citytripo

Amsterdam

What to eat in Amsterdam

  • Stroopwafel
  • Haring
  • Bitterballen
  • Poffertjes

Data checked on October 4, 2026

Stroopwafel

Two thin waffles joined by caramel syrup. Fresh ones are made at market stalls, and a warm one is often rested on top of a coffee cup to soften.

Haring

Raw herring served with chopped onions and pickles at fish stalls, traditionally held by the tail. New-season herring appears in early summer.

Bitterballen

Deep-fried balls with a creamy beef filling, served with mustard and usually with a beer in a brown cafe. Let them cool first, because the inside is very hot.

Poffertjes

Small, fluffy pancakes cooked in a special pan and served with butter and powdered sugar. They are sold at markets and in pancake houses.

Rijsttafel

Rice with a spread of small Indonesian dishes, a legacy of the colonial era that gave the city a large Indonesian food scene. It is ordered as a set and works best shared.

Dutch cheese

Gouda, Edam and aged cheeses are cut for tasting in cheese shops and at market stalls. Try a young one and an aged one side by side.

Every itinerary on this site keeps a lunch break after 12:30, so there is room for a proper meal in the middle of the day.

Besides the sights

  • A canal cruise at duskCovered boats leave from several quays and take about an hour through the main canals. Evening trips show the bridges lit.
  • Cycle out along the AmstelRent a bike and follow the river south, past windmills and villages beyond the ring road. Keep to the bike paths and lock the bike every time you stop.
  • The free ferry to NDSMA free ferry crosses from behind Centraal to the old shipyard area in the north, where studios and street art fill the former industrial sites.
  • An evening in a brown cafeThese old pubs with dark wood and small tables suit a slow beer and a plate of bitterballen. The Jordaan has many of them.
  • A train to HaarlemHaarlem is about 20 minutes from Centraal by train, with a compact old centre, a large church and a quieter pace than Amsterdam.

Markets in the stop base

More about Amsterdam