each country and often each city has it’s own local cuisine. As travelers we especially like foods the locals eat themselves, snacks you can pick up and take with you. The cuisine of the Netherlands offers a wide range of snacks. Dutch people are also especially fond of baked products. In fact, the English words snack and cookie are Dutch loanwords. So if you want a taste of the Dutch cuisine you might want to give one of things below a try.
Raw herring
One of the biggest culinary traditions of the Netherlands is picking up a raw herring by it’s tail with your hands, holding it up above your head and then lowering it into your mouth to eat it. If you prefer to keep your hands clean you can eat raw herring on a bun with onions and pickles. An awesome recipe for a healthy snack. When you’re in Amsterdam you can partake in this tradition at one of the many fish shops, street vendors and fish stands across the city.
Kroketten
Kroketten are a bigger version of the bitterbal. It’s a fried snack of beef ragout that’s usually eaten with mustard. Often next to a portion of fries with mayonnaise or peanut sauce. You can find them in fast food restaurants which Dutch people call snackbars. In lunchrooms it’s often eaten on a sandwich with mustard. Even the Dutch McDonalds have their own version of a kroket with mustard on a bun called the McKroket.
Kroketten are one of the universally loved foods in the Netherlands and they are widely available, so at Meet The Cities we recommend you give this delightful little treat a try as well.
Stroopwafels
A stroopwafel is a typically Dutch waffle with syrup. They are a treat that can be eaten on every occasion. It can be eaten warm and cold. They are also sold as waffle crumbs in a bag. You can find stroopwafels on most markets, bakeries, supermarkets and often in touristic cheese shops. In the Netherlands people usually eat them as a quick snack. When someone comes to visit at a Dutch home they can expect a stroopwafel with a cup of coffee or tea as well.
Oliebollen
Dutch people like baked products almost as much as cheese products. The oliebol is a fried doughy ball sometimes filled with raisins. It’s eaten warm and usually covered with powdered sugar. The oliebol can be seen on centuries old paintings and they say the oliebol is what inspired the creation of the doughnut. The name oliebol means oil ball. It’s eaten during festivities and sold at market stands, usually during the colder seasons.
Licorice
The Netherlands is the biggest producer of licorice confectionery in Europe. Just like in the Nordic countries licorices are very popular in the Netherlands. Especially the salty and salmiakki ones. It’s not exactly street food, but they sure are eaten everywhere. People have them in their cars and at home. The licorices tend to be fairly salty, which can be an acquired taste. The most common place to find salty and salmiakki licorices are the supermarkets.
Rookworst
Rookworst is a typically Dutch smoked sausage. These smoked sausages are very thick and juicy sausages that get their flavour from smoke-aroma and spices that are mixed in the meat. You can buy smoked sausages in supermarkets, but also in certain stores. In the shopping centers of Amsterdam you sometimes find HEMA department stores. At the HEMA you can usually buy a smoked sausage to take away, as you can eat it while holding it in one hand. They are also sold on buns, so you have a juicy sausage sandwich. It might be recommended not to order an entire smoked sausage because you might order more than you can chew.
Dutch cheeses
When you’re in the Netherlands it’s hard to avoid their most famous food: the Dutch cheeses. You can find them everywhere. In all supermarkets, at dedicated cheese shops, you can even order it with your beer in cafe’s. The Netherlands has a very broad array of cheeses. Even Edam and Gouda cheeses have dozens of subcategories. More fat cheeses tend to have more rich flavours. Older cheeses tend to be harder and drier and have a stronger odor, while younger cheeses tend to be smoother and have more soft flavours. There are also several places in Amsterdam where cheese tastings are held, where you can experiment with different kinds of cheeses.
Poffertjes
A common sight on Dutch markets are stands where you can buy poffertjes. Poffertjes are small puffy pancakes that are eaten with powdered sugar and some butter. When you order a portion you usually get a dozen of them. Poffertjes are a very popular street food in the Netherlands. When there is a funfair in Amsterdam there is always a poffertjes stand, so in a way it’s also a bit of a festive food. A lot of pancake restaurants also serve them. Especially children love these small delightful pancakes.