The cooking customs and habits of the Netherlands influence Dutch cuisine. The country’s location in the productive North Sea river delta of the European Plain, which gave rise to fishing, farming, and maritime trade as well as its historic colonial empire and the spice trade, has influenced its cuisine.
Not as well recognized as, say, Italian or French cooking, is Dutch cuisine. The Netherlands boasts a lot of delicious snacks and entrées. Don’t you think traveling and sampling new foods go together? So if you’re visiting the Netherlands, we’ve produced a list of 30 traditional Dutch foods you should taste while visiting.
‘Hollandse Nieuwe’ Haring
Herring that has been “soured”—a mild preserving agent—is still raw. It can be Dutch brined herring or raw herring in a light vinegar pickle. The marinade may also include sugar, herbs, spices, finely diced onion, cider, wine, or tea in addition to vinegar.
Stroopwafel
Two layers of sweet baked dough held together by caramel filling make up a stroopwafel, a thin, circular waffle cookie. Stroopwafels are a well-known Dutch dessert produced in Gouda, South Holland, the Netherlands, and are sold outside. They were first produced there.
Patat
Fries are commonly referred to as patat or patatje, respectively. Either a paper cone bag or a shallow white plastic dish is used to serve fries. To prevent your hands from becoming soiled with the sauce(s) as you pick at the fries with a tiny wooden pronged utensil, use the cone to shred the paper as you eat.
Poffertjes
A typical Dutch dessert made from batter is called a poffertje. They resemble tiny, fluffy pancakes and are produced with buckwheat flour and yeast. Poffertjes are typically served as a sweet dessert with butter, powdered sugar, and occasionally syrup or advocaat. There is a savory version made with gouda cheese, though.
Bitterballen
Bitterballen are a meat-based snack popular in the Netherlands. To make them, you make a very thick stew with lots of meat that has been thickened with roux and beef stock, chill the stew until it is solid, and then form the thick mixture into balls that are breaded and fried.
Drop
Traditional drops are small, round desserts prepared with boiling sugar and flavored syrup. In order to set, they are “dropped” onto a pan or baking sheet.
Hagelslag
Hagelslag is the name for the little candy pieces that are used to top buttered bread. They resemble sprinkles. Both kids and adults enjoy this traditional Dutch dish, which is eaten at meals or as a snack. Hagelslag is available in a wide range of tastes and hues, with chocolate being the most popular. It is much-liked in the Netherlands, Belgium, as well as in Suriname, the Dutch Antilles, and Indonesia, all of which were formerly Dutch colonies.
Oliebollen
Oliebollen are a popular wintertime treat in the Netherlands. Oliebollen, which means “Oil Balls” in English, are also referred to as Dutch Doughnuts. They are a type of fluffy bread that has been deep-fried and may or may not be stuffed with raisins to resemble balls.
Erwtensoep / snert
A substantial, smoky soup called Erwtensoep (pronounced Air-ten-soup) is made with green split peas, pork, carrots, onion, leeks, and celeriac (which is the root ball from a type of celery). Dutch split pea soup may alternatively be known as Snert or just Dutch split pea soup.
Stamppot
This Dutch national dish must be consumed at least once in your lifetime.
A simple and unassuming dish called stamppot is made of potatoes combined with various vegetables and typically topped with smoked sausage. But for some reason, these flavors work well together.
Rookworst
A smoked sausage. The Rookworst is a type of Dutch sausage in which ground beef is mixed with seasonings and salt before being put into a casing (originally made of intestine, but these days usually made of bovine collagen).
Dutch smoked sausages are typically made with pig, pork and beef, or pork and veal, but in recent years, rookworst produced with turkey has also become widely accessible in most Dutch grocery stores. Before being stuffed into the intestines of a pork animal, the flesh is usually spiced with saltpeter, nutmeg, and sugar.
Lekkerbekje / Kibbeling
Lekkerbek (or lekkerbekje) is the Dutch and Belgian name for a dish that is similar to kibbeling and consists of a full filet of breaded cod that is fried. Lekkerbek, which translates to “excellent beak,” is also eaten on the fly as sandwiches or as a whole meal with a lemon slice or rémoulade sauce, kibbeling-style.
Pannenkoeken
Dutch pancakes, or pannenkoeken, are among the top dishes tourists look for in Amsterdam. Since they pour egg-based batter onto a griddle and use it to make thin, round cakes, the Dutch are one of several nations with a strong pancake heritage.
Wentelteefjes
Wentelteefjes, a specialty of the Netherlands, are bread slices that have been dipped in a mixture of milk, eggs, and cinnamon before being fried in butter on both sides until they take on a crispy texture. They are often prepared and eaten for breakfast.
Huzarensalade
Sort of like a potato salad, but so much more, is the Dutch Hussars salad known as Hauzarensalade.
Snert of Erwtensoep
A substantial, smoky soup called Erwtensoep (pronounced Air-ten-soup) is made with green split peas, pork, carrots, onion, leeks, and celeriac (which is the root ball from a type of celery). Dutch split pea soup may alternatively be known as Snert or just Dutch split pea soup.
Asparagus
Rice flour can be used in place of regular flour to make this soup gluten-free. This soup is typically made with flour and cream. And for a vegan option, any cream made from plants can be used in place of the cream!
Appelmoes
Children and adults alike enjoy the traditional Dutch dish known as Appelmoes. It is excellent with kappuciners, with main courses, or with chips.
Saucijzenbroodjes en Worstenbroodjes
A puff pastry roll with seasoned meat inside. Typically, they are consumed hot.
Vla (Flip)
It is a nutritious spin on the traditional Dutch custard, vla! These are delicious and simple to make because they contain yogurt, jam, and creamy custard.
Speculaas
The Christmas season isn’t complete without speculaas (or speculoos) cookies in the Netherlands, Belgium, and some regions of Germany. Before baking, these crisp, spiced cookies are typically stamped or molded to impart a picture, such as the iconic windmill or the image of St. Nicholas.
Gevulde Speculaas
It is a typical Dutch spice that is comparable to pumpkin pie spice from the United States. Gevulde speculaas is an almond paste-filled speculaas cookie.
Exploring the culinary delights of the Netherlands is an absolute must for any food lover. From the traditional Dutch treats like stroopwafels and bitterballen to the hearty stamppot and the irresistible cheese varieties, the Netherlands offers a diverse range of flavors that are sure to tantalize your taste buds.
Netherlands has a lot to offer aside from its delicious delicacies, to discover more of this beautiful country; we have written an article about the best places to visit during your stay, we would recommend you our top picks of the Top 15 Places to Visit in The Netherlands.
So, whether you’re wandering through the charming streets of Amsterdam or venturing into the lesser-known towns, be sure to indulge in these top Netherlands foods for an authentic and unforgettable gastronomic experience. Bon appétit!
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