Amsterdam

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.

Restaurant moeders

When you’re in the Netherlands it might be fun to try some Dutch cuisine. At Restaurants Moeders (Restaurant Mothers) hearty dishes are served which can be found in Dutch family homes. Hotchpotch with Dutch smoked sausage, stewed beef, pea soup and many other traditional Dutch meals. The restaurant is located slightly outside of the city center, so you might want to take the bike there. The setting of the restaurant is a cozy and informal one, with pictures of mothers all across the walls.

Haesje Claes

Haesje Claes is a classic Dutch restaurant with a warm homely feel to it. It’s spread out over six connected monumental buildings. It’s a good location to have either lunch or dinner as it has many typical Dutch foods like herring, mackerel, chicken liver, pea soup and hotchpotch. If you wish to eat some hearty Dutch food or wish to taste the culture of Amsterdam then this is a great restaurant to visit.

Kantjil en de Tijger

Indonesian food is very prominent in the Netherlands due to the colonial history both countries share. So if you wish to experiment with exotic Indonesian flavours while you’re in Amsterdam Kantjil en de Tijger is a great place to visit. The Indonesian cuisine is rich in flavours and spices and offers something for everyone. This restaurant also offers takeaway food and “rice tables”, which is a Dutch-Indonesian practice to show off the Indonesian cuisine by offering a wide range of small traditional Indonesian dishes originally meant to impress the guest and give them plenty of flavours to enjoy.

Restaurant Sea Palace

Amsterdam has a bond with water. It’s no surprise the very first floating restaurant in Europe was settled here. Sea Palace is a beautiful floating restaurant in Amsterdam. The oriental atmosphere on the inside of the restaurant is as beautiful as the outside. They offer a rich and traditional Chinese menu, with dim sums, Beijing duck, lobster and much more. If you desires some delicious Chinese food then Sea Palace is the place to visit.

The Pancake Bakery

A popular part of the Dutch cuisine are pancakes and poffertjes, which are small fluffy pancakes. You can get both at The Pancake bakery, which offers a wide range of Dutch and international pancakes. The restaurants has a rich menu of inventive and themed pancakes with combinations you never thought possible. The restaurant itself is housed in an old 17th century Dutch East India Company warehouse which has a warm atmosphere to it. If you are looking for a nice dinner the whole family can enjoy you can never go wrong here.

De Carrousel Pannenkoeken Paviljoen

De Carrousel is a fun pancake restaurant build in – you guessed it – a former carrousel. Today it serves as a perfect place to rest your legs and fill your belly. In a comfortable green location you can just sit down and enjoy your meal after a hard day of shopping. De Carrousel offers a fairly wide range of pancakes, poffertjes, waffles and other meals.

The Happy Pig Pancake Shop

The Happy Pig Pancake Shop is a lovely pancake restaurant that prides itself as organic, as even the cutlery is biodegradable. In this restaurant you can choose your own ingredients for your pancakes and waffles. Located in the very heart of the shopping center of Amsterdam you can just sit down here to relax. It’s a great place for your afternoon break. But the busy travelers among us can also order pancakes to go, as they will neatly roll up your pancake.

Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs

Amsterdam is well known for it’s narrow, yet long and high, houses with incredibly steep stairs. This restaurant fits right in, as they say it’s the smallest restaurant in Europe and it sports exactly those features. With teapots hanging on the ceiling and portraits of royalty and paintings of Amsterdam on the wall this restaurant boosts an informal homely atmosphere. If you wish to get some nice organic pancakes you could visit this lovely little place.

Gauchos

Gauchos Grill restaurants are authentic Argentinian steakhouses which can be found on multiple locations in Amsterdam. The restaurants offer quality juicy steaks and you can taste the food is made with a passion. Steaks, spare-ribs, gambas and wine is served here among other things. The establishments radiate warmth with their latin American atmosphere.

Black and Blue

Black and Blue is a steak restaurant located in the Jordaan. They promise and deliver delicious custom salads and juicy organic meat with pure flavours right off the charcoal grill. The restaurant is nicely decorated and offer a nice ambiance for a wonderful night out to dinner. If you’re looking for a good grill restaurant then you’ll feel right at home at Black and Blue.

FEBO

The FEBO is a fast food restaurant franchise that you can find all across Amsterdam. Fast food franchises are called snackbars in the Netherlands. And it is here that you can order several of the most popular traditional Dutch fast foods, such as a frikandel speciaal, a kroket with mustard or a patat oorlog with onions. Unique meat based fast food and sauces that include mayonnaise, peanut sauce and onions are typical for Dutch fast food. Another typical Dutch thing about the FEBO is that you can get fast food out of automats, which are vending machines in the wall. These fast food vending machines are so iconic they were even shown in the video game Mass Effect 2. It is fun and quick to just get your food out of the wall, and it’s something you should do at least once, but at Meet The Cities we prefer to order our food at the counter over using the automats, so you can just ask the cashier for the right sauces that match the snacks.

The Burger Bar

Everybody loves a good hamburger. And the Burger Bar offers some of the best ones. The Burger Bar is a fast food restaurant franchise in Amsterdam. If you want a delicious burger with some fries then the Burger Bar is the recommended place to go. Just pick everything you like and create the ultimate burger.

Teppanyaki restaurant Sazanka

The hotel Okura is home to several restaurants awarded with a Michelin star. One of them is the restaurant Sazanka, which is an authentic Japanese grill, known as Teppanyaki, restaurant. It’s also the only Teppanyaki restaurant in Europe which has been awarded with a michelin star. It’s a lovely experience to see the chef do his magic right at your table. If you wish to taste the flavours of Japan then Sazanka is certainly a recommended visit.

Supperclub cruise

Supperclub Cruise is an interesting experience that throws all conventions out of the window. The cooks are given full creative freedom to offer a four course surprise menu, which you can enjoy laying down under the enjoyment of some relaxing music. The setting is cozy and informal. During dinner the Supperclub Cruise will sail into the ports of Amsterdam.The real home of the cruise is in Amsterdam North, but usually the boat is located directly behind the Central Station.

Blue Amsterdam

If you want to get some lunch then Blue is your go-to place. Blue is located right in the heart of Amsterdam, near Spui square, and offers a 360 view over the city. This is pretty unique considering there aren’t many tall buildings in Amsterdam. Dutch people tend to lunch with bread dishes like brie with walnuts or two (beef ragout) kroketten with mustard which are available here. This lunchroom is perfect for a panoramic view over the city while enjoying a proper lunch.

Pasta e Basta

The name of the restaurant Pasta e Basta means pasta and that’s it. But in reality that is not quite the truth. Besides the tasty Italian food the restaurant offers a romantic atmosphere and live entertainment with very talented singing waiters. The restaurant also has a wide selection of wines and it has been visited by many international famous people. Note that the restaurant works with two sittings and that reservation is advised.

Popular fashion: Nieuwendijk / Kalverstraat / Leidsestraat / Dam Square

The main shopping streets of Amsterdam are the Nieuwendijk, which extends into the Kalverstraat and is followed up by the Leidsestraat. These are very long streets located in the city center that seem to go on endlessly with popular shops of all kinds. These streets are home to the large and famous shops like Bershka, Costes, Esprit, Foot Locker, H&M, River Island and Zara. These long streets are separated by the popular Dam Square and Spui square, where you can find lots of cafes to sit down.

The street called the Heiligeweg, which has shops like All Saints, Diesel, and Scotch & Soda, connects the Kalverstraat with the Leidsestraat, where the more high-end shops like Abercombie & Fitch, Filippa K, Hugo Boss and Timberland are located.

Exclusive and luxury fashion: P.C. Hooftstraat / Cornelis Schuytstraat

Near Museumsquare (better known as Museumplein) you can find the most exclusive shopping street of Amsterdam, which is the P.C. Hooftstraat. This luxury shopping street is home to shops from the top brands like Burberry, Bvlgari, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Salvatore Ferragamo. If you want to dress to impress then the P.C. Hooftstraat is the street that will bring you tip top fashion.

When you walk a bit further you will find the Cornelis Schuytstraat. This street is home to more exotic boutique shops from brands like Blue Blood, Hackett London, Repeat, Superdry and VLVT.

Original and vintage clothing: The Nine Streets / Haarlemmerdijk

In the historic canal district of Amsterdam, within walking distance of Dam Square and Spui Square, you can find The Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes). On the map the Berenstraat and Wolvenstraat mark the middle of the nine streets.These nine charming streets have beautiful and cosy vintage shops and boutiques with a wide array of styles and trends. The shops here have a more unique and personal atmosphere. It’s no surprise many art galleries also settled in these comfy shopping streets. At Meet The Cities we certainly recommend visiting the Nine Streets for a more intimate and relaxed shopping experience.

East of Amsterdam Central Station you will find the Haarlemmerdijk. This is a long shopping street with random shops, trendy stores, second-hand clothing shops and independent labels. There are also plenty of places to sit down and have a bite. The street is a charming mishmash of shops.

Shopping malls and department stores

De Bijenkorf is probably the best-known department store of Amsterdam and is located on the Dam Square in an impressive historic building. This popular shopping destination in the city center offers a broad selection of mainly high-end brands.

Another shopping center near Dam Square is Magna Plaza, which is housed in a beautiful UNESCO-monumental building behind the Royal Palace. It’s has a collection of mainly high-end fashion shops.

Near the Spui Square you will find the Kalvertoren. This shopping center is located on the Kalverstraat and has approximately 30 different kinds of shops, where you can enjoy both fashion shopping and enjoy a nice meal. At the top of the Kalvertoren you will find a lunchroom, Blue Amsterdam, with an amazing view over Amsterdam and it’s floating flower market.

Zaanse Schans

The Zaanse Schans is a popular tourist destination near Amsterdam with several well preserved windmills with different functions located in close proximity to each other. This has ensured the Zaanse Schans is one of the more popular attractions in the Netherlands. An interesting note is that in different regions of the Netherlands you can also find different designs of windmills, so the Zaanse Schans has a sense of uniqueness to it. Here you can find several interesting sights, like the only remaining windmill in the world for making paint, a bakery museum, a clock museum, a distillery museum and the well renowned Zaanse museum. It’s a fun place to visit if you wish to spend a day on Dutch culture outside of Amsterdam.

Keukenhof

One of the most impressive and typically Dutch attractions in the Netherlands is the flowerpark the Keukenhof, which is a great place for a romantic stroll. The Netherlands is the biggest flower exporter of the world. And it is here at the Keukenhof where the Dutch floriculture sector exhibits their flowers to show what they have to offer, which results in huge beautifully created flower gardens. Each year you can see over 7 million planted flowers blossoming on over 320.000 square meters or 79 acres of land, located on the land of the Castle Keukenhof which was build in 1642. The Keukenhof is usually open in late March, April and begin May. So if you come visit the Netherlands for Kingsday then the flowers are likely to be in full blossom. The famous tulip fields of the Netherlands are located around the Keukenhof, so you can also take a biking, sailing or even flying tour in the surrounding areas.

Visiting the Keukenhof
Once a year there is a huge flower parade around the Keukenhof called the Bloemencorso. At Meet The Cities we recommend visiting this parade to see the carnival wagons filled with amazing flower creations. This flower parade will be on 20 April 2024.

The flowerpark the Keukenhof itself in all its beauty can be enjoyed for several months each year. In 2024 the Keukenhof will be open from 21 March 2024 until 12 May 2024.

Volendam

Volendam is a Dutch fishers village and a popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. Each region of the Netherlands has it’s own variant of traditional garments, but the traditional folk costumes of Volendam are the ones known world wide. So people come here to see and take pictures of people in traditional Dutch garments, or even wear those garments themselves. Volendam is also renowned for it’s exquisite fish restaurants, with the traditional local delicacy being smoked eel. At the harbor you can also rent a boat and spend a relaxing day sailing on the water. In the Netherlands Volendam is known as a singer’s town, as, despite being a relatively small village, Volendam is known for producing many Dutch folk and pop singers and having it’s own distinctive sound which is very popular in the Netherlands.

Madurodam

If you want to see all cool places in the Netherlands in a day and from a bird’s-eye view then you can in Madurodam. Madurodam is a miniature park that contains most landmarks of the Netherlands. The models in the park are made as accurate as possible and build on a 1:25 scale. The park also has many games for children related to historical events in the Netherlands.

Kinderdijk

The Kinderdijk is one of the most iconic and beautiful pieces of the Netherlands. When you think of the Netherlands, you think of windmills. And nowhere else can you find so many iconic windmills packed and working together as at Kinderdijk. Originally the watermills were build in the 15th century, but the current 19 windmills are mostly from the 18th century, operating together to pump the water upwards from the polders. The Netherlands has been draining land and managing water since the middle ages. The Kinderdijk is an historically important site as you can see how water was managed in the Netherlands from the middle ages up to modern times.

Trip to Brussels or Paris

You can spend weeks in Amsterdam and still discover more fun new things to do. But if you are going on an European city trip you don’t have to confine yourself to one city. Amsterdam is well connected with public transportation. Several high speed trains from Amsterdam go directly to Rotterdam, Brussels and Paris. For as cheap as 35 euros (2018) you can go from Amsterdam to Paris within three and a half hours of travel by train. For the smart tourist it’s certainly worth considering.