How to Eat Like a Dutchman
When our dialogue group first arrived to the Netherlands, we were all excited to experience Dutch cuisine. We spent many evenings strolling the streets, searching for Dutch cuisine. To our surprise, it was difficult to find an authentic Dutch restaurant. While searching for the food of the Netherlands, we began to notice different cuisines, even ones we had never seen in the United States. We quickly learned that eating like the Dutch is not only about experiencing the food of the Netherlands but trying different cuisines from around the world.
Although difficult to find, there are several food staples that the Netherlands are known for. Albert Heijn is the largest grocery store chain in the Netherlands. When you walk into an Albert Heijn, or any Dutch grocery store, you will find a variety of pre-packaged foods. I spoke to a local who told me that for lunch many people in the Netherlands enjoy a simple sandwich or some bread. He explained that these foods are quick and easy to find at an Albert Heijn. At Albert Heijn, ham and cheese are sold by the slice at grocery stores for you to quickly assemble a sandwich.
There are three food staples that the Dutch are famous for: Stroop waffles, gouda cheese, and krokett. In Amsterdam, we had the chance to see a stroopwafel made in front of us. A thin waffle is cooked in a waffle press and then cut in half. Carmel is sandwiched between both sides of the waffle. If you want to make your waffle extra sweet, you can request that it be covered in Nutella, a staple in the Netherlands. Fresh stroopwafels can be difficult to come by; you usually have to find them at a street market. However, many bakeries and grocery stores sell them pre-packaged. After discovering this, you won’t find me leaving a supermarket without a packet of stroop waffles!
Gouda is not only a cheese but also a city. During a free day, I took a trip to Gouda, the city where the cheese originated. We had the opportunity to see how gouda is made and learned about the different variations of the cheese. Many cheesemakers will create fun flavors of gouda, such as lavender, pesto, and sriracha. If you don’t have a chance to make it to Gouda while in the Netherlands, you can go to one of the many cheese shop located in nearly every Dutch city and pick up a wheel of Gouda.
The final Dutch food staple is a krokett. A krokett is a deep fried, breaded beef shaped like a cylinder. I’m a vegetarian and didn’t try a krokett, but many of my classmates enjoyed them. Oftentimes, you’ll find the krokett served as a sandwich. I’ve even seen variation of chicken, seafood, and vegetable croquette.
If you’re feeling very adventurous, stop by a Dutch seafood shop and ask to try herring. Herring is a fish and the Dutch eat it raw. The fish is 4-5 inches and served with a side of raw onion. The proper way of eating herring is to tilt your head back and eat the entire piece of fish at once. Although I didn’t try it, my classmates described as being very “slimy, salty, and fishy.” Herring may not sound appetizing, but many Dutch enjoy it and eat it regularly. If you’re looking to eat like a true Dutchman, then trying herring is a must.
After trying some herring, you may need something to wash down the fishy taste. In nearly every restaurant and grocery store in the Netherlands sells fresh squeezed orange juice. Most places will squeeze it in front of you or provide machines to let you do it yourself!
Another snack that the Dutch enjoy are friets, or as we call them in the United States, French Fries. However, the Dtuch enjoy eating their fries differently than we do in the United States. The Dutch took inspiration from Belgium when crafting their way of eating fries. If you go to any friet house in Holland, you’ll be served an envelope of fresh french fries. On top of the french fries, you’ll get to choose several different toppings. There are common sauces, such as ketchup, mustard, and mayo. However, you can try unique sauces, such as curry or truffle flavored ones. A common dipping sauce in the Netherlands is peanut sauce. We found that not only do the Dutch enjoy putting peanut sauce on their french fries, but they enjoy eating it with just about anything. You can often find stores and restaurants that sell peanut sauce with bread or vegetables. However, in my opinion, the best way to have peanut sauce is with french fries. So if you ever find yourself in Holland, be sure to ask for you friets with a side of peanut sauce!
The Netherlands has a large migrant population and as a result, there are a variety of international cuisines that you can try during your visit. I have had the opportunity to try Turkish, Israeli, and Moroccan food. The Netherlands also has several Indonesian and Surinamese restaurants, because both countries were once colonized by the Dutch. One of my favorite dishes that I have had in Holland was an coconut fried rice dish from an Indonesian restaurant in Rotterdam. Although I’ve found that these restaurants are often crowded, I’ve been told that they provide an authentic taste of the country’s cuisine. I came to the Netherlands expecting to experience their cuisine. However, I have been surprised and grateful for the opportunity to taste the foods of so many different cultures.
If you are planning to visit the Netherlands, take the opportunity to visit a Dutch supermarket and learn to enjoy their simple eating habits. Don’t forget to try Dutch staples, such as Stroop waffles and gouda cheese. When you’re ready to be more adventurous, make sure you get a taste of herring! But above all, be sure to take advantage of the many cuisines that the Netherlands has to offer. By doing so, you’ll find that you’ve had little taste of food from around the world that you wouldn’t be able to find in the United States.
