Culinary Amsterdam

Restaurants

Which restaurants you prefer is not only decided by your taste buds but also the level of quality, budget, location and atmosphere. Amsterdam and surroundings have nine restaurants with Michelin stars. For top quality you will pay a higher price, but even when your budget is tight you can still enjoy a delicious meal. For business or pleasure, you are sure to please your palate in Amsterdam.

• Check our list of restaurants.

Vegetarian and organic foods

Amsterdam is home to many vegetarian and ecologically-friendly restaurants. There are even specialist farmers' markets which sell only organic products. These can be found at Noordermarkt and Nieuwmarkt on Saturday mornings.

Culinary events calendar

Taste delicious and unusual foods at any of these annual culinary events: at the Lloyd Hotel in March (Taste the City), on the Museumplein in June (Amsterdam Culinair), Amstelpark at the end of September (Taste of Amsterdam) and the Haarlemmerstraat in September (New Food Fair), where several top Amsterdam restaurants are represented. Each restaurant offers a small menu featuring the best products their kitchens serve. In November, nine great chefs, crowned with a total of 12 Michelin stars will make you the best meal ever at Stars, Food & Art. During the National Restaurant Week in March and September, you can also enjoy whole three-course meals at bargain prices.

Tastings

There are a number of traditional Amsterdam establishments which offer unique samplings. The most common is trying out different types of Jenever (like gin) or unusual beers. This tradition dates back to the 16th century and the liqueur stockists founded by Lucas Bols in 1575. These had their own tasting rooms, where customers could try samples before they made their choice. Current examples include De Drie Fleschjes (Bootz) and Wynand Fockink. A number of distilleries also offer tours and to teach you more about the production process. The Heineken Brewery remains popular with visitors, as does the Brouwerij ’t IJ.

Typical Amsterdam products

Besides Amsterdam's liqueurs and beers, there are also foods with a unique history. For example, Amsterdam koggetjes are biscuits named after the medieval merchant ships ('koggen'), which operated in Amsterdam at the very beginnings of the city. At the butcher shop, you can purchase Ossenworst, a delicacy which originates from the 17th century. This was when oxen became widely imported from Denmark and Germany. The spices used in the sausage include pepper, cloves, mace and nutmeg. These were imported from the Dutch East Indies (as Indonesia was known then).

The Jewish culture also brought many culinary specialties to Amsterdam. A prime example is 'Amsterdam onions' ('Amsterdamse uien'). These are sizeable cocktail onions that are pickled and given a yellow colour through a special technique. They were introduced by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe in the 17th century and are available nowadays at delicacy shops and supermarkets. You should also try the traditional bitterballen and croquettes, the Dutch gherkin and fresh herring (popular at the end of spring and beginning of summer).

• Also check restaurants.