Amsterdam Food Tour: Authentic Dutch Tastings, Canals & Culture
Description
Sherpa's Amsterdam food tour is a small-group walking tour that pairs authentic Dutch tastings with the city's culture and history. Your local guide leads you off the beaten path, through historic neighborhoods and the UNESCO canal ring, like a friend who knows every great spot. This isn't just a food tour. Every bite comes with a piece of Amsterdam: why herring is eaten with onions and pickles, how Surinamese and Indonesian flavors became Dutch staples, and what 400 years of canal-trade history taste like today. You'll sample local classics: aged Gouda, bitterballen, fresh herring, hand-cut fries, alongside local drinks, from milk to wine and beer. Come hungry: there's enough food to replace a meal. With a maximum of 10 guests, an intimate tour. We walk through the city and the canal belt, ending near the Rijksmuseum or the Anne Frank House. This is a Sherpa Food Tour, part of our global collection of High-Fidelity Local Experiences for curious travelers and passionate food lovers.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We meet outside a cozy café in Waterlooplein, once a canal and the heart of the Jewish quarter. Now a bustling market, it reflects Amsterdam’s layered, imperfect charm.
We start underground — literally — with bold, bright Surinamese bites that hit hard with flavor and history. Born from migration, loved by locals, and hiding in plain sight.
Bite into a hot, creamy veal croquette sandwich in a no-frills local favorite. Born after WWII, this iconic snack is pure Dutch comfort food, served with old-school character.
Just off the canal, a cozy spot channels the real spirit of Amsterdam—a new take on the classic brown café where tradition and trend meet. We stop here for classic Dutch snacks: pickled herring, grilled sausage, and a crisp local beer
Stroll Amsterdam’s iconic canal belt and uncover how 17th-century ingenuity shaped a floating city. From timber foundations to merchant houses, every view holds a story.
Sample a four-cheese tasting board in one of Amsterdam’s top cheese shops. Every bite is rich with tradition, terroir, and the deep pride of Dutch artisanal dairy craft.
Step into the Jordaan, once home to workers and dreamers. Its cobbled streets now house artists, cafés, and locals — the perfect bridge between past and present Amsterdam.
Savor modern Dutch cuisine with a soulful stamppot, made from seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. Comforting, creative, and a glimpse into where Dutch food is headed. Next, we end the tour with a cozy Dutch dessert and a sip of jenever. It’s a sweet, spiced, and spirited goodbye in a warm setting that captures everything you’ve tasted and explored today.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We meet at Screaming Beans on Waterlooplein, in the heart of the old city and easy to reach by public transport, with the Waterlooplein metro and tram stops just a short walk away.
- The tastings featured are a selection of the dishes we love to share. Because we work with a rotating set of local restaurants, the exact stops and offerings may vary depending on your group size, the dietary needs of the group, and the time of your tour. Whatever the day brings, you're guaranteed a generous spread of authentic local flavors.
- We're glad to accommodate vegetarians — just add a note at booking or email us in advance. Please note this tour is not suitable for vegans, nor for guests with severe or life-threatening food allergies, as we cannot rule out cross-contamination across the venues we visit. The company cannot take responsibility for food allergies or intolerances
- This experience combines indoor and outdoor stops, with a mix of seated tastings and standing bites along the way — part of what makes it feel like a genuine local food crawl through Amsterdam. Please note that this tour still runs if it rains!
Reviews(368)
Had a wonderful tour with Ginevra and two future guides. Learned a lot about local food and so much more. They were able to answer all of our questions and we had great conversations!
I had an awesome time during this food tour and everything was so good and our tour guide was amazing! My favorite food was the dessert which is called Cinnamon French Toast With Ice Cream.
Jean was very helpful and knew so much about the history, great tour!
Incredible tour. Small group which was very personable. I will say that if our group was larger, our tour guide would give equal respect and time to all members. The food stops were incredible and our guide was wonderful in describing the food and some of the history. Strongly recommend.
Such a great day around Amsterdam! Loved discovering all that the city offers, from food, history and arts facts. Our guide made the experience even nicer than it could have been. Totally recommend!
Ginevra was an amazing guide! We learned so much about the food, the neighborhoods, and so much more. Definitely recommend!
Wonderful experience! Guide was knowledgeable, friendly and easy to talk with. We got lucky and had a private tour. Excellent experience!
A great way to see and experience Amsterdam. Ate a delicious range of food, both Dutch and from other cultures. Really good portion sizes and timing for the whole tour. Flora, the tour guide, was really lovely and knowledgeable about Amsterdam history and the places we were visiting. She made it a great atmosphere with the group and answered all of our questions. Would definitely recommend!
Fantastic day with a great variety of local foods. Tour guide was amazing, very friendly and knowledgeable. I’d highly recommend this tour to everyone!
That was a great food tour. Highly recommend. Ginevra was a wonderful guide.
