Amsterdam Food Tour: Jordaan Walk & Dutch Wine Tastings

Summary

Walk canals taste apple pie meet locals try Dutch cheese and wine

You’ll wander Amsterdam’s Jordaan district in a small group, tasting homemade apple pie in a classic brown café, sampling cheeses at boutique delis, trying Dutch herring or satay at local markets, and sipping wine in an intimate speakeasy room. Expect laughter with your guide and moments that linger long after you leave those cobbled streets behind.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I booked the Amsterdam high-end food tour mostly out of curiosity — I’d always heard Dutch cuisine was all fries and mayo, but that can’t be the whole story, right? The morning started with this odd mix of excitement and “what am I even getting into?” Our guide, Pieter, greeted us near the Jordaan canals — he had this easy way about him, like he’d known everyone in Amsterdam for decades (turns out he basically has). We ducked into a brown café where the smell of coffee and warm apples just sort of wrapped around us. That first bite of homemade Dutch apple pie… not too sweet, a little cinnamon kick — honestly, I still think about it.

The group was small (eight of us), so it felt more like wandering with friends than a typical day trip. As we walked past bikes and houseboats along the canal, Pieter pointed out old shop signs and told stories about the city’s trading days — apparently one building used to store cocoa beans and you can still catch a faint chocolate smell if you stand close enough (I tried; maybe my nose isn’t as good as his). At Lindengracht market we tried Indonesian satay — smoky chicken skewers with peanut sauce that made my fingers sticky. Li laughed when I tried to say “sambal” in Mandarin — probably butchered it. Then came the cheeses: aged gouda so firm you could almost snap it, something soft and grassy I couldn’t pronounce. We tasted them in this tiny deli where the owner nodded at Pieter like they shared some secret joke.

Later we slipped into a private speakeasy room for a Dutch wine tasting — candlelight flickering on brick walls, glasses clinking softly. The wine surprised me (in a good way), especially paired with those cheeses. We ended at what used to be the Dutch West India Company headquarters — now it’s all exposed beams and chatter. Bitterballen arrived hot and crisp; I burned my tongue because I never wait long enough. By then it felt like we’d peeled back a few layers of Amsterdam most tourists miss. Not everything went smoothly (I dropped half my herring on the sidewalk), but honestly that just made it feel more real.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — High-end Dutch food tasting tour

• Eat homemade Dutch apple pie
• Taste Indonesian satay at market
• Pick three farmhouse Dutch cheeses
• Enjoy Dutch wine tasting with cheeses
• Try Dutch herring, fried cod, smoked eel
• Conclude with traditional bitterballen

Top questions

How many people are on this Amsterdam food tour?

The group is limited to 8 guests for a relaxed experience.

Is lunch included on the Amsterdam high-end food tour?

The tour includes tastings at several stops—apple pie, cheeses, fish or satay—but not a full sit-down lunch.

Are drinks provided during the Jordaan food walk?

Yes, alcoholic beverages like wine or beer are included along with soda or tea/coffee at various stops.

Does this food tour include pickup?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet your guide near central Amsterdam canals.

Is this Amsterdam food tour suitable for vegans?

No, unfortunately it’s not suitable for vegan diets.

What kind of foods will I try on this tour?

You’ll taste homemade apple pie, Dutch cheeses, herring or cod, satay or croquettes depending on the day.

Are there bathroom breaks during the walk?

Yes—three out of six stops have reserved seating and bathrooms available.

How far do you walk on this Jordaan food tour?

You need normal mobility; expect to walk/stand up to 20 minutes between stops.

What’s included

Your day includes guided tastings of classic Dutch foods like apple pie in a brown café, artisan cheeses from boutique shops, fresh seafood or satay at local markets depending on the day, plus a private wine tasting session—all with soft drinks or coffee along the way. Some stops offer reserved seating and bathroom access to keep things comfortable as you explore Amsterdam’s historic streets together.