Top 10 foods with recipes

Food & Drink

Top 10 Dutch food – with recipes

Do you know your stamppot from your tompouce? Treat your tastebuds to some delicious Dutch recipes with these top 10 foods to try in the Netherlands.

Dutch food
writer

Updated 16-9-2024

Dutch cuisine might not be as well known as its European counterparts, but you’d be surprised just how scrumptious the food can be in the Netherlands. From the sweet and savory to the darn right crazy, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into (literally).

Just take a look at these lekkere Dutch foods, with recipes to try at home:

Flink

Empty cupboards but no time to go shopping? Flink offers all your favorite supermarket products at supermarket prices, delivered directly to your door. Whatever you need – food items, toiletries, or stationery, get it delivered in minutes with Flink.

1. Stamppot

This might not be the most sophisticated dish you will come across in the Netherlands, but you will certainly be grateful for it during those cold winter evenings. Literally translating as ‘mash pot’, stamppot is the ultimate comfort food and involves mashing together potatoes with other vegetables, and serving it with meat and gravy.

As stampot is basically the category name, there are many varieties you can try, including boerenkool (kale), zuurkool (sauerkraut), hutspot (onions and carrots), rauwe andijvie (endive), stamppot hete bliksem (onions, and sweet and sour apples). Nutritious, delicious, and easy to make, stamppot is undoubtedly one of the most popular Dutch foods you will find.

Typical dutch dish zuurkool with sauerkraut, bacon, smoked sausage and gravy on a rustic blue tablecloth.
Photo: venemama/Getty Images

Make your own stamppot

2. Erwtensoep

Essentially a meal in itself, erwtensoep is a thick pea soup­ – so thick, in fact, that some say you should be able to leave a spoon standing up in it!

Made with dried split green peas, leek, celeriac, carrots, smoked sausage, and bacon, the dish is traditionally served with a piece of rye bread (roggebrood), topped with butter and smoked bacon (katenspek).

Erwtensoep is usually a popular choice during the cold winter months. In fact, you will often see ice skaters along the frozen canals warming themselves up with a steaming hot mug of snert – another name for this tasty soup.

Make your own erwtensoep

3. Hachee

Hailing from the French word for chopping (hacher), hachee is a hearty Dutch stew consisting of beef and caramelized onions, cooked slowly for tenderness.

The dish is thought to date back to medieval times when meat was reused and cooked in a Dutch oven, along with whatever vegetables were available. Wine or vinegar is added to create a thick gravy, as well as cloves and bay leaves for the taste.

Hachee remains a much-loved dish in the Netherlands and a firm family favorite during the colder winter months. It’s served with white rice or mashed potatoes, sometimes with a side of boiled red cabbage (rodekool).

Hachee is typically served with mashed potatoes and red cabbage.
Photo: FinFinz/Getty Images

Make your own hachee

4. Kapucijners met spek

A delicious old-fashioned regional dish, kapucijners met spek (capuchins with bacon) is undoubtedly the epitome of Dutch comfort food. This beloved dish combines tender capuchin beans with bacon and pickles, resulting in a delicious blend of earthy and smoky flavors. And for the ultimate umami flavor, you top it off with a spoonful of stroop (syrup).

Depending on the region, you’ll find numerous variants of this dish. For example, in Amsterdam, they’ll serve it with extra onions (Amsterdamse uitjes) and piccalilly, and in Drenthe, they switch out the capuchins for brown beans (bruine bonen).

Make your own kapucijners met spek

5. Pannenkoeken

Pannenkoeken have remained a staple of local cuisine in the Netherlands for centuries, and it’s not hard to see why. These hearty Dutch pancakes can be topped with sweet or savory ingredients; such as bacon, salmon, apple, cheese, chocolate, powdered sugar, and syrup.

Don’t mistake them for the American or Scotch variety; Dutch pancakes are similar to the French ones, in that they’re thin and huge! As a result, they can be enjoyed as a main course for lunch or dinner.

Dutch pancake with bacon and syrup

Pannenkoeken are made from a simple batter of eggs, milk, flour (traditionally buckwheat flour), and a pinch of salt. They are then cooked quickly over a pan on high heat and flipped until golden. Fortunately, there are countless pancake houses and ships dotted all over the Netherlands, meaning you are never far away from your next big feast.

Make your own pannenkoeken

6. Broodje gehakt

Dive into Dutch street food culture with the irresistible broodje gehakt (meatball sandwich). This savory delight features a regular meatball grilled to perfection, nestled in a soft bun, and topped with lots of mayo or mustard. Whether enjoyed in your car on the go or at a bustling market, it’s an indulgence that captures the heart and soul of Dutch comfort food.

Make your own broodje gehakt

7. Poffertjes

If you can’t quite manage a pannenkoeken, then why not have the next best thing: poffertjes.

Made with yeast and buckwheat flour, these small, fluffy pancakes have a light and spongy texture and are a popular food at Dutch festivals and events. Food stalls usually serve them warm on a piece of cardboard paper with powdered sugar, butter, or syrup (stroop).

They are cooked in special poffertjes pans, which have lots of shallow indentations in them. But if you’re making them at home, you can simply drop small spoonfuls of the batter onto a frying pan or skillet and carefully turn them over to cook the other side.

chef flipping poffertjes

Make your own poffertjes

Allianz Care

Moving country doesn’t just mean a change of scene – your diet usually changes, too. Trying new recipes, dining out, and experiencing another country’s cuisine is exciting, but what about your digestive system? Read Allianz Care’s report on their Expat gut health survey to understand how moving abroad affects nutrition.

8. Boterkoek

Easy to make and delicious to eat, Dutch boterkoek (butter cake) is one of the sweetest delicacies you will find in the Netherlands. Made with butter, sugar, and flour, this dairy delight is sometimes filled with almond paste to give it more flavor. It can also include vanilla, salt, or lemon zest, depending on preference.

Due to its dense consistency and rich taste, it usually comes in small pieces and is best with a steaming cup of coffee (koffie). Lekker!

Make your own boterkoek

9. Appeltaart

The Dutch have been enjoying appeltaart (or apple pie) for centuries. In fact, the first printed cookbook dating back to 1514 contains a recipe for one.

An appeltaart is a deep pie, filled with slices of apple mixed with sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and sometimes raisins or currants. Traditionally, the top of the pie is an attractive lattice of pastry strips; which allows you to see the delicious filling below. This heavenly dessert is even better with a generous serving of whipped cream (slagroom) and a cup of coffee.

Dutch Appeltaart

Make your own appeltaart

Wanted: volunteer bakers

In collaboration with the Food Bank, pastry platform Gebakplaats wants to surprise as many children as possible with a delicious cake on their birthday, and is looking for volunteers. If you’re great at baking and have some time to spare, why not sign up? Because every child deserves a cake on their birthday!

10. Tompouce

Indulge in the Dutch pastry classic, the tompouce. This elegant and much-beloved treat is a true delight for the senses, featuring layers of flaky puff pastry, generously filled with creamy custard, and topped with vibrant pink icing.

Loved by locals and visitors alike, the tompouce is a versatile treat, enjoyed during festive celebrations (e.g., King’s Day) or as a sweet indulgence any time of day. Its timeless appeal lies in its simplicity and irresistible flavor combination, making it a beloved symbol of Dutch culinary tradition (and not at all similar to the French mille feuille).

Make your own tompouce

Honorable mention

Try the Dutch street favorite rauwe haring met ui – herring with chopped onions. This classic dish is deeply ingrained in Dutch culture, starring fresh herring fillets and a generous portion of finely chopped onions.

Widely enjoyed as a casual snack or quick bite on bustling streets, haring met ui offers a delightful taste of tradition with its simple yet satisfying combination of flavors. Cherished for its delicious simplicity, this typical Dutch food offers a taste of tradition with every bite.

Person sitting by the side of the gracht, holding a paper plate with pieces of raw herring, onions, pickles, and a little Dutch flag.
Photo: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Now that you’ve learned about some of the culinary delights of the Netherlands (and how to make them!), you may be wondering how moving abroad affects your digestive health. According to the Allianz Care Expat gut health survey report, many internationals find they need to adapt to eating out more, cooking less, and trying new ingredients. These changes can lead to digestion issues and increased gut-related symptoms.

The survey, which took responses from 3,000 expats of several different nationalities and resident countries, revealed that 77% reported a negative impact on their daily lives due to digestive symptoms. Additionally, expats often eat more processed and convenience food than in their home country, and find it difficult to source familiar ingredients. The insights in the report can help you enjoy your new country’s cuisine while maintaining a healthy digestive system.

Author

Sophie Pettit

About the author

Born and raised in the UK, Sophie is an adventurous editor and journalist. Before moving to the Netherlands, she spent eight years living in Hong Kong, heading up one of the city’s biggest lifestyle websites and exploring Southeast Asia at any given chance.

Over the past decade, she has written for numerous lifestyle and travel publications, including Time OutCulture TripLocaliiz, and Discovery.

Editor's picks