I am loving the Dutch snacks and is great for eating on the go. Here’s the selection of my favourite.
Stroopwafel
One of the classic Dutch sweet foods, the classic Stroopwafel. It is made out of two layers of dough with caramel in between then pressed together using a hot grill. Try to buy one freshly made, it is commonly available everywhere. If you buy them in a packet, try putting one over a hot cup of tea and coffee to heat it up so that the caramel becomes soft for a similar experience of buying one freshly cooked!
Haring
If you gut most of a herring then throw it in brine and allow it to pickle, what do you get? Haring! I like to think of this as the Dutch take on sashimi. The taste may not be for everyone as (no surprise) it is very fishy. I personally love the taste and regularly hunt for my fix of this very fishy snack. This snack is usually served with onions and pickled gherkin. Just don’t think about trying a few portions before a date.
Chocomel
One of the common drinks you hear what a typical Dutch person says they love is Chocomel or chocolate milk. Chocomel actually refers to the brand. The chocolate milk drink comes in different flavours, why not try them all?
Kibbeling
Throw a couple of battered fish into the fryer and you get this delicious treat. Amongst the fish stores and markets, you’ll always find this treat that is normally served with a garlic mayonnaise sauce.
Rookwurst
As with most of the European countries, the Dutch have their own sausage called Rookwurst. Rookwurst is made with ground meat and mixed in with salt and spices. It gets its traditionally smoky flavour from being cooked over smouldering wood chips. A great hangover cure as it’s nicely salted…trust me 😅
Fast food vending machines
If you’ve ever been to Japan then you will definitely have seen this. These coin-operated mechanical food dispensers are great for picking something on the go or if you want to view before you eat. I personally love these to get rid of odd coins before leaving town and chomp on some croquettes!
Bitterballen
If us Brits have Scotch Eggs then the Dutch have Bitterballen. These are deep-fried and crispy breaded balls with some kind of savoury filling. They are usually filled with beef but a variety of meats can be found inside. If you’re at a street food market then you should try a selection of sauces which makes a great accompaniment to this classic treat.
Surinamese Food
Surinam used to be a colony belonging to the Dutch and they brought with them their food culture. The food is very influenced by different Asian cultures such as Chinese, Javanese, Indian as well as the Carribean. I found that much of the popular Chinese dishes I am familiar had a different slant which made the more interesting to try! I thoroughly recommend trying a few different eateries as they will all be different!
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