Learning About the Past of Dutch Food, Eating the Present

The tour begins at Dam Square, the historic heart of Amsterdam, where we explore how the city developed into a major global trading hub. At Beursplein, we dive into the history of fish in the Dutch diet — from herring to eel, fish was a key part of Amsterdam’s food economy. We then enjoy a chocolate tasting featuring single origin chocolates — learn about the origins of cocoa and how Amsterdam became a hub for the international chocolate trade. On the Zeedijk, we stop at the historic Milkmaid gable stone, and explore the importance of dairy in Dutch life through the ages. This is followed by a visit to a bakery for a discussion on baking traditions and a tasting of a typical Dutch biscuit. At Nieuwmarkt Square, you will uncover the colonial influences on the local cuisine and sample snacks with international roots. In the Nes area, we explore the history of meat consumption: what meat was eaten, by whom, and how that evolved over time. Next, we’ll try jenever and learn more about this iconic spirit and its role in Dutch food culture. The tour concludes at a legendary sandwich bar, where we’ll dive into that very Dutch phenomena: the sandwich lunch.