Amsterdam Street Food: 9 Dishes You Must Try

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Revered the world over for its miles of canals, award winning museums, energetic nightlife and all round liberal approach to life, the Dutch capital is somewhere every traveler should visit at least once. From seedy De Wallen to the glory and granduer of the Rijksmuseum, whatever your interests, Amsterdam will satisfy them.

It will come as no surprise that Amsterdam’s food scene is just as eclectic as the city itself. World leading Michelin-starred bistros share the streets with traditional pancake houses and a staggering number of Argentine steakhouses. No matter your taste or budget, Amsterdam won’t leave you hungry.

For when you’re out exploring all Amsterdam has to offer (and there’s a lot), pausing for a quick bite or grabbing something to go is a great way to maximise sightseeing time. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of opportunites for that either. If anything, the problem is that there are too many opportunities. To solve that problem, we’ve brought together the very best of Amsterdam street food so you can spend less time searching and more time savouring.

The Best of Amsterdam Street Food

1. Frites, Glorious Frites

You’ll see them called “pommes frites”, “friets” and “patats” in different spots around the city; whatever you want to call them, frites are an Amsterdam street food staple. Just don’t call them “French fries”.

What sets Dutch frites apart from their French counterparts is the sauce. Every Amsterdam street food vendor selling them have dozens of industrial sized dispensers lined up on the wall. The traditional favorite, mayonnaise, is a must for your first time. When, not if, you go back for more, be bold and try something more exotic.

Green peppercorn, remoulade and sate (very similar to Malaysian satay) are some of the most popular. For the ultimate Amsterdam frite experience, opt for Patatje Oorlog, literally “war fries”. These come with a combination of mayonnaise and satay, topped off with diced onions.

Best place to try frites in Amsterdam

You’ll find stalls and shops selling Dutch frites on pretty much every street in central Amsterdam. We think they’re all good, but our absolute favorite is Frites du Nord at Market 27, a foodie haven in Amsterdam-Nord.

Being that little bit away from tourist centric Damrak and Dam Square, they cater mainly for locals which is always a good thing. The best way to get there is on one of the frequent free ferries which leave from the back of Centraal Station. If you don’t have time to venture out, head to Mannekenpis on Damrak.

2. Bitterballen

Another Dutch classic and a long time cornerstone of Amsterdam street food, bitterballen are The Netherland’s take on meatballs. There’s no spaghetti and pomodoro sauce here, the Dutch do meatballs very differently.

Made with beef or veal, bitterballen start off as a thick stew which is cooled then rolled into small, bitesize balls. They’re then coated with a thick breadcrumb batter before being deep fried and served hot, often along with a mustard dip.

Best place to try bitterballen in Amsterdam

As one of the most popular Amsterdam street foods, it’s not hard to find a delicious portion of bitterballen. Our top recommendation is to head to Winkel 43 on the Noordermarkt in Jordaan, Amsterdam’s historic Jewish quarter. They’re open late every night and, in summer, their outdoor seating is a gem for people watching.

3. Herring

Just 25-kilometers from the North Sea, fresh seafood is always on the menu in Amsterdam. With The Netherlands’ long seafaring history, its only fitting that the next dish on our list of the best Amsterdam street food hails from water.

There’s no denying that to many, herring might not have quite the same appeal as frites or bitterballen. But as the old saying goes, when in Rome. Give it a try and we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Food stalls in Amsterdam serve their herring in bite sized chunks with a garnish of onions and pickles and, despite popular belief, the fish is not served raw.

Best place to try herring in Amsterdam

You’ll come across food stalls selling herring all over Amsterdam, quite often at the canal side. Our number one pick is Frens Haringhandel, right next to the Flower Market on Koningsplein.

4. Bamischijf

You may be surprised to find a Indonesian inspired dish appearing on a list of Amsterdam street food, but make no mistake; Bamischijf is as Dutch as windmills. Until 1945, what is now Indonesia was the Dutch East Indies, so it makes sense that Dutch cuisine is heavily influenced by Asian flavors.

Bamischijf are breaded, deep-fried slices of bami, known in Indonesia as mie goreng. To make them, noodles are stir fried with meat, egg, vegetable and spices before being formed into a roll and sliced to be fried. Chicken, beef and prawn are the most commonly used meats, but meatballs can also be used.

Best place to try Bamischijf in Amsterdam

Slightly harder to track down than some of our other favourite Amsterdam street foods, the best place for a delicious bamischijf is Smullers. They have five locations across the city, including two food stalls in Centraal Station.

5. Pannenkoeken

If there’s one food we all associate with The Netherlands, it’s pancakes. Pannenkoeken are the most famous of all Dutch pancakes, distinquished by their large diameter and for being much thinner than most pancakes.

Available as sweet or savoury treats, pancake houses have no end of flavour combinations to choose from, making them the ideal Amsterdam street food no matter the time of day. Savoury favorites include bacon and cheese, whilst sweet variations are often served with treacle, apple sauce or powdered sugar.

Best place to try Pannenkoeken in Amsterdam

Given how many amazing pancake houses there are in Amsterdam, choosing one to recommend is almost impossible. But if we had to pick just one, it would always be Upstairs Pancakes. Housed in a stunning 16th century townhouse on Grimburgwal canal, they’ve been dishing up delicious pancakes since 1961.

6. Appeltaart

One thing’s for sure when it comes to appeltart: it isn’t as American as apple pie. Appeltaart has been a staple of Dutch cuisine since the Middle Ages and, whilst there are many similarities with the classic apple pie we all know and love, as always, the Dutch do it differently (and better if you ask us).

Filled deep with sliced apples and covered with lattice pastry, appeltaart can be served hot or cold. For a truly traditional experience, cover yours with a generous helping of whipped cream.

Best place to try Appletaart in Amsterdam

Appeltaart may be some of the most popular Amsterdam street food, but there is no contest as to where to find the best slice. Head right on back to Jordaan and Winkel 43.

7. Oliebollen

My favorite of our Amsterdam street food staples, admittedly for the name, Oliebollen are The Netherlands’ answer to beignets. Decedantly indulgent, these deep fried balls of dough are set apart by their raisin filling.

Although they’re available year round, Oliebollen are traditionally eaten during the festive period, particularly on New Year’s Eve. It’s thought that they were first introduced by Germanic tribes, before being popularised by Jewish immigrants who served them in place of sufganiyot, a traditional Hanukkah dish.

Best place to try Oliebollen in Amsterdam

Around Christmas and New Year, Oliebollen stalls pop up all over Amsterdam, especially at Christmas markets. Many local bakeries serve them all year round; our favorite is De Bakkerszonen, one street south of Oosterpark.

8. Hagelslag

Undeniably one of the more unusual Dutch dishes, Hagelslag are a popular breakfast food across The Netherlands. Simple, sweet and surprisingly tasty, they are heavily buttered sliced bread topped with chocolate sprinkles.

Rarely found outside the country, it’s estimated that 750,000 hagelslags are eaten in The Netherlands every day. With that in mind, they had to make an appearance on our list of the best Amsterdam street food.

Best place to try Hagelslag in Amsterdam

Many Amsterdam hotels serve hagelslag for breakfast. If not, or if you’re craving a sugar hit later in the day, head to any Albert Heijn supermarket to grab a slice to go.

9. Stroopwafels

Invented in Gouda in the 18th century, stroopwafels quickly became synonymous with The Netherlands. These thin, round cookies, pressed in a waffle iron to give them their distinctive bumpy texture, are filled with a sweet, sugary syrup.

Plain stroopwafels are the most traditional variety, but today you’ll often find them with lavish toppings. Fudge pieces, nuts, fudge, crumbled cookie pieces and marshmallows are some of the most popular.

Best place to try Stroopwafels in Amsterdam

Wherever you are in Amsterdam, you’ll never be more than a few steps from a stroopwafel. Every supermarket and corner shop has a selection on sale, as do many bars and hotels. Store bought stroopwafels are always tasty, but to do one better, head to Van Wonderen Stroopwafels on Kalverstraat, just steps from De Wallen.

They have more varieties than you imagined existed. When you get hooked, which you inevitably will, the good news is you can order their delicious sweet treats online for delivery to almost anywhere in the world.

Travel tip: If your time in Amsterdam is tight, this 2 hour foodie walking tour is the perfect way to pack in as much Amsterdam street food to your itinerary as possible.

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