Comida Local

You might see these thick cut fries called patat or frites on menus, and traditionally they come served in a piping hot paper cone slathered with any manner of tasty toppings. Ask for 'patatje oorlog' for a dollop of peanut satay sauce, mayo and onions, or a 'patat speciaal' for a mix of curry ketchup, mayonnaise and onions.  

You can buy this delicious, caramel filled cookie everywhere. But if you want to try the authentic recipe from Gouda, visit Amsterdam's biggest open air food market, Albert Cuypmarkt! You can try it with or without chocolate. A tip: if you decide to take home some, place it on your coffee or tea mug for two minutes, and the caramel will melt inside!

According to statistics the Dutch are the tallest nation of the world. Do you know why is that? Because of the good quality milk and cheese they consume, full of calcium which helps the bones to grow! Visit a cheese shop to sample dozens of varieties of the traditional Gouda cheese, or order a cheese plate to accompany your beer, complete with fresh bread, spicy mustard and sweet appelstroop (caramelised apples turned into a delicious dipping sauce).

Even if Amsterdam isn't connected to the sea, don't forget about all the fishing villages of The Netherlands! You can try their speciality, the raw herring - it's served in fresh bread, with chopped onion and locally made pickled cucumber from the famous Amsterdam factory.