Welcome to the Dutch Food Dictionary, your guide to 96 tasty Dutch foods! The Netherlands is famous for its original meals, snacks, and sweet treats. From crispy kroketten to soft poffertjes, and from hearty stamppot to the sweet stroopwafel, there’s something for everyone to love.
This list includes Dutch breakfasts, lunches, snacks, drinks, and dinners. Each food comes with a simple description to help you understand what it is, what it tastes like, and why it’s special. Whether you’re traveling to the Netherlands or just curious about Dutch cuisine, this guide will help you discover all the must-try dishes.
Ready to explore? Let’s go!
12 Uurtje
A traditional Dutch lunch plate featuring a slice of bread with ham or cheese, a small cup of soup, and often a kroket (croquette). It's a diverse and satisfying midday meal.
Albert Heijn Coffee
Coffee from Albert Heijn, a popular Dutch supermarket chain, known for its rich flavor and quality, providing a quick caffeine boost to start the day.
Andijvie Stamppot
A traditional Dutch dish made by mashing potatoes with endive (andijvie), often served with bacon or sausage. It's a hearty meal, especially popular during colder months.
Anijs Hagel
Anise-flavored sugar sprinkles that Dutch people traditionally put on buttered bread, offering a sweet and slightly spicy taste for breakfast.
Appeltaart
Dutch apple pie featuring a buttery crust filled with sweet, cinnamon-spiced apples. It's a beloved dessert, often enjoyed with whipped cream.
Appelflap
A triangular puff pastry filled with spiced apple pieces, sometimes including raisins, and baked until golden brown. It's a popular treat for breakfast or with coffee.
Appelstroop
A thick, dark syrup made from concentrated apple juice, commonly spread on bread or used as a sweetener in various dishes.
Appelstroop met Kaas
A combination of apple syrup and cheese on bread, blending sweet and savory flavors for a unique Dutch snack.
Aspergesoep
A creamy asparagus soup, often made with white asparagus, which is a delicacy in the Netherlands, especially during spring.
AVG
An acronym for "Aardappelen, Vlees, Groente," meaning potatoes, meat, and vegetables. It's a classic Dutch dinner format, emphasizing simplicity and balance.
AVG Gehaktbal
A variation of the AVG meal featuring a seasoned meatball (gehaktbal) as the meat component, served alongside potatoes and vegetables.
Bami
A Dutch-Indonesian snack where bami (noodles) are formed into a rectangular shape, breaded, and deep-fried, often served with a dipping sauce.
Beschuit met Kaas
A Dutch rusk (beschuit) topped with cheese, combining a crunchy texture with the savory taste of Dutch cheese, commonly enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack.
Bitterballen
Deep-fried, breaded balls filled with a savory ragout, typically made of beef or veal. They're a popular snack, often served with mustard.
Boerenkool Stamppot
A traditional Dutch dish made by mashing potatoes with curly kale (boerenkool), usually served with smoked sausage (rookworst) and gravy.
Bossche Bol
A large, round pastry from the city of 's-Hertogenbosch, filled with whipped cream and coated with a layer of dark chocolate.
Boterkoek
A rich, buttery cake with a dense texture, made primarily from butter, sugar, and flour. It's a traditional Dutch treat, often enjoyed with coffee or tea.
Braadworst met Bloemkool
A meal featuring braadworst (a type of Dutch sausage) served with cauliflower (bloemkool), typically accompanied by potatoes and gravy.
Brinta
A traditional Dutch whole-grain wheat porridge, known for its smooth texture and nutritional value, often enjoyed warm with milk for breakfast.
Brood met Melk Vlokken
Slices of bread topped with butter and milk chocolate flakes (melk vlokken), a sweet breakfast or snack option popular in the Netherlands.
Brood met Schuddebuikjes
Bread topped with butter and small spiced biscuit crumbs known as schuddebuikjes, offering a crunchy and flavorful start to the day.
Brood met Speculaas
Bread spread with butter and topped with speculaas, a spiced biscuit, combining soft and crunchy textures with warm spices.
Broodje Filet Americain
A sandwich made with filet americain, a seasoned raw beef spread, often garnished with onions and sometimes capers or pickles.
Broodje Fricandeau
A sandwich featuring thin slices of fricandeau, which is roasted lean pork, typically served cold with mustard or other condiments.
Broodje Gezond
Literally translating to "healthy sandwich," it typically includes fresh ingredients like lettuce, tomato, cucumber, cheese, and sometimes ham or egg.
Broodje Hagelslag Puur
A sandwich made with dark chocolate sprinkles (hagelslag puur) on buttered bread, a popular Dutch breakfast or snack.
Broodje Kroket
A sandwich containing a kroket (croquette), which is a deep-fried roll with a meat ragout filling, often served with mustard.
Broodje met Kaas
A simple sandwich featuring slices of Dutch cheese on fresh bread, sometimes complemented with butter or mustard.
Broodje Unox
A hot dog made with a Unox sausage, a well-known Dutch brand, typically served in a soft bun with condiments like mustard or ketchup.
Brosse Eierkoek
A soft, round, and slightly sweet cake made with eggs, sugar, and flour, often enjoyed as a light snack or breakfast item.
Chocomel
A popular Dutch chocolate milk beverage known for its rich, creamy texture and sweet chocolate flavor. It can be enjoyed hot or cold, often served as a comforting drink during winter.
Crompouce
A modern twist on the classic tompouce, the crompouce is a combination of a croissant and a tompouce. It has the flaky layers of a croissant with the signature pink icing and custard filling of a tompouce.
De Muur
"De Muur" refers to a vending wall where hot Dutch snacks like kroketten and frikandellen can be purchased. Frietjes (fries) are often served alongside these fast-food treats, making for a fun and interactive dining experience.
Discodel
A quirky Dutch snack consisting of a fried minced meat patty topped with colorful candy sprinkles (disco dip), often served with fries and dipping sauces.
Dutch Apple
A reference to the popular Dutch apple varieties, such as Elstar or Goudreinet, known for their balance of sweetness and tartness. These apples are often used in Dutch apple pie (appeltaart).
Dutch Buffet
A buffet featuring a wide selection of traditional Dutch dishes, such as bitterballen, kroketten, stamppot, and a variety of sweets like poffertjes and stroopwafels.
Dutch Water
The Netherlands is known for its clean, high-quality tap water, which is safe and delicious to drink. Dutch water is often preferred over bottled water due to its freshness and sustainability.
Eierkoek
A soft, round cake made from eggs, sugar, and flour. It's light, fluffy, and mildly sweet, making it a popular breakfast or snack option.
Erwtensoep
Also known as "snert," this thick Dutch pea soup is made from split peas, vegetables like carrots and celery, and smoked sausage (rookworst). It’s a hearty, warming dish often served in winter.
Fluitje
A small, narrow glass used to serve Dutch beer. The beer is usually light and crisp, and the fluitje is known for its slender, elegant shape.
Flügel
A popular Dutch party drink that comes in a small bottle. It’s a mix of vodka and red berry flavor, often consumed as a shot during parties and festivals.
Friet Special met Souflesse
A serving of fries (friet) topped with mayonnaise, curry ketchup, and onions, known as "special" sauce, and served with a souflesse, a crispy fried cheese-filled snack.
Friet Stoofvlees
Crispy Dutch fries (friet) topped with a rich, slow-cooked beef stew. The stew is flavorful and hearty, often seasoned with beer and mustard, making it a comfort food classic.
Frikandel Pizza
A unique fusion of Dutch and Italian cuisine, this pizza is topped with sliced frikandel (a Dutch minced-meat sausage) and often served with curry sauce or mayonnaise.
Frikandelbroodje
A puff pastry filled with a frikandel (a seasoned, minced-meat sausage). The pastry is baked until golden brown, creating a savory and crispy Dutch snack or lunch item.
Gevulde Kanos
A canoe-shaped pastry filled with almond paste and topped with sliced almonds. The pastry is buttery and sweet, offering a rich almond flavor in every bite.
Gevulde Koeken
Large round cookies filled with a sweet almond paste and topped with a whole almond. They are buttery, soft, and slightly crumbly, often enjoyed as a snack or treat with coffee.
Gehaktbal met Rode Biet
A hearty dinner featuring a traditional Dutch meatball (gehaktbal) served with cooked red beets (rode biet), often accompanied by mashed potatoes or gravy.
Hagelslag Melk
Milk chocolate sprinkles (hagelslag) that are typically sprinkled on buttered bread. This is a classic Dutch breakfast option loved by children and adults alike.
Hachee met Rode Kool
A slow-cooked beef stew (hachee) served with red cabbage (rode kool). The stew is rich and flavorful, and the sweet-and-sour taste of the red cabbage balances the dish.
Hachee met Stoofpeer
Similar to "Hachee met Rode Kool," but instead of red cabbage, it's served with stoofpeertjes, which are sweet, stewed pears often flavored with cinnamon and red wine.
Heineken Beer
One of the most famous Dutch beer brands, known worldwide for its crisp, light taste and iconic green bottle with a red star logo.
HEMA Broodje Worst
A bread roll served with a warm sausage (worst) from the popular Dutch retailer HEMA. It’s a quick and affordable snack loved by many shoppers.
Huzarensalade
A cold salad made with potatoes, vegetables, and pieces of meat or fish, all mixed with mayonnaise. It’s often eaten as a side dish or light lunch.
Hutspot met Gehaktbal
A classic Dutch dish of mashed potatoes, carrots, and onions (hutspot) served with a large meatball (gehaktbal), creating a filling and hearty meal.
Jodekoek
A large, round, crispy Dutch cookie with a buttery and sweet flavor. It's simple but delicious, often enjoyed as a snack with coffee or tea.
Kaas Tosti
A simple grilled cheese sandwich (tosti) made with slices of Dutch cheese, toasted until golden brown with melted, gooey cheese inside.
Kaasbroodje
A bread roll filled with a creamy, melted cheese filling. This savory snack is loved for its cheesy flavor and soft texture.
Kaassoufflé
A deep-fried, crispy snack filled with melted cheese, often enjoyed as a quick, savory bite from Dutch fast-food outlets or vending walls.
Kapsalon
A popular Dutch fast-food dish consisting of fries topped with döner kebab meat, melted cheese, and fresh salad, served with garlic and chili sauces.
Kibbeling
Battered and deep-fried chunks of white fish (often cod or haddock) served with dipping sauces like garlic or tartar sauce. It’s a popular street food in the Netherlands.
Kip Kerrie
A chicken curry salad often used as a sandwich filling or eaten on bread or crackers. It has a creamy, mildly spicy flavor.
Kiosk Cappuccino and Dutch Croissant
A classic Dutch breakfast combination, featuring a cappuccino paired with a buttery Dutch croissant, often enjoyed on-the-go from train station kiosks.
Kroket
A deep-fried, breaded roll filled with meat ragout, often made of beef or veal. It's one of the most iconic Dutch snacks, usually served with mustard.
Kroket Broodje
A sandwich (broodje) with a kroket inside. The kroket is served warm and crispy, with mustard often added for extra flavor.
Krentenbol met Kaas
A sweet bun filled with raisins (krenten) paired with a slice of Dutch cheese. The combination of sweet and savory flavors makes for a light but tasty meal.
Kruidnoten
Small, crunchy spiced cookies traditionally eaten during the Sinterklaas holiday season, often flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
La Trappe is a traditional Trappist beer brewed in the Netherlands. Known for its rich flavors and smooth taste, it comes in a variety of styles like Blonde, Dubbel, and Tripel, making it a popular choice for beer enthusiasts.
Mergpijpjes
Small, cylindrical pastries filled with marzipan and coated in white chocolate, with each end dipped in dark chocolate.
Oliebollen
Dutch doughnuts, typically round balls of dough fried in oil and dusted with powdered sugar. They are a New Year's Eve tradition.
Ontbijtkoek
A spiced Dutch breakfast cake made with rye flour, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. It has a slightly sweet and dense texture and is often eaten with butter for breakfast or as a snack.
Oude Kaas
Aged Dutch cheese with a firm texture and a strong, rich, nutty flavor. It’s often sliced or cubed and enjoyed with bread, mustard, or as a snack with drinks.
Panini Tosti Ham Kaas
A panini-style toasted sandwich filled with ham and Dutch cheese. The crispy bread and melted cheese make it a popular choice for a warm, hearty lunch.
Pasta Bolognese with Oud Geraspte Kaas
A fusion dish where traditional Italian pasta Bolognese (meat sauce) is served with grated aged Dutch cheese (oud geraspte kaas) on top, adding a rich, savory flavor.
Poffertjes
Small, fluffy Dutch pancakes made from yeast and buckwheat flour. They are traditionally served with melted butter and powdered sugar, often enjoyed at fairs and markets.
Roze Koek
A small, round sponge cake covered with a layer of pink icing. It’s a sweet treat often enjoyed with coffee or tea.
Saucijsbroodje
A sausage roll made with puff pastry filled with seasoned minced meat, typically pork. It’s a quick and filling snack, often served warm.
Sitostick
A deep-fried snack on a stick, made of a blend of cheese and ham coated in breadcrumbs, fried to golden perfection. It's often found at Dutch fast-food shops.
Slavink AVG
A Dutch meat dish consisting of ground meat wrapped in bacon, served with the classic Dutch "AVG" meal, which includes potatoes (aardappelen), vegetables (groenten), and gravy.
Speculaas
Traditional Dutch spiced biscuits made with a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. These crunchy cookies are often shaped with intricate patterns and enjoyed with coffee or tea.
Stroop Pannenkoek
Dutch pancakes served with stroop, a thick, sweet syrup. The pancakes are thinner than American-style pancakes and are rolled or folded before eating.
Stroopwafel
A classic Dutch treat made of two thin layers of baked dough with a layer of sweet caramel syrup in between. Stroopwafels are often enjoyed with coffee or tea.
Stroopkoeken
Two soft cookies with a layer of sticky stroop (syrup) sandwiched in the middle. They are similar to stroopwafels but with a different texture.
Suikerbrood
A sweet bread from Friesland, filled with large sugar crystals that create crunchy, caramelized pockets of sweetness. Sometimes it’s also flavored with cinnamon.
Tosti Ham Kaas
A toasted sandwich filled with ham and Dutch cheese. It’s crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, making it a popular option for a warm and simple meal.
Tompouce
A layered Dutch pastry made with two sheets of puff pastry filled with smooth vanilla custard and topped with a signature pink icing glaze. It’s a popular treat at Dutch celebrations like King’s Day.
Tompouce Popcorn
Popcorn coated with a sweet glaze inspired by the flavor of tompouce. It’s a sweet, crunchy snack with hints of vanilla and sugar.
Uitsmijter
A Dutch breakfast or lunch dish consisting of fried eggs served on top of bread, often with ham and cheese. It’s filling, hearty, and commonly enjoyed at cafes.
Verse Muntthee
Fresh mint tea made by steeping whole mint leaves in hot water. It’s a refreshing, caffeine-free drink often served with honey for sweetness.
Vlokken Puur
Pure (dark) chocolate flakes that are sprinkled on buttered bread. It’s a simple and beloved breakfast or snack option in the Netherlands.
Vla
Vla is a smooth, custard-like dessert that comes in flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and caramel. It’s creamy, sweet, and often enjoyed on its own or with a topping like whipped cream.
Vlamtosti
A spicy version of the classic tosti, made with cheese and spicy salami or chorizo, toasted to perfection. It’s hot, crispy, and has a kick of spice.
Worstenbroodje
A bread roll filled with a seasoned sausage, similar to a sausage roll. It’s warm, savory, and popular in the southern Netherlands.
Zeeuwse Bolus
A sweet, sticky, cinnamon-flavored pastry made from a rolled dough covered in brown sugar and cinnamon. It originates from the Zeeland region of the Netherlands.
Zuurkool Stamppot
A traditional Dutch dish made by mashing potatoes with sauerkraut (zuurkool). It’s often served with rookworst (smoked sausage) and gravy
From sweet treats like stroopwafels to hearty classics like stamppot, Dutch cuisine is as diverse as it is delicious. This guide to 96 iconic Dutch foods offers a taste of everything — breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners. Whether you're visiting the Netherlands or just curious to learn more, these dishes are a must-try.
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