From outdoor markets to indoor food halls, and from seasonal stalls to all-year-round takeaway shops, Amsterdam is brimming with places to enjoy its street food. Whether you decide to opt for old-school Dutch snacks or international imports, just make sure you check the weather forecast. Street-side eating in Holland sometimes requires a raincoat!
Compared with many countries, the Netherlands isn’t well known for its street food. And indeed, we don’t boast the hawker stalls of Singapore or the food trucks of Portland. But that’s not to say there isn’t plenty of great street food to be found – especially in Amsterdam – when you know where to look for it.
The city’s markets are a great place to start. Selling not just fresh fruit and veg or huge wheels of cheese, Amsterdam’s markets are full of stalls selling ready-to-eat snacks – from savory spring rolls to sweet pastries (more on both of those later). If the Dutch weather isn’t on your side (and it frequently isn’t), head to the Foodhallen in Amsterdam West, where you’ll find dozens of stands serving everything from Mexican tacos to Dutch meatballs. This converted tram depot has been a huge hit with both locals and tourists alike since it opened in 2014 – not least because it’s fully covered and heated. (Plus: the food.)
And finally, you don’t have to visit a street-side stall to eat street food: plenty of shops in Amsterdam sell excellent fare to take away to a nearby park. But once you’ve located your vendor of choice, what to order? We’ve collated our must-try favorites – whether they’re classic Dutch or international in flavor – so you can get your street food fix.
Herring
The Netherlands has a long coastline relative to its small size, so it’s no surprise that fish is a typically Dutch snack – and herring is the clear national favorite. The arrival of the Hollandse Nieuwe (“new herring”) in June every year is an event in itself, with thousands of people eager to taste the first catch of the herring season. And all year round, there are fish stalls and fishmongers all over the city selling raw, brined herring.
But one debate is certain to get every Dutch person talking: what’s the best way to eat herring? There’s the “Amsterdam way” means the herring is sliced into small pieces, topped with raw onion, and eaten with a toothpick (preferably with a Dutch flag on top!). The “Rotterdam way” involves tipping your head back and lowering the entire fish into your mouth. How elegant!
Kibbeling
If raw, brined fish isn’t to your taste, how about the crispy fried variety? Sold at most of the same fish stalls and shops as herring, kibbeling is essentially small pieces of white fish, battered, and deep-fried to golden deliciousness. Dip it into a mayo-heavy sauce on the side for maximum Dutch seaside effect.
Patatje Oorlog
Whether you call them fries or chips, the Dutch are particularly good at frying potatoes till they’re crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle. But don’t make the mistake of ordering yours with tomato ketchup. Instead, go to one of the patat stands and ask for oorlog. Translating as “war fries”, they come with mayonnaise, diced raw onions, and peanut/satay sauce (that’s the Indonesian influence). You can’t beat it at the end of a night out.
Poffertjes
Poffertjes are miniature fluffy Dutch pancakes, traditionally prepared with yeast and buckwheat flour using a special cast-iron pan with tiny hollows in which to pour the batter. They became known as poffertjes because they puff up during the cooking process. Eat them freshly made at one of the markets, served with icing sugar that melts all over them. Magical.
Insider’s tip: Prefer a sit-down pancake experience? Check out our list of where to find the best breakfast in Amsterdam!
Roti rolls
The Dutch famously gave up New York (formerly New Amsterdam) to the British in the 17th century in exchange for Suriname. And although its imperial powers dwindled over the centuries, the Netherlands held onto Suriname (plus a few other Caribbean islands) until quite recently. All this to explain why, when we talk about roti in Amsterdam, we mean the Surinamese specialty. This flaky flatbread is served with a sauce-heavy curry (usually chicken), spiced potatoes, boiled egg, and kousenband (long and stringy green beans). Roll it all up together, and you’ve got a roti roll: a cheap and satisfying street-food lunch that packs a punch when it comes to flavour.
Turkish pizza
Foodie influences from afar didn’t stop at the Dutch colonies. The Netherlands has seen significant immigration from Turkey and the Middle East in recent decades, and that’s given rise to some pretty outstanding kebab shops. But instead of ordering the doner kebab, which you might find in Manchester or Berlin, try the lahmacun – commonly known in Amsterdam as Turkse pizza (Turkish pizza). It’s a wafer thin dough topped with minced meat, vegetables, herbs, and spices – baked until crisp and then rolled up with salad, garlic sauce, chili sauce, and (optional depending on the severity of your hangover) kebab meat. This delicious street food will generally come wrapped in aluminum foil for ease-of-eating, and it’ll keep you sated for several hours.
Stroopwafels
Stroopwafels (syrup waffles) may now be ubiquitous at Starbucks the world over, but they started in the Netherlands first. Stroopwafel literally means “syrup waffle” and is essentially a spiced wafer, split in half and sandwiched with a layer of caramel. They come from Gouda originally – just like the cheese. Until you’ve tasted a freshly pressed stroopwafel from the market, still oozing with caramel goodness, you haven’t lived. For the fresh, warm, real-deal variety, take a trip to Lanskroon bakery, the Albert Cuypmarkt, or the Lindengracht Market.
Oliebollen
Oliebollen (literally translating as oil balls) are an annual ritual in the Netherlands: akin to doughnuts or beignets and liberally dusted with icing sugar, you can buy them from bakeries or mobile trucks in the run up to the festive season. (Which seems to get earlier every year – we spotted the oliebollen trucks as early as September last year!) A not-to-be-missed guilty pleasure.
Loempias
While you don’t see many of the classic Asian street food snacks much in the Netherlands, loempias are the exception. Crispy fried spring rolls filled with glass noodles, veggies, shrimp, or meat are ubiquitous at Amsterdam’s markets and food festivals. Dip them in sweet chili sauce for a tasty tussendoortje (snack between meals).
Join a local expert for delicious bites on our Ultimate Amsterdam Food & History Tour! The rich culinary culture of the Netherlands goes hand in hand with its history, as you’ll taste for yourself as you explore three of Amsterdam’s most picturesque neighborhoods – street food included!
British by birth and Dutch by choice, Vicky Hampton is a food writer who has lived and worked in Amsterdam since 2006. She’s written for publications including The Guardian, New York Times and Michelin Guide, plus her own website, amsterdamfoodie.nl. Follow her on Instagram @amsterdamfoodie or @a.foodie.abroad when on her digital nomad travels.