What to Eat in Amsterdam for Dinner: A Practical Guide

Updated 2026-10-25. Written with AI assistance and checked against our editorial rules; entry rules and prices change, so confirm with the official source before you travel.

For dinner in Amsterdam, try classic dishes like stamppot, herring and pancakes in the Jordaan, De Pijp or Oud-Zuid. These areas mix traditional eateries, markets and home-style restaurants. You'll find options for most tastes and dietary needs.

Quick answer: dishes to try in Amsterdam For Dinner

Traditional Dutch food is simple and filling. Local specialties often feature fish, pork and potatoes, and many places also serve vegetarian versions.

For something sweet after dinner, try poffertjes. These are small, fluffy pancakes served with butter and powdered sugar. For a savory snack with a drink, order cheese croquettes or a plate of Gouda cubes with mustard.

Popular dinner options include:

• Stamppot, mashed potatoes with kale and smoked sausage
• Herring, often served raw with onions and pickles
• Erwtensoep, a thick pea soup
• Dutch pancakes with sweet or savory toppings
• Kibbeling, fried pieces of fish
• You can find these dishes at markets, home-style restaurants and street food stalls

Must-try dishes

Rookworst

Rookworst is a smoked sausage, usually made from pork. Locals eat it with stamppot or pea soup, and it also works as a quick snack. You can find it at supermarkets, butchers and many casual cafes.

Stroopwafels

Stroopwafels are thin waffles with a caramel-like syrup filling. They make a sweet treat after dinner. Fresh, warm ones are sold at markets such as the Albert Cuyp Market.

Patatje oorlog

Patatje oorlog means "war fries." It is a plate of fries topped with mayonnaise, peanut sauce and raw chopped onions. Locals often eat it as a casual meal or a late snack. You can find it at most snack bars and fry shops.

• Other common toppings include curry ketchup.
• For the classic version, order it at a local fry shop.
• If you're visiting Amsterdam in October, consider combining it with a trip to one of the best destinations listed in Best Places to Travel in October: Where to Go and Why.

Kibbeling

Kibbeling is battered and fried pieces of white fish. It usually comes with a garlic or herb sauce. Locals eat it as a casual snack or light meal. You can buy it at fish stalls and markets.

Stamppot

Stamppot is a comforting, traditional Dutch dish. It mixes mashed potatoes with a vegetable, and it is often served with smoked sausage and mustard. Locals eat it most in the colder months.

What's in a Stamppot?

The best-known version is boerenkool, made with potatoes and curly kale. Other versions use sauerkraut (zuurkool) or carrots and onions (hutspot). The sausage is usually rookworst. The potatoes and vegetables are boiled, then mashed with butter and sometimes milk.

How to eat Stamppot like a local

• Add mustard for a tangy kick.
• Many locals make a small well in the mash and fill it with gravy.
• You may also see it served with crispy pork bits (spekjes) or pickles.
• Stamppot is usually a main course.
• Look for it at traditional Dutch restaurants and brown cafes, mostly in winter.

Herring

Herring is a staple of Dutch food. People eat it as a snack or starter.

Raw Herring

Raw herring is lightly salted and sold at fish stalls and markets across the city. The new season's herring, called Hollandse Nieuwe, arrives in early summer. It is usually served with chopped onions and pickles. Some people hold it by the tail and eat it whole. Others order it in a soft roll, called a broodje haring.

Pickled Herring

Pickled herring is common in supermarkets and fish shops. It is often served as a starter with bread.

• Try raw herring at a street market such as the Albert Cuyp Market.
• Visit a local fish stall to sample other seafood, such as smoked eel.
• Some people pair herring with a glass of jenever, a Dutch juniper spirit.
• Visit in early summer to try the new season's herring.

Pancakes

Pancakes make a relaxed dinner in Amsterdam. Dutch pancakes, or pannenkoeken, are large and thin, and they come with sweet or savory toppings. You'll find specialist pancake houses across the city.

Sweet Toppings

Popular sweet toppings include apple with cinnamon, powdered sugar and stroop, a thick Dutch syrup. Many places also offer fruit, whipped cream or chocolate.

Savory Options

For dinner, choose a savory pancake. Common toppings include cheese, ham, bacon (spek) and mushrooms.

• Try a pancake with Gouda for a rich, filling meal.
• The bacon pancake is a local favorite, often eaten with syrup on top.
• Add a green salad for a lighter meal.
• Many pancake houses offer vegetarian toppings such as mushrooms, spinach or leek.

Erwtensoep

Erwtensoep, also called snert, is a thick Dutch pea soup. It is made with split peas, vegetables and usually pork or smoked sausage. Locals eat it as a warming meal on cold days.

How to try it like a local

Traditional erwtensoep is so thick that a spoon can almost stand up in it. It is often served with rye bread topped with smoked bacon. Look for it at traditional restaurants and cafes in winter.

Where to find it

Brown cafes and home-style restaurants that serve traditional Dutch food are the best places to try it. Menus change by season, so check before you go.

• Pair it with rye bread for a full meal.
• Ask for a smaller portion if you want room for dessert.
• Ask your server about ingredients if you have dietary needs.
• Winter is the best time to find it. For more travel tips, including the best time to book flights, check out Best Time to Book Flights: A Practical Planning Guide.

Indonesian rijsttafel

Amsterdam is known for its Indonesian restaurants, a legacy of the Dutch colonial past. A rijsttafel, or "rice table," is a meal of many small dishes served with rice.

Where to Try Rijsttafel

You'll find Indonesian restaurants across the city, including in De Pijp and the center.

What to Expect

Expect a table full of small bowls. Typical dishes include chicken satay with peanut sauce, curries, vegetables, sambal and pickles. Some dishes can be spicy.

Tips for Enjoying Rijsttafel

• Go with a group so you can share more dishes.
• Ask which dishes are spicy before you start.
• Many restaurants offer a vegetarian rijsttafel.
• Book ahead at popular places, especially on weekends.

Frequently asked questions

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