Famous Dutch Foodstuffs

The Netherlands doesn’t have the most famous cuisine in the world, but there is still some great food around.

For a sweet treat as you wander around Amsterdam, Rotterdam or any other city, look out for poffertjes. These fluffy pancakes are normally served with butter and icing sugar, but you can also get them with whipped cream, strawberries or syrup.

Those with a sweet tooth will also love “drop,” the Dutch term for licorice. The Netherlands has the highest rate of licorice consumption in the world at more than two kilograms per person, and you will find it everywhere.

Cheese is one of the nation’s staples, with hard varieties like gouda and edam the most popular. The Netherlands is also one of the biggest cheese exporters in the world.

You will also find hagelslag everywhere you go, a kind of sprinkle Dutch people put in sandwiches for breakfast or lunch. They come in different flavors, with chocolate the most popular alongside licorice and fruit flavors.

For a savory snack keep your eye out for rookworst, a kind of smoked sausage that tastes a bit like a frankfurter, but is slightly bigger with a crispier skin to munch on, and usually served with mustard.