Amsterdam Jordaan Food Tour: 12 Tastings & Canal Cafés

Summary

Jordaan’s flavors, stories, and cozy cafés in Amsterdam

You’ll taste your way through Amsterdam’s Jordaan district with 12 Dutch specialties — from legendary apple pie to Gouda cheese and herring — while relaxing in cozy cafés along scenic canals. Local guides share stories that bring each bite to life. Expect laughter over jenever and new friends by dessert.

What’s the experience like?

Someone slides a plate across the old wooden table — apple pie, still warm, with a cloud of whipped cream that melts just a little too fast. I’m not usually a dessert-for-breakfast person, but our guide (Marije) grinned and said this brown café’s pie is “the real Amsterdam handshake.” So I took a bite. The cinnamon hit first, then something lemony? Anyway, it was gone before my coffee cooled. Funny how quickly you forget to be polite when something tastes like home you didn’t know you missed.

We wandered out into the Jordaan’s narrow streets — brick underfoot, bikes everywhere, someone laughing in Dutch behind us. At Café de Poort, we tried four types of Gouda cheese. I thought cheese was just cheese until Marije explained the aging process; the oldest one nearly crumbled in my hand but tasted like caramel somehow. There was this moment where everyone went quiet except for the clink of glasses (beer for some, wine for others). It felt like we’d all known each other longer than an hour.

Mama Jane at Mama’s Koelkast handed me her Surinamese rotirol with this proud little nod. I tried to say thank you in Dutch — she laughed and corrected me gently (I probably butchered it). The spices were softer than I expected, almost sweet at first. We watched poffertjes puff up on the griddle outside Pat’s stand; powdered sugar dusted everything including my sleeve. Not complaining.

I’ll admit I hesitated with the herring — raw fish isn’t usually my thing — but watching the fishmonger slice it so carefully made me curious. Salty and soft and way less scary than I’d built up in my head. We walked along Herengracht and Brouwersgracht after that; sunlight flickered off the water and there were these old canal houses leaning at odd angles. Marije pointed out places from WWII history near Anne Frank House, but didn’t linger too long on anything heavy.

The last café had bitterballen (crispy outside, molten inside) and jenever that burned just enough to make me laugh out loud. Sitting there with everyone else — strangers two hours ago — sharing food stories over sticky tables… yeah, I still think about that view through the window sometimes when I’m back home making toast.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Amsterdam Jordaan Food and Canal Tour

• Start with apple pie and coffee
• Taste four Gouda cheeses
• Try homemade Surinamese rotirol
• Enjoy fresh poffertjes with sugar
• Taste fresh herring prepared locally
• Walk along Herengracht canal
• See De Gangen Willemstraat alleys
• Stroll Brouwersgracht canal
• View Anne Frank House exterior
• Pass through Nine Streets area
• Walk Haarlemmerdijk dyke route
• End with bitterballen and jenever

Top questions

How many tastings are included on this Amsterdam Jordaan food tour?

The tour includes 12 different Dutch food tastings across several local establishments.

Is there alcohol included on the Jordaan food tour?

Yes, drinks are included: beer, wine, traditional jenever, and coffee are part of the experience.

Does the tour include sit-down meals or just quick stops?

The tour features four relaxed sit-down tasting experiences in local cafés and eateries.

Can vegetarians join this Amsterdam food tour?

Yes, vegetarians can join if they advise dietary requirements by email ahead of time.

Is pickup included for this Jordaan food tour?

No hotel pickup is provided; however, public transportation options are nearby.

Are children allowed on this Amsterdam culinary tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are welcome.

What languages does the guide speak on this tour?

The expert culinary guide speaks English during the tour.

Will we visit touristy places or more local spots?

The focus is on authentic local cafés and family-run eateries away from tourist crowds.

What’s included

Your day covers 12 Dutch food tastings at six authentic spots around Jordaan — think apple pie at a 400-year-old brown café, Gouda cheeses at Café de Poort, Surinamese bites from Mama Jane’s kitchen, fresh poffertjes from Pat’s stand, herring prepared by a local fishmonger (except Sundays/Mondays), plus drinks like beer, wine and jenever along scenic canals with an English-speaking culinary guide leading every step.