The top 5 snacks you must try when in Amsterdam

You can eat surprisingly well in Amsterdam as a vegetarian, with various restaurants offering veggie options if you do your research.

However, the best food I ate there was often more of a snack than a meal. Here are my top five vegetarian snacks in Amsterdam, and where you can get them on your next trip to the Dutch capital.

1. Poffertjes

These Danish delights shot right to the top of the list the moment I ate them. Sometimes known simply as “Dutch pancakes”, they are small discs of pancake batter cooked in a special pan.

You can get them nowadays with a plethora of toppings, but my personal favourite remains the traditional way- with warm, melted butter and icing sugar.

The best place I ate poffertjes was The Pancake Bakery, which isn’t far from Anne Frank’s House. The best bit about The Pancake Bakery is they also offer large pancakes as meals (in sweet and savoury form), so you could theoretically go there for every meal. Personally, it’s right at the top of the list of places I tell people to prioritise when they go to Amsterdam, and I’d make the journey back just for this restaurant.

2. Frites

Influenced strongly by their Belgian neighbours, you can find Frites shops all over the place in Amsterdam. There are a number of different toppings you can get, which makes them fully customisable, and, like poffertjes, something you can have multiple times.

I went for a simple Belgian mayo, which was divine.

3. Croquettes

These were a pleasant surprise. Vending machines around the city dispense golden, crispy, cheesy croquettes. They were a Euro when I went (they may be more now), and so were a cheap and cheerful snack to fill our bellies with before the next meal.

4. Tony’s Chocolonely

The first time I had Tony’s was in Amsterdam and since then it has exploded in Europe, particularly here in the UK. Tony’s makes up a large proportion of all chocolate I consume, as their ethics are some of the best in the business. (You can read about this on their website here), and it doesn’t hurt it’s delicious.

A fun experience you can have in Amsterdam is to make your own Tony’s bar in their flagship store. It’s more expensive than a usual bar, but you do get a unique souvenir or gift to take home- though admittedly not one that will last very long!

5. Cheese tasting

The Dutch are known for their cheeses, such as Edam and Gouda.

Getting your hands on any will be good regardless, I’m sure, but if you want to try some cheese samples for free, check out Cheese & More by Henri Willig Bloemenmarkt.

Due to travel restrictions, if you’re coming from the UK, you won’t be able to take any cheese home, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have your fill whilst there!

I hope this list proves useful on your travels and has given you inspiration for some snacks to try!

Let me know if you’ve tried any of the above. Where did you get your favourite snacks in Amsterdam? Have I missed anything really important? For me, I’m sad I didn’t get to try Stroopwaffel or Bitterballen locally. Both are priorities the next time I visit Holland.

Until next time, happy eating!