What to eat in the Netherlands: Dutch food, dish by dish
Dutch food is practical rather than elaborate: bread and cheese, fried snacks, fish from the North Sea and winter stews of mashed potato and vegetables. It rewards a loose approach, with a snack in the street, a lunch of bread and a proper dinner. The country is also a big food trader, so imports and Indonesian dishes sit alongside the Dutch classics.
The short answer
- Order this first
- A fresh herring or a plate of bitterballen with mustard, then a stroopwafel warm from a market stall.
- When people eat
- Lunch is often a sandwich around midday, and dinner is early, from about 6 pm. Restaurants fill from 7 pm.
- Tipping
- Service is included. Round up or leave a few euros if the meal was good.
- Where to eat well
- The city food guides for Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht name places by neighborhood. Markets are good for snacks and cheese.
What to eat in the Netherlands
- BitterballenCrisp, deep-fried balls of meat ragout, served hot with mustard. They are bar food, ordered by the half dozen with a beer.Everywhere
- HaringCured herring eaten raw, usually from a street stand with chopped onion and pickles. New herring arrives each spring, and the traditional way is to hold the fish by its tail.Coast and cities
- PoffertjesSmall puffed pancakes made with buckwheat, served in a dozen with butter and icing sugar. Look for them at markets and tourist streets.Fairs and markets
- StroopwafelTwo thin waffles with a caramel syrup between. Best eaten warm from a market stall, or sat on top of a cup of coffee.Gouda and across the country
- ErwtensoepA thick pea soup with sausage and sometimes bacon, a winter meal in a bowl. Often served with rye bread.Everywhere, in winter
- StamppotMashed potato mixed with kale, endive or sauerkraut and served with a smoked sausage. It is the classic cold-weather dinner.Everywhere, in winter
- Gouda and aged cheeseDutch cheese ranges from mild young Gouda to hard, crystalline aged versions. Buy at a cheese shop or market and ask to taste first.Gouda and Alkmaar
- PannenkoekenLarge thin pancakes, sweet or savory, with bacon, cheese or syrup. A normal dinner for families rather than a dessert.Everywhere
- RijsttafelAn Indonesian spread of small dishes with rice, a legacy of colonial ties and now part of Dutch eating. Order it to share.Amsterdam and The Hague
- OliebollenDeep-fried dough balls dusted with sugar, sold from stalls around New Year's Eve and at winter markets.Winter and New Year
How the food changes across the Netherlands
The west and the coast
Herring, mussels in season, shrimp and smoked eel. The big cities in the west also hold the best Indonesian, Surinamese and Turkish food.
The cheese towns
Gouda, Edam and Alkmaar center on cheese, with market days and shops that sell aged wheels. Stroopwafels come from Gouda.
The south
Limburg and North Brabant eat differently: vlaai, a fruit pie, and richer stews, with Belgian-style beer and a slower meal. This is the Dutch idea of Burgundian eating.
The north and east
Rural, with sausage, rye bread, mustard soup and dairy. Fewer visitors go, and the food is simple and filling.
What to drink in the Netherlands
- BeerLager is the default, and small breweries and Trappist beers are easy to find. A bar usually has a short tap list and a longer bottle list.
- JeneverThe Dutch juniper spirit that gin came from, sold as young (jonge, drier) and old (oude, sweeter). Traditionally it is sipped from a tulip-shaped glass filled to the brim.
- CoffeeKoffie is a filter coffee with milk on request, usually served with a small biscuit. Third-wave coffee bars are common in the cities.
- Tea and hot chocolateTea is common in the afternoon, and chocolate milk, warm or cold, is a Dutch habit.
Where to eat in Netherlands, city by city
Amsterdam
Canals, museums and narrow brick houses, and the busiest city in the country. It suits first visits, museum lovers and anyone who wants the postcard version.
Order Stroopwafel
Rotterdam
Rebuilt after the war, so it is all modern architecture, harbor and markets. It suits people who like design and a city that feels lived in rather than preserved.
Order Kibbeling
Utrecht
A medieval center with two-level canals, a cathedral tower and a student crowd. It suits a slower, smaller city break and works well as a base for the whole country.
Order Bitterballen
How the Netherlands eats
- Meal timesBreakfast is bread and cheese. Lunch is quick, often a sandwich. Dinner starts early, around 6 pm, and most kitchens close by 10 pm.
- CoffeeA midmorning coffee and a biscuit is a ritual. Cafés open early and close in the evening.
- ReservationsBook restaurants in Amsterdam a few days ahead, and further for weekends. Smaller towns are easier.
- TippingService is included in the price. Rounding up is polite, and 5 to 10 per cent for good service is generous.
- Splitting the billThe Dutch split bills often, and staff expect it. Say at the start if you want separate payments.
Signs of a place to walk past
A menu with photos in eight languages on a main canal-side street.
A cheese shop that only sells flavored Gouda in plastic and won't let you taste.
A stroopwafel stand that sells them cold from a bag instead of made to order.
A restaurant that advertises pancakes, pizza, burgers and sushi on one board.
Food in Netherlands: questions people ask
What food is the Netherlands known for?
Cheese such as Gouda, herring, stroopwafels, bitterballen and poffertjes. Winter dishes include stamppot and pea soup. The country also has some of the best Indonesian food in Europe.
What is traditional Dutch food?
Stamppot, erwtensoep, pannenkoeken, herring and bitterballen. Traditional dinners are meat, potatoes and vegetables, simply cooked.
What should I try first in Amsterdam?
Herring from a stand, bitterballen in a bar and a warm stroopwafel at a market. The Amsterdam food guide names places.
Is Dutch food good for vegetarians?
Increasingly. Cities have many vegetarian and vegan places, and Indonesian and Middle Eastern restaurants help. Traditional Dutch dishes lean on meat and fish, so ask.
What do the Dutch eat for breakfast?
Bread with cheese, ham, chocolate sprinkles called hagelslag, or jam, with coffee or milk. Hotels also serve a buffet.
Is it rude not to tip?
No. Service is included. Rounding up is a courtesy and not expected.
Where can I try Indonesian food in the Netherlands?
Most larger cities have Indonesian restaurants, as the country has long ties with Indonesia. Amsterdam and The Hague are the best known, and the city food guides name places.