Dutch cuisine doesn't get the international attention of its neighbours, but a handful of local specialties are genuinely worth seeking out.
Stroopwafels — two thin waffles filled with warm caramel syrup — are best bought fresh from a market stall rather than a supermarket packet.
Bitterballen, crispy meat-filled snacks served with mustard, are a café staple best paired with a local beer.
Dutch cheese varieties like Gouda, Edam and Old Amsterdam are worth tasting at a working farm rather than a supermarket counter, where you'll usually get the story behind the cheese along with the sample.
For the adventurous, raw herring with onions and pickles is one of the country's oldest culinary traditions.
For dessert, a proper Dutch apple pie, thick-crusted and heavy on cinnamon, is hard to beat.
If you’re a food lover why not book a walking food tour of the city or get hands on and make and bake your very own stroopwaffels.
→ Continue planning: link to food tour, stroopwaffle workshop
