
Amsterdam is an incredible city of contrasts. You simply don’t understand how in this city, just 100 meters away from the infamous Red Light District, you can find yourself in a residential area filled with tranquility and peace. It’s astonishing how a grocery store can be indistinguishable from a drug shop. Most importantly, all of this does not feel abnormal; on the contrary, it’s strange that amidst all this, you feel safer than, for example, in Ukraine.
But what surprised me even more was the delicious food that can only be found in the Netherlands.
So! Let’s go!

1) Herring (simply herring). It is served in bread with onions and pickles. Oh my, this is the most delicious herring I have ever had in my life. This soft bread with tender herring, free from the awful vinegar aftertaste, simply melts in your mouth, complemented by the crunch of pickles and onions – it’s just mind-blowing. How much does it cost? ~€2.5
2) Kibbeling (fried fish). This is mainly cod – usually served with a sauce (garlic or mayonnaise). It’s also finger-licking good. I don’t know how they do it, but the fish is so tender that you involuntarily let out sounds of “mmmm” with each little bite. How much does it cost? ~€3


3) Stroopwafel (two thin waffles glued together with caramel syrup) is wow and oh wow again. You bite into it and the caramel just stretches, and then suddenly you realize you’ve finished your fourth one 😅. (With coffee or tea, it’s even more delicious.) How much does it cost? ~€2 (in the supermarket)


4) Cheese! The cheese here is divine. Just don’t pay €18 for cheese tasting because in many cheese shops, you can try any cheese they offer with sauce for free. We happened to walk into the Amsterdam Cheese Museum where we tried almost every cheese, went downstairs to the production museum, took a photo, and all of this for €0. Address: Prinsengracht 114K. How much does it cost? ~€2–3 for 100g

5) Canned sausages! And no, this is not a joke 😂 Honestly, I don’t know why, but I saw these more often than regular sausages. They taste a bit sour and slippery, like that 🙂 How much does it cost? ~€1–2


6) In-wall café. I thought that Europe wouldn’t surprise me anymore since, at its core, city centers, supermarkets, and everything else seem very similar. But this thing just blew my mind. The idea is that when you’re in a hurry and want to grab a burger/nugget/roll quickly, you touch your card, open the door, grab the food, and go about your business. Behind this setup is a chef who constantly prepares new portions. So the food is warm and fresh. Just for this, it’s worth going to Amsterdam 😁 How much does it cost? ~€3–4

7) Indonesian cuisine is simply a MUST TRY. Since Indonesia is a former Dutch colony, the best national places outside of that country are found here. We went to Kantijl & Tijger, on the advice of a local resident. And yes, it was very tasty and spicy, just the way I like it. How much does it cost? For a portion ~€11–15

+(8) an additional eighth item is reserved for licorice. NEVER buy this national delight under any circumstances. When I read online about what to try in Amsterdam, they warned against it, but I thought I was smarter than everyone else, and regretfully, I was wrong. It’s really bad and not tasty at all. I don’t know who would actually enjoy it. So, consider this a warning 😂 How much does it cost? ~€1–2
That’s all, I hope this helps! 🙂
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