Holland is not known for its cuisine. The reason being, the term 'traditional Dutch food' does not really exist. Locals usually indulge in a plate of fries, cheese, crave a lot of sandwiches and pancakes - meals and snacks you can easily get in Belgium or France.
My relationship with Dutch food is very complicated. I have my favourites, but I don't prefer most of the dishes as they are either too oily, sweet or salty. Yes, Dutch cuisine is not the healthiest so gaining weight seems inevitable if you do not control what you are eating here.
One of the most delicious snacks in Amsterdam are stroopwafels - two thin waffles filled with caramel. Although they are extremely sugary and addictive, you can’t call yourself a real expat if you don’t try them. My advice: soak them in a warm milk as they become much yummier!
On the contrary, I am not a big fan of drop so these Dutch liquorize flavored candies in different shapes are not my type of snacks I would go for. Surprisingly, hagelslag - chocolate sprinkles, the most important part of Dutch breakfast or lunch as eaten on bread, were never my favourite either. Although this combination sounds a bit weird, some expats find them very tasty.
Oil balls and speculaas
Now it’s time to introduce oliebollen - oil balls, eaten during funfairs or Christmas. These super oily fried dough balls served with powdered sugar are just way too yummy, especially when served with hot chocolate.
Clockwise, starting in the left top corner: hagelslag, stroopwafels, haring and drop | Images: Wikimedia Commons
Since I moved to Holland, I completely fell in love with speculaas - a type of biscuits. They are thick, crunchy, and often have a hint of nutmeg. If you love nutella, you will absolutely adore speculaas on a sandwich!
When it comes to savory, I personally don’t like Dutch cheese, neither yellow nor blue or red (yes, they really exist). Instead, I prefer digging into a plate full of Dutch pancakes – a perfect mixture of French crèpes and American pancakes – big and thick. Moreover, it happens that I snack on bitterballen - small, fried, bread-crumbed balls that contain a mixtures of veal and beef ragout to go with mustard.
Last but not least, it’s time to introduce you to my favourite dish – haring. I was quite skeptic to try this raw herring covered with onion, however when I finally got convinced to do so I’ve realized it simply tastes like a pickled herring. Yum!
To conclude, Holland has never been my food paradise, but the more food I try, the more I like it.
My relationship with Dutch food is very complicated. I have my favourites, but I don't prefer most of the dishes as they are either too oily, sweet or salty. Yes, Dutch cuisine is not the healthiest so gaining weight seems inevitable if you do not control what you are eating here.
One of the most delicious snacks in Amsterdam are stroopwafels - two thin waffles filled with caramel. Although they are extremely sugary and addictive, you can’t call yourself a real expat if you don’t try them. My advice: soak them in a warm milk as they become much yummier!
On the contrary, I am not a big fan of drop so these Dutch liquorize flavored candies in different shapes are not my type of snacks I would go for. Surprisingly, hagelslag - chocolate sprinkles, the most important part of Dutch breakfast or lunch as eaten on bread, were never my favourite either. Although this combination sounds a bit weird, some expats find them very tasty.
Oil balls and speculaas
Now it’s time to introduce oliebollen - oil balls, eaten during funfairs or Christmas. These super oily fried dough balls served with powdered sugar are just way too yummy, especially when served with hot chocolate.
Clockwise, starting in the left top corner: hagelslag, stroopwafels, haring and drop | Images: Wikimedia Commons
Since I moved to Holland, I completely fell in love with speculaas - a type of biscuits. They are thick, crunchy, and often have a hint of nutmeg. If you love nutella, you will absolutely adore speculaas on a sandwich!
When it comes to savory, I personally don’t like Dutch cheese, neither yellow nor blue or red (yes, they really exist). Instead, I prefer digging into a plate full of Dutch pancakes – a perfect mixture of French crèpes and American pancakes – big and thick. Moreover, it happens that I snack on bitterballen - small, fried, bread-crumbed balls that contain a mixtures of veal and beef ragout to go with mustard.
Last but not least, it’s time to introduce you to my favourite dish – haring. I was quite skeptic to try this raw herring covered with onion, however when I finally got convinced to do so I’ve realized it simply tastes like a pickled herring. Yum!
To conclude, Holland has never been my food paradise, but the more food I try, the more I like it.
