Amsterdam Food Tasting Tour of Hidden Gems (Small Groups)

Seven bites, one neighborhood at a time. This 3-hour Amsterdam food tasting tour lines up seven local stops, from Dutch cheese to Surinamese bara and warm stroopwafel. I love the small group size, which keeps things friendly and moving at a human pace.

I also like the built-in savory-and-sweet balance. You get proper street-food favorites like crispy cod bites and Dutch herring, then you swing over to poffertjes, Drop Shot licorice liqueur, and caramel syrup goodness at the end. In the guide feedback I’ve seen, names like Thomas, Senna, and Paula show up as drivers of that warm, local-feeling vibe.

One consideration: seafood timing can vary. On Saturday evenings, traditional fish shops can close early, so the fish tasting may be swapped, which could matter if kibbeling or herring is your top target.

Key Highlights Worth Booking For

• Seven tastings across a tight route so you get lots of variety in about 3 hours
• Freshly prepared bites on arrival, meaning food quality stays high
• Real Dutch flavors plus Surinamese influence, including bara with curry chicken
• A true locals-style herring experience, including the tail-bite approach
• Bold add-on for adults, Drop Shot licorice liqueur in a local bar
• Group size capped at 12, which helps with timing and table readiness

How This Amsterdam Food Tour Works in Real Life

This tour is designed for people who want to eat their way through Amsterdam without spending hours planning. You’re not just sampling random snacks. You’re following a route where each stop has a specific role in the day: salty, crispy, hearty, spicy, sweet, and then a slightly daring finale.

The format is also practical. It runs for about 3 hours, and the group stays small, up to 12 people. That matters because food tasting tours can feel chaotic when everyone arrives at once. Here, you get enough breathing room at each venue to actually taste and react, not just grab-and-go.

Price-wise, $119.21 per person sounds like a lot until you look at what’s included. You’re getting lunch and dinner, plus coffee and/or tea (and water is available). On top of that, the tour provides alcoholic beverages for adults 18 and older, with non-alcohol options available too. In other words, you’re paying for guided access to multiple specialty foods and a meal-style total, not a handful of tiny bites.

Meeting at Stubbe’s HaringSingel, Ending Near Public Transit

You start at Stubbe’s HaringSingel 8n (1013 GA), and the tour wraps at Hekelveld 3 (1012 SN). That end point is in a lively area with good public transportation access, which is a big deal in Amsterdam. You can finish your sweet stroopwafel moment and then keep moving without backtracking.

You’ll also use a mobile ticket. That’s one less thing to worry about when you’re juggling trams, canal walks, and getting slightly lost in charming streets (it happens to everyone).

Most people can participate, and the tour runs in English. If you’re the type who likes structure but still wants authentic local places, this setup tends to work well.

Stop 1 at Haarlemmerstraat 2: Dutch Cheese With a Young-to-Aged Story

The tour opens at Haarlemmerstraat 2 with a Dutch cheese tasting. This is a smart first stop because cheese gives you a baseline for Dutch flavor. You’ll taste a range that goes from young, smooth cheese to aged (older) varieties with deeper character. Then you add goat cheese, which brings a tangy bite that’s totally different from cow’s milk styles.

You’re usually not thinking about cheese when you picture Amsterdam street food, but that’s exactly why this works. It sets the tone. By the time you hit the fish-and-fry stuff later, your palate is already awake.

If you’re a fan of trying things in small portions, you’ll appreciate how cheese covers both mild and sharp notes. It’s a tasting that feels educational without turning into a lecture.

Stop 2 at Haarlemmerdijk 4: Kibbeling and Dutch Herring the Local Way

Next up is seafood at Haarlemmerdijk 4, with two Amsterdam classics.

First: kibbeling. These are crispy, golden-fried cod bites served with a tangy remoulade sauce. It’s the kind of food that’s best eaten immediately, while the crust is still crisp and the fish stays tender.

Second: Dutch herring, served Amsterdam-style with pickles and chopped onions. The tour includes the classic locals method: you lift the herring by the tail and take a bite. You can do it too.

Now, one practical note for your planning. Saturday evenings can be tricky because traditional fish shops in Amsterdam close earlier. If you’re booking for a Saturday night and seafood is non-negotiable, consider choosing a midday option instead. On Saturday evenings, the tour may swap in an alternative to keep your tasting complete.

Stop 3 at Haarlemmerdijk 95: Grillworst From a Neighborhood Butcher

At Haarlemmerdijk 95, you head to a neighborhood butcher for grillworst, a warm sausage infused with cheese. This is a comfort-food stop, and it gives your taste journey a hearty anchor after the fried cod.

The best way to think about grillworst is as the in-between moment. It’s savory, warm, and filling, without being as delicate as cheese or as “spiky” as pickled herring. If you’re sensitive to super strong flavors, this stop can be your palate reset.

It also gives you a look at Amsterdam food that isn’t just cafés and sit-down restaurants. Butchers and snack counters are part of how locals actually feed themselves.

Stop 4 at Prinsenstraat 19: Surinamese Bara With Curry Chicken

At Prinsenstraat 19, you switch gears with a Surinamese eatery and one of its signature snacks: bara. Bara is a spiced lentil dough fritter filled with rich curry chicken.

This stop is valuable because it shows how Dutch food culture isn’t stuck inside the Netherlands. Suriname and the Netherlands share historical connections, and you can taste that link directly. The flavors here tend to be warming and aromatic, with a curry profile that feels both familiar (if you like spiced food) and surprising (if you don’t expect this side of Amsterdam).

The fritter format also helps the pacing. It’s not just a spicy filling. The outside is textured, which makes the bite more interesting than flat sandwiches.

Stop 5 at Prinsengracht 191: Poffertjes and a Drink Break

Then you get a sweet breather at Prinsengracht 191 with poffertjes, which are mini pancakes served warm with butter and powdered sugar. You pair them with a Heineken beer, coffee, or your drink of choice.

This is a smart mid-to-late stop. After savory bites and fried snacks, your palate gets a break without the tour dragging into dessert-only territory. Poffertjes are also the kind of Dutch treat that feels traditional but still fun, almost like street carnival food in a smaller form.

If you’re watching alcohol intake, you still get the option of coffee or another non-alcohol drink. And because the tour includes both lunch and dinner, this sweet stop isn’t just a random sugary add-on. It’s part of the meal flow.

Stop 6 at Herengracht 90: Drop Shot Licorice Liqueur for Adults

At Herengracht 90, the tour goes uniquely Dutch with licorice liqueur, also known as Drop Shot. You’ll try it at a bar where locals go to unwind.

This is the stop that splits people into two camps. If you like licorice, you’ll probably find it exciting. If you don’t, the drink can feel bold because it’s salty-sweet and strong.

Also, it’s for adults only: alcoholic tastings are only for people 18 and older. If you’re traveling with someone under 18 or you just prefer not to drink, you should be able to choose a non-alcohol option since the tour offers alternatives.

Either way, even skipping the alcohol keeps the moment fun. It’s an inside-the-city kind of stop, not a tourist-themed bar.

Stop 7 at Hekelveld 3: Warm Stroopwafel, Fresh From the Iron

The finale at Hekelveld 3 is a freshly made stroopwafel. This classic Dutch cookie is made from two thin waffles filled with gooey caramel syrup. The key detail is that you get it warm, straight from the iron.

This last bite matters because it ties the whole tour together. Cheese started the flavor journey, fried seafood and sausage pushed it savory and salty, Surinamese spice added depth, and poffertjes balanced it with sweetness. Stroopwafel seals the deal with caramel comfort.

If you’re the kind of traveler who wants a souvenir you can actually eat right now, this is it. It’s also one of those desserts that tastes best when it’s fresh, not when it’s been sitting in a package for hours.

Included Meals and Drinks: Where the Value Comes From

Here’s where the tour earns its keep. Your ticket includes lunch and dinner, plus coffee and/or tea (water can also be an option). You also get alcoholic beverages for adults 18 and older.

Even if some tastings feel small on their own, the total adds up. You’re hitting multiple venues and multiple food styles in roughly 3 hours, so you’re not paying for a single big plate and a couple snacks. You’re paying for variety, guided timing, and access to specific specialties.

Tips aren’t included, so plan to budget for that if you feel the guide earned it.

Value judgment tip: compare this to paying individually for each item in Amsterdam. Many of these snacks are cheaper than a full meal, but buying them one by one adds up fast, especially if you include a drink and want variety across neighborhoods.

Pace, Comfort, and Food Preferences to Consider

The timing is built around short visits. Each stop runs roughly 20 to 30 minutes, with enough time to eat, taste, and ask questions. That pacing is one of the reasons small-group tours work. You don’t feel stuck waiting forever, but you also don’t feel like a food machine.

That said, the tour is still very food-forward. If you’re craving landmark explanations and architectural history as your main goal, this format might feel like more focus on food culture and the venues rather than city buildings.

Also watch your personal preferences:

• If you hate fish, you might find the kibbeling and herring stops tough.
• If you dislike sweets, poffertjes and stroopwafel are not skippable moments.
• If licorice flavor is a no-go, Drop Shot may not be your favorite tasting.

The good news is that guides can pivot when a venue is closed or not available. When herring shops are affected by Saturday evening hours, an alternative stop may be used so you still get a full experience.

Who This Tour Fits Best

This is a great fit if you want:

• A first trip to Amsterdam and you want to start learning food culture fast
• A “try a lot, don’t commit to full meals” approach
• A mix of traditional Dutch snacks plus the Surinamese connection
• A small-group guide who can handle timing and substitutions

It may be less ideal if:

• You only want one kind of food, like seafood, and everything else feels like filler
• You want a heavy history and architecture walking tour first, with food as a side note
• You are very sensitive to strong flavors like licorice or pickled herring

Should You Book This Amsterdam Food Tasting Tour?

I’d book it if you like food variety and you want Amsterdam through what people actually eat at snack counters and neighborhood shops. The combination of Dutch cheese, kibbeling and herring, grillworst, Surinamese bara, poffertjes, Drop Shot, and warm stroopwafel hits a lot of bases in one smooth 3-hour outing.

My main “wait and think” moment is seafood timing on Saturday evenings. If fish is your priority, aim for the midday departure. Also, if you dislike sweets or licorice, you’ll want to mentally prepare for those specific tastings.

If your goal is a fun, bite-sized tour that ends with caramel warmth and you don’t mind trying a few bold flavors, this one is a strong pick.

FAQ

How long is the Amsterdam Food Tasting Tour of Hidden Gems?

It runs for about 3 hours.

What does the tour cost per person?

The price is $119.21 per person.

What food and drinks are included?

Lunch and dinner are included, along with coffee and/or tea (water can also be an option). Alcoholic beverages are included for guests 18 and older, with other options without alcohol.

Do I need to be 18+ to drink alcohol on the tour?

Yes. Alcoholic tastings are only for people older than 18. There are non-alcohol options available too.

What is the group size limit?

The tour has a maximum of 12 travelers.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

Yes, free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.