Private Dutch Food & History Tour
Highlights of dutch food & amsterdam history in 2.5 hours
A Short Food & History Tour Full of Local Flavor
This 2.5-hour walking tour takes you through the charming Jordaan district and the lively Haarlemmerdijk—one of Amsterdam’s most popular streets for food, shopping, and local life. Led by an experienced local Dutch guide, you’ll learn about the city’s history and culture while enjoying four handpicked tastings that reflect the variety and depth of Dutch cuisine. Here’s what’s waiting for you—bring your appetite!:
Dutch Apple Pie
The tour begins in one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful and well-known brown cafés, run by the same Jordaan family for over 60 years. Housed in a historic canal house that’s over 360 years old, this cozy spot offers the perfect setting to start your experience.
You’ll enjoy a slice of homemade Dutch apple pie with a drink of your choice—coffee, tea, a soft drink, or, if you prefer, a local beer or jenever. Apple pie in the Netherlands isn’t just a dessert—it’s one of the most beloved and gezellige ways to start the day.
Dutch Sausage
Next, you’ll stop at a well-known local broodjeszaak (sandwich shop) known for high-quality ingredients and a true Jordaan atmosphere. This family-run shop has been a favorite for over 25 years.
You’ll try a warm baguette with grillworst—a spiced pork sausage that’s one of the most popular among the Dutch—topped with honey mustard, mayo, arugula, and pine nuts. Served with a drink of your choice, including wine or non-alcoholic options. Vegetarian alternatives are available.
Dutch Seafood
From Saturday to Friday, the tour includes a visit to a traditional Volendam-style fish shop for two beloved Dutch classics. First, you’ll try herring—slightly fermented, lightly salted, and topped with chopped onions and pickles. Don’t worry if you’re unsure—thousands of guests have been happily converted into herring fans. Next, enjoy kibbeling—crispy battered chunks of cod served with a tangy dipping sauce. Both are staples of Dutch seafood culture.
On Sundays and Mondays, when fish shops are closed, you’ll instead enjoy a shrimp croquette from Holtkamp, one of Amsterdam’s most renowned patisseries. Made with a rich North Sea shrimp ragout and coated in a golden crust, it’s an elegant take on a beloved snack.
Dutch Farmhouse Cheeses
From Tuesday to Sunday, the tour features a cheese tasting in a private room at one of Amsterdam’s most exclusive cheese shops. While the shop is in the city, the cheeses are aged just outside Amsterdam in a former military bunker—now their cheese fort—where over 300 varieties are refined and selected for Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels. You’ll taste a selection of raw milk boerenkaas, including two aged Goudas, a creamy Dutch blue, and a rich Jersey milk cheese.
On Mondays, when the cheese shop is closed, you’ll enjoy an equally high-quality cheese board with Dutch and Belgian varieties, served in the West-Indisch Huis—the former Dutch West India Company headquarters, where the founding of Nieuw Amsterdam (modern-day New York City) was decided. Now a stylish restaurant, it still retains the charm of 300 years ago.
At both locations, a drink of your choice such as wine, Dutch crafted beer, or non-alcoholic is included.
Tour Highlights
4 tastings that together make up a full, satisfying meal
Explore the Jordaan and Haarlemmerdijk with a local guide
Learn about Amsterdam’s food culture, history, and daily life
Visit real local favorites, from cafés to cheese and fish shops
Bookable as a shared or private experience online
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Stops: 4 (2 seated and inside)
- Goes on rain or shine
- Cancellation: Free to cancel up to 24 hours before the tour.
- Group size: max. 10 people
- Minimum bookings: If less than 4 participate, we will try to reschedule you or issue a full refund. This will be decided upon latest 48 hours before your tour start.
- Food and drinks are included and make up for a large meal
- Under 18’s get a discount
- Dietary accommodations: Vegetarian and pescatarian diets can be accommodated, as well as nut and shellfish allergy allergies, no beef or pork and alcohol-free lifestyles. Unfortunately, this tour is not suitable for the vegan lifestyle and those with celiac disease. Suitable for those with a lactose intolerance who can have some processed butter and hard ripened cheese (contains no or near zero lactose). Please, be aware that we can never completely rule out any cross contamination. When you book online, you will be able to list your dietary requirements upon checking out.
- Languages: English (Book as a private tour for Dutch, German or French)
- Starting point: Cafe ‘t Papeneiland
- End point: Cafe Nieuw Amsterdam
- FAQ
Maps
Starting point
End point

Loved the food trip! Jan (pronounced Yan) presents delicious bites that are uniquely Amsterdam. And as you go from place to place, traverses every block of Amsterdam with details that you might find after reading a dozen history books. Or you can hear it from him with all the layers of nuance and context of first hand knowledge.

We had such a great time on the food tour with Rudolph! He was entertaining and very knowledgeable about the history of Amsterdam. It was great learning it from a local. The food and drinks were very generous at each stop, we particularly enjoyed the stop at the fish van at the markets, it was unique! I am pescatarian so I was well looked after when the charcuterie board came out at the wine store, which I greatly appreciated. Thanks Rudolph, we loved it! Very memorable!

Had a great food and history tour with Rudolph. He gave us a wonderful orientation to the history and culture of Amsterdam and the Netherlands, which was a great way to start our trip. The tour gave us the knowledge and confidence to order traditional Dutch food on the rest of our trip. I would not have tried the Herring without this tour, but I loved it and enjoyed it many more times during our vacation. Every food and beverage stop was a highlight, and ranged from Dutch cheese to Dutch wine to apple pie, to herring (surprise favorite!), to bitterballen. Rudolph was interesting and charming and made great conversation. Highly recommend this tour for those that love learning about local food and culture.

We had a wonderful tour with Rudolph. Got to try fantastic apple pie, cured herring and fried cod, cheeses, sausages, wine and beer. Rudolph is knowledgeable and fun to be with.

Rudolph was a fantastic host and guide; witty, humorous with just a bit of local “color” that made his commentary clever and sharp, with excellent and accurate depiction Amsterdam history. We experienced wonderful and authentic Amsterdam street food, wine tasting, cheese, fish and meat! A delightful experience we highly recommend!

We had a great food and walking experience with Amsterdam Food Tours. Annabelle was great. The food was fantastic. We all felt that we got a great variety of real Amsterdam food. We highly recommend. Thank you.

What an incredibly good introduction to Amsterdams history and food. Caroline spent her time immersing us in the Amsterdam we knew nothing about, and at various locations introduced us to the foods and wines of the country. Very accommodating and articulate, Caroline was a delight to spend our first day in Amsterdam with. Cannot recommend more highly for those visiting Amsterdam and wanting to know and taste this amazing place.

David was a wonderful guide. The pace was perfect and good/drinks were delicious Lekker! Thanks for an amazing day!

The Dutch food&history tour with Rudolph was nothing less than amazing. The rich variety of food places, the high quality, the generosity, the picant stories, the knowledge he shared, the humor, the easygoing character,- all in all gave us a deep unique look into the Dutch culinary and historical world and made us wish to come back to another round. What a lovely afternoon we had.
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Easily book your tour online using the calendar above. The booking system is secure and you’ll immediately receive a confirmation of your booking.
If your group size is larger than 10 people, please email us at [email protected] to book instead of using the online booking option.
If you don’t see availability for the date(s) you have in mind, please contact us!
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