Mushrooms, pumpkins and goat beer: autumn season specialities in Amsterdam

Mushrooms

Autumn is synonymous with mushrooms, and Amsterdam offers several ways to enjoy these earthy delicacies. Amsterdam's markets and urban farms become havens for mushroom enthusiasts, offering a variety of locally grown and foraged fungi.

• At the market - One of the best places to find fresh, local mushrooms is the mushroom stand Portabella at the Saturday Noordermarkt. This market stall in the Jordaan is a haven for food lovers, and the variety of mushrooms on offer, from delicate chanterelles in all colours of the rainbow to impressive furry sorts you’ve never seen before. Can’t make it on a Saturday? Portabella is also present at the Friday market in Haarlem. The knowledgeable vendors are always on hand to offer cooking tips and recipe ideas. Or as they say themselves:

• Seeing them grow - For those interested in seeing where their mushrooms come from, a visit to Fruittuinen van West is a must. This urban farm not only grows a variety of mushrooms but also promotes sustainable farming practices. You can even pick your own mushrooms here, making it a unique autumn activity.
• Growing your own - If you fancy growing mushrooms yourself, you can do so right in your kitchen. An innovative and sustainable way to do this is by using coffee leftovers. With kits and guidance from Van Amsterdamse Bodem, you can easily cultivate your own crop of oyster mushrooms at home.
• Foraging wild mushrooms - For the more adventurous, mushroom foraging in the wild is a fantastic way to connect with nature and gather your own food. Eigen Krachtvoer offers foraging workshops that teach you to identify and harvest edible mushrooms in the wild. The foraging workshop is a fun activity and an educational experience that deepens your appreciation for nature’s bounty.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are the quintessential symbol of autumn, and Amsterdam has plenty of ways to celebrate this vibrant vegetable. Whether you're looking to carve a spooky jack-o'-lantern for Halloween or create a delicious pumpkin-based dish, Amsterdam offers numerous opportunities to indulge in all things pumpkin.

• Carving workshops - Embrace the festive spirit of Halloween by joining a pumpkin carving workshop. These workshops are perfect for both children and adults, offering a fun and creative way to spend an autumn afternoon. You can carve your own spooky jack-o'-lantern to take home, and some workshops even offer cooking tips on how to use the pumpkin flesh in delicious recipes.
• A farm full of pumpkins - For an authentic farm-to-table experience, visit Pluktuin Amstelveen. Just a short drive from Amsterdam, this farm is the perfect place to pick your own pumpkins. The sight of fields full of bright orange pumpkins is a quintessential autumn scene, and you can choose the perfect one to take home. Many farms also offer pumpkin-based products like soups, pies, and even pumpkin bread.

Bockbier

Autumn is also bock bier season in the Netherlands, and this rich, dark beer is a local favourite as the weather cools. The name "bockbier" has its roots in the German town of Einbeck, where a strong beer known as "Einbecker" was brewed in the 14th century. Over time, the beer became popular in Bavaria, where the name was shortened and adapted to "Bockbier" or "Bock." The term "bock" means "goat" in German, and many traditional bock bier labels feature a goat as a nod to this heritage. Bockbier is traditionally brewed in the autumn and consumed in October, a practice that dates back to the beer's origins. This timing is ideal as the beer's rich, hearty profile is well-suited to the cooler weather and the robust, seasonal dishes typically enjoyed at this time of year. The brewing process for bockbier often involves a longer fermentation period, which helps to develop its deep, malty flavours and smooth finish.

• Festivals - Amsterdam hosts several bockbier festivals throughout the autumn, a celebration of this hearty beer that features a wide range of bockbiers from different breweries. They’re the perfect place to sample different varieties and learn more about the brewing process. One of the festivals this year is PINT Bockbierfestival (4-5 October 2024) at De Foodhallen, where you can taste 42 different varieties.
• Brewing workshops - For those interested in the craft behind the beer, Amsterdam offers multiple beer brewing workshops (check out Brouwerij De 7 Deugden or Three Brewing Brothers). These workshops guide you through the process, from selecting the grains to fermenting and bottling your own beer. It’s a hands-on way to appreciate the skill that goes into creating your favourite autumn brew.
• Pubs and breweries - When it comes to enjoying bockbier, Amsterdam has no shortage of craft beer pubs, breweries and cosy cafés where you can savour a pint. Some of the best spots include Café Gollem and Brouwerij 't IJ, both known for their excellent selection of local and international bockbiers.

• Restaurants using bock bier in dishes - Many Amsterdam restaurants get creative with bock bier and incorporate it into their dishes. Whether it’s a rich stew simmered in bockbier or a decadent chocolate cake with a bockbier glaze, these culinary creations showcase the beer’s versatility. Check out seasonal menus at local favourites like De Kas and Wilde Zwijnen to see how they’ve incorporated this autumnal beer into their dishes and this roundup of Dutch food restaurants for more.