Street Food & Snacks

• Raw Herring (Haring): Pickled raw herring served with chopped onions and pickles. It can be eaten whole by tilting your head back or served in soft bread as a herring sandwich. Street stall prices are around 4–6 euros.
• Fried Meatballs (Bitterballen): Crispy outside, soft inside, these meaty fried balls are served with mustard and are a classic pairing with beer in bars.
• Caramel Waffle (Stroopwafel): Two thin waffle layers with a caramel syrup filling. The most authentic way is to place it on top of a hot coffee cup to soften before eating.
• Dutch Fries (Patat): Thick-cut fries served with mayonnaise, curry sauce, or onion gravy. A portion costs around 3–5 euros.
• Fried Fish Nuggets (Kibbeling): Breaded and fried cod pieces served with garlic sauce, commonly found at fishing village stalls.

Home-Style & Main Dishes

• Pea Soup (Erwtensoep): A thick, essential winter soup, often served with sausage and rye bread.
• Mashed Potatoes with Vegetables (Stamppot): Mashed potatoes mixed with kale or sauerkraut, served with smoked sausage. It’s one of the most traditional national dishes.
• Dutch Pancakes (Pannenkoeken): Thin and large pancakes, available in both sweet and savory versions. Specialized shops serve generous portions.
• Mini Puffed Pancakes (Poffertjes): Small pancakes dusted with powdered sugar and served with butter, typically made fresh at market stalls.
• Indonesian Rice Table (Rijsttafel): A culinary legacy from the Dutch East Indies, featuring a dozen small dishes served with rice. Well worth trying.

Cheese & Desserts

• Gouda Cheese and Edam Cheese: Available in young, medium-aged, and aged varieties, with the aged ones having a richer flavor.
• Apple Pie (Appeltaart): Thick, fruit-filled pie, served with cream as a classic café afternoon treat.
• Fried Dough Balls (Oliebollen): Fried dough balls with raisins or apple bits, only available around New Year.

Where to Eat

• Amsterdam: Around Albert Cuyp Market, De Pijp neighborhood, and the Nine Streets area.
• Rotterdam: The ground floor of Markthal (Market Hall) gathers international snacks and seafood stalls.
• The Hague: Chinatown and the old town area have dense dining options, with slightly lower prices than Amsterdam.

Practical Tips

• Restaurants in the Netherlands offer cheaper lunches than dinners, so consider having your main meal at noon.
• Supermarkets (like Albert Heijn and Jumbo) offer reliable quality in ready-made meals, salads, and sandwiches, making them a good budget choice.
• Most market stalls only accept cash, so remember to bring small bills.