Erin Elizabeth
The Netherlands (commonly called Holland) is famous for gorgeous views filled with bright green pastures, soaring mountains, and beautiful forests. One of the topics others often overlook is the Netherlands’ traditional food.
Dutch cuisine is rustic, simple, and filled with local ingredients.
The benefits of meat, bread, and cheese are well-observed in the Netherlands, especially as the average person eats about thirty pounds of cheese a year.
With a focus on simple ingredients and full flavor, Dutch dishes are often easy to make and delicious to eat. In this quick guide, I’ll cover some of the best Dutch dishes you should try.
Bitterballen is one of the tastiest Dutch appetizers, combining meat with crispy deep-fried goodness.
The dish starts with slow-braised beef that cooks into a thick stew. The stew is refrigerated until firm enough to roll into balls.
The balls are battered, deep-fried, and served hot with a side of mustard to dip the snack in.
Erwtensoep, or Dutch Split Pea Soup, is a thick pea-based soup that is a popular winter dish in the Netherlands.
The soup combines green split peas, onion, celery, leeks, carrots, and pork.
Rookworst (Dutch smoked sausage) slices are dropped into the bowl after cooking. Bacon, cheese, and bread are served on the side.
“Hagelsag” is the Dutch word for sprinkles, specifically chocolate sprinkles.
Dutch Hagelsag is the common name for a Dutch breakfast dish that combines buttered bread with chocolate sprinkles.
Although chocolate sprinkles are the most common topping, I prefer to make Dutch Hagelslag with vanilla or fruit-flavored sprinkles.
Kroketten, also called Dutch Croquettes, is the Dutch take on croquettes.
Croquettes are found worldwide, and are a popular Spanish tapa dish. They consist of a filling (like meat or potatoes) floured, breaded, and deep-fried.
Kroketten typically uses leftovers from a previous meal, so the dish consists of any leftover meat and vegetables blended, breaded, and deep-fried.
Oliebollen (which translates to “oil balls”) is a popular sweet Dutch snack that’s a tradition at fairs, Christmas, and New Year’s.
The fried dough dish is a mix between doughnuts and beignets.
Traditional oliebollen consist of a simple dough filled with raisins and, occasionally, apple slices. The dough is deep-fried and then dusted with powdered sugar.
Pannenkoek is the Dutch style of pancake, but unlike American pancakes, this dish is often served outside of Breakfast.
The Dutch pancake is pretty thin and large, though not as light as a French crepe.
The pancake is typically served both sweet and savory. The sweet options, which are my personal favorite, include a syrup topping and fruit fillings.
Stamppot is a traditional Dutch dish that’s somewhat similar to mashed potatoes.
Instead of just mashing potatoes, stamppot adds more vegetables into the mix, including spinach or kale, garlic, and onions.
The vegetables are mashed with plenty of milk and butter to make them creamy and then topped with sliced Dutch smoked sausage.
Stroopwafels are Dutch dessert cookies that are now popular worldwide.
The cookie consists of two wafer layers pressed with a waffle iron to give them their distinctive pattern. The two wafers are sandwiched together with creamy caramel syrup.
Because of the caramel, the cookies are chewy but still have the crisp wafer outside.
Banketstaaf, also called Dutch Christmas Log, is a traditional Christmas dessert in the Netherlands.
Unlike the European chocolate Yule Log, the Dutch Christmas Log is light and airy due to the puff pastry.
The dessert combines puff pastry, almond paste, and almond slivers for a delicious winter dish.
“Vla” is the Dutch term for custard, and you’ll find various flavors of Vla all over the Netherlands.
Hopjes is a Dutch candy that combines coffee and caramel flavors, so Hopjesvla is a custard that uses these flavors.
The custard is served chilled and may be topped with whipped cream or Dutch sprinkles.
Hutspot is a centuries-old Danish dish that combines mashed potatoes with carrots and onions.
Hutspot met Gehaktballen is a slight variation on the dish that adds meatballs for a more filling meal.
The base dish of Hutspot is incredibly versatile, and other popular versions use braised beef or sausages instead of the meatballs in this recipe.
Kletskoppen, also called Dutch Almond Lace Cookies or Dutch Florentines, is a Dutch dessert cookie.
The cookies are almost paper-thin, and typically the surface is filled with holes.
Kletskoppen is an effortless dessert consisting of almonds, butter, flour, sugar, and cinnamon. The crisp cookies are lightly sweet and nutty.
Hachee is a traditional, hearty Dutch dish that dates back to medieval times. The beef and onion stew has unique flavors like juniper, cloves, and bay leaves.
The stew is thick, and the liquid has a consistency similar to gravy. Traditionally, the stew is served over Dutch mashed potatoes and a side of applesauce.
Although Spekkoek is a traditional Dutch cake, the dish originated in Indonesia as the country was previously colonized by the Dutch empire.
The flavors of the cake reflect this as the dish combines spices like anise, cinnamon, and cloves.
Spekkoek is a layer cake that’s often considered luxurious due to its tedious preparation and rich flavor.
Zuurkool is fermented white cabbage, better known as sauerkraut in America.
Sauerkraut is typically a condiment used sparingly in the United States, but it’s a common cooking ingredient in the Netherlands.
Zuurkoolschotel is a casserole dish that combines sauerkraut with mashed potatoes and ground beef. Many recipes add pineapple as an ingredient.
Draadjesvlees is one of the oldest and most traditional recipes that Dutch cuisine offers. The dish is simply beef that is slowly braised until it’s incredibly tender and fork-tender.
Along with beef, the recipe uses traditional Dutch flavors like juniper, cloves, bay leaves, and peppercorn.
The dish is typically served alongside cooked vegetables.
Goulash is a traditional Hungarian stew that every corner of Europe has slightly adapted to their taste.
The Dutch version of Goulash is Goulashsoep, a thick meat stew made with rough-cut beef and vegetables.
The stew is a popular winter dish when hearty and warm stews are the best meal.
Riefkook, also called Dutch Potato Fritters, is a fried potato patty often served in place of french fries when necessary.
The Dutch Potato Fritters are similar to Jewish latkes, which are fried potato pancakes.
The dish consists of finely shredded potatoes and onions mashed together and fried until crispy.
A Boterkoek is also often called a Dutch Butter Cake, and this dessert has a texture between a traditional cake and a chewy cookie.
The main ingredients are butter, sugar, and flour, though many add flavors like hazelnut or lemon.
I find that a slice of Boterkoek is the perfect companion to my afternoon coffee.
Which Recipe Will You Try First?
Whether you’re visiting the Netherlands or cooking Dutch cuisine at home, you can’t go wrong with these classic recipes!
Check out other foods from around the world on our blog, like dishes from New Zealand or Belgian food!
19 Delicious Dutch Dishes
Have you ever tried Dutch food? Check out popular foods in the Netherlands for your next visit or make these traditional dishes yourself!
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Choose your favorite recipe.
2. Gather the necessary ingredients.
3. Prep and cook your recipe.
4. Enjoy!
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