As a travel and lifestyle Japanese blogger, I share my experiences both from domestic and international trips. This time, it’s all about my solo journey to the Netherlands. If you’re a beginner to international travel or interested in the Netherlands, feel free to take a look for some inspiration!
From my flight from France to the Netherlands, I’ve selected some of the delicious foods I enjoyed during my stay in Amsterdam, regardless of whether they are local dishes. From casual breakfast and lunch spots to Indonesian cuisine, which reflects the history of the Netherlands as a former colonial power, feel free to use these as ideas for your trip to the Netherlands!
・①Breakfast in Amsterdam. Restaurants also recommended for lunch.【Broodje Bert】
Broodje Bert Singel 321, 1012 WK Amsterdam, Netherlands
Along the same street as the hotel I stayed at on the canals of Amsterdam, Hotel Esterea, is a sandwich shop called Broodje Bert.
This place opens at 9 a.m. and is perfect for breakfast or lunch. Since the inside was small and crowded, I opted for takeout and enjoyed my meal in my hotel room. I liked it so much that I went back the next day, but it turned out to be a day off. Despite the simple exterior, on days they’re open, the shop is bustling, with a few tables set up outside as well.
You place your order at the counter first, and if you’re not sure what to get, I recommend taking a look at what others are ordering—it’ll give you an idea of the portions and what looks tasty! I spent my time in line observing other customers to decide what to order.
I ordered the Homemade Broodje Bert Burger (€11), made with 100% beef, to take away. It’s simply served with ketchup and beef between the buns. A side salad also came with it, making it quite hearty and filling. With plenty of vegetables too, this place is a great option for casual sandwiches, and I could see myself going back again during my stay!
With the weak yen, traveling in the Eurozone still feels expensive, but from a local perspective, considering the location and quality, it’s reasonably priced.
On a sunny day, sitting by the canal right in front of the shop to enjoy your meal would feel great.
Just be careful, though, as bicycles pass by the street frequently and at quite a speed!
・②Dinner at a bistro where you can enjoy traditional Dutch home-cooked meals.
Bistro Amsterdam Prinsengracht 287H, 1016 GW Amsterdam, Netherlands
About a 10-minute walk from Broodje Bert is Bistro Amsterdam, a restaurant that serves traditional Dutch cuisine.
At the entrance, Dutch wooden clogs are displayed with tulips, adding a charming touch.
Located along the same canal as the Anne Frank House, this bistro is a convenient stop for dinner after visiting such a historic site.
The restaurant had a somewhat dim atmosphere, but it was bustling with customers. Luckily, we managed to get a reservation for the same day, and I was shown around by my Dutch friend.
Since it was my first time trying Dutch cuisine, I was really curious about the menu. We started by toasting with some rosé wine!
The menu at the local restaurant, Bistro Amsterdam, was in both Dutch and English, so to be honest, I couldn’t quite figure it out at first glance. But thanks to my local friend, I was able to understand and enjoy the dishes!
·Groente soep met ballen en stokbrood
Vegetable soup with little meatballs
€6.5
A vegetable soup with a hint of curry flavor—so delicious!
I wonder if Dutch cuisine tends to include a lot of meatball dishes like this? Since it’s a colder country, I also get the impression that stews are quite common.
Stamppot Proeverij
3 hollandse stamppotjes In minl pannetjes, geserveerd
met spekjes, Jus, worst en mama’s suddervlees
€22.5
Stamppot is a classic Dutch comfort food, their version of mashed potatoes. It’s made by boiling and mashing vegetables and potatoes together, then seasoning it. Often, sausages or meatballs are mixed in.
Personally, I highly recommend the vegetable soup I mentioned earlier!
To finish off, we had a dessert loaded with cream.
Even more customers showed up later without reservations, but they had to wait outside. That day, the weather in the Netherlands was rainy and windy, with temperatures ranging from a high of 15°C to a low of 6°C, even though it was already late April.
Compared to where I live in Okinawa, you can already go swimming in the ocean by the end of April! So choosing the right clothes for this trip was tricky.
In the Netherlands, where winter lasts longer, it seems like warming, hearty food is really appreciated.
・③SAMA SEBO Balinese food in the Netherlands
SAMA SEBO Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat 27, 1071 BL Amsterdam, Netherlands
On the last night of my stay in Amsterdam, I was taken to a famous Indonesian restaurant, SAMA SEBO.
The location is near the Rijksmuseum and Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat, which is one of Amsterdam’s luxury shopping streets, so it was a bit far from the hotel where I was staying.
You might think, “Indonesian food in the Netherlands?” But since Indonesia was once a Dutch colony, you can find lots of Indonesian restaurants around the city.
As someone who loves Bali, Indonesia, I was excited to enjoy satay and nasi goreng!
And of course, when it comes to Dutch beer, you have to mention Heineken!
Cheers to the last night in the Netherlands!
Even though it was a weekday, the restaurant was buzzing with energy, completely packed with people. Luckily, they managed to find us a table, and we were able to place our order.
Despite being so full, the food we ordered came out surprisingly fast!
The area around the restaurant is lined with high-end brand shops like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and CHANEL, so it’s a great spot for shopping—definitely worth keeping in mind.
Vondelpark, a lush, green park, is also nearby, so besides exploring the canals, taking a relaxing stroll there is also a nice option.
Famous Dutch specialty: popular fries shop/Fabel
Now, I’ll introduce some other places that caught my eye besides my top 3 recommendations.
While I was taking a stroll in Amsterdam looking for a place to have lunch, I noticed a crowd of people in front of a shop. Curious, I peeked inside and saw that it was a store selling “friet” Dutch-style fried potatoes.
It seemed to be quite popular, so I decided to join the line as well. Soon, a staff member approached me, and when I turned around, I saw that the line stretched all the way across the bridge!
Fabel Friet Runstraat Runstraat 1, 1016 GJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
At Fabel Friet, they seem to be particular about using Dutch-grown potatoes, claiming to use only the highest quality ones. Their fries, served with Parmesan cheese and homemade truffle mayonnaise, are a hit with tourists.
When I lined up, the wait was about 50 minutes, so I gave up. If anyone has tried them, please share how good they were!
I really wanted to try them…
・Food crawl in Amsterdam
・Croquette vending machine： FEBO
This is a vending machine that sells the classic Dutch “Croquette.” It’s a local B-grade food much like Japan’s croquette.
FEBO Amsterdam – Oudezijds Voorburgwal Oudezijds Voorburgwal 33, 1012 EJ Amsterdam
You can buy them at FEBO, a chain store that has many locations in Amsterdam. I stopped by the store near the Red Light District, and in addition to Croquette , they also offer hamburgers and other items.
Since they haven’t expanded to Japan, if you’re curious about trying the unique vending machine Croquette in Amsterdam or want a quick snack, definitely give it a try!
・A casual spot for grabbing a panini
A panini shop located in the popular 9 Straatjes area of Amsterdam.
Since the sandwich shop I first wanted to visit was closed, and I gave up on the fries too, I decided to intentionally step into a less crowded place and ordered a panini. They warmed it up for me on the spot.
Actually, as I was entering the shop, I accidentally dropped the money I had in my pocket, but a passerby kindly pointed it out to me.
It was entirely my own carelessness, but both in Paris and Amsterdam, people were so warm and kind. I’m really grateful for that.
・Shops spotted around town
While strolling through the city, I also passed by some other interesting spots, like a cute pancake shop and Hans Egstorf, the oldest bakery in Amsterdam, with an exterior that looks like it could be in Paris (also with a huge line!). This place is famous for its freshly baked waffles, and you could tell from afar that people were coming just for that. If you’re looking for stroopwafels, which originated in the Netherlands, this is the place to go. And of course, they have croissants too.
There was even a ramen shop! With Japanese food, my beloved bread, and Indonesian cuisine, I think I could live in this country！
But there might be a bit too many people and bikes. If I were to compare Amsterdam to a city in Japan, it feels lively and reminds me of my hometown, Osaka!
Osaka is also called the “water city,” and the canals in Amsterdam totally give off that vibe!
I wonder if running a takoyaki stand in Amsterdam would actually work?