It is not possible to call the term ‘Dutch cuisine’ a jolly a quick fry. For sure, it’s taken a few centuries, but Amsterdam has transcended its geographic setting on a land best suited to spuds, cabbages, carrots and cows. Many of the famed greenhouses now grow a stunning array of more delicate and often organic ingredients, and the city’s well traveled chefs are taking full advantage of them. Of course, visitors should try the traditional grub. There are quite a few homegrown delicacies as herring, shrimp, cheese, asparagus or lamb. But rest assured, there’s also a dizzying array of more global and globally-inspired options.


The local medieval diet began as a holy trinity of fish, gruel and beer. The rich could always afford to indulge in the luxuries of taste. A culinary void allowed the spicy food of Indonesia to seduce the Dutch palate after World War II, when the former colony was granted independence and the Netherlands took in Indonesian immigrants. There is plenty of choice from the various cheap Surinamese-Indonesian-Chinese snack bars or visit the purveyors of the ‘rice table’, where every known fish, meat and vegetable is worked into a filling extravaganza.


Fondue a dish stolen from the Swiss because its shared pot appealed to the Dutch sense of the democratic Indo is the food of choice for any celebratory meals. Other waves of immigrants helped create a vortex of culinary diversity where traditional dishes from Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean are fully represented.


There is a choice to stroll and sniff with one’s own sustenance, there are a few tips. For rocket salad IJburg is the place to be in. Pijp is just right for econo-ethnic, cruise Haarlemmerstraat, Utrechtsestraat, Nieuwmarkt, the ‘Nine Streets’ area and Reguliersdwarsstraat. For the more posh atmosphere Leidseplein is the choice


Quality snack opportunities can be found in the form of fish , rolled ‘pizzas’ from Turkish bakeries, Dutch broodjes from bakers and butchers, and nice and spicy Surinamese broodjes from ‘Suri-Indo-Chin’ snack bars. A visit to an Albert Heijn grocery store is a must to get an insight into Dutch eating habits and, more importantly, buy a box of hagelslag.