When in Amsterdam, bring back some REAL memorable souvenirs or gifts for your loved ones back home.
Here you won't find fridge magnets and “I love Amsterdam” T-shirts. Instead, I'm sharing genuine things and food ideas to take home from your trip to the Dutch capital.
More related Amsterdam Guides to read through:
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Cheese
The Netherlands is a cheese country in Europe. Famous cheese, such as Gouda and Edam, are a specialty of the country.
When you walk around Amsterdam, you will notice plenty of cheese shops. These shops tend to be geared towards tourists, locals don't buy cheese there.
Yet, we still think that you should check out the cheese there because the atmosphere in these cheese shops is great, and the sellers can help you understand which cheese to get. So they are not totally useless.
If you want to buy cheese like the locals, go to a local grocery shop. Small shops are scattered around the city. The most well-known grocery chain in the Netherlands is Albert Heijn.
There is also a local cheese market, which is our hot tip!
When picking a Gouda cheese, get either a plain flavored Gouda or one with cumin seeds.
I also highly recommend purchasing Dutch mustard with your cheese. The Dutch cut the cheese into cubes and serve these cubes with the mustard as an appetizer or snack.
Canal Houses
Amsterdam is the city of canals, and the canal houses add to the charm of Amsterdam. They are known as Grachtenhuisjes in Dutch.
The cuteness of these Dutch homes has been turned into canal house souvenirs, and you get little pottery and porcelain houses, which serve as a fun shelf display.
Or look out for canal house magnets and tea towels. We saw a few at the Schiphol airport on one of our KLM transfers.
Delft Blue and White Pottery
Delft Blue or Delftware is a white and blue traditional pottery from the Netherlands. They emerged in the 17th century as a cheaper alternative to Chinese porcelain.
Look out for hand-painted vases, plates, cups, coasters, and canal houses.
Royal Delft is the most well-known producer of Delftware. The factory and store is located near Rotterdam.
Instead, I suggest that you head to Heinen Delfts Blauw, another famous blue and white pottery brand.
Heinen Delfts is located near the floating flower market, right below the iconic Munttoren tower in Asmterdam.
Clogs Wooden Shoes
Clogs are the ultimate symbol of Dutch culture and tradition.
These wooden shoes were traditionally worn by the workers and farmers in cities and rural areas. They were practical and durable.
Today, the Dutch typically bring them out for traditional customs and fair gatherings. However, most are simply sold as a souvenir to tourists.
They are great for woodworkers, so that things don't fall on the toes. Look out for hand-painted clogs. They come in all colors and designs.
You can snag a pair on a day trip to Zaanse Schans. One of the last wooden workshops is making and selling wooden clogs, there.
It's a 30-minute train ride to this town that is neighboring Amsterdam. Zaanse Schans is where the tulip fields and windmills are.
Flower Bulbs
People from all over the world come to see the colorful tulips of the Netherlands.
Back in the day, the city was known for the floating flower market. This market still exists, and it is located in the city center.
You can purchase tulip flower bulbs and other flower bulb varieties here. BUT there is a time in the year when you should buy them.
Tulip bulbs should be only purchased in September because that's when the new batch comes in. Bulbs are generally planted in October before the first snow so that they can come out in spring.
Don't ever buy tulip bulbs in spring, these are the old ones and sellers don't always disclose that (it's a known scam).
Stroopwaffels
Stroopwaffels are two thin waffle-like oval-shaped cookies that are sandwiches together with a gooey caramel layer.
Stroopfwaffel is Dutch and it meals “Syrup Waffles”.
You will most definitely come across these waffles, they are sold in specialty stores, at regular grocery stores and at the train station and airport.
Fancy variations with dark chocolate, colorful sprinkles or traditional Dutch chocolate sprinkles can be seen at the van Wonderen Stroopwafels store in Amsterdam. There is always a cue there.
But if you want to bring some back home, get the packed ones from a local grocery store. These are the best in my opinion!
Hagelslag
Hagelslag are Dutch chocolate sprinkles, and they are special for one major reason. The Dutch eat them for breakfast!
A slice of buttered slathered bread is topped with Hagelslag, which translates to hail precipitation, and this a traditional Dutch breakfast.
These were invented in 1919 by Venco, the Dutch licorice company, and originally, they were anise flavored.
Today the most well-known brand making Hagelslag is De Rujiter, and they can be only purchased in the Netherlands and former Dutch colonies such as Suriname and Indonesia.
Therefore, I recommend getting a pack at a grocery store or at the airport. They sell them there everywhere!
Licorice
The Dutch love their hard licorice and if you are into anise flavored candy, then you should get a pack or two while in Amsterdam.
The locals call their beloved licorice “Drop”. Traditional drop has been enjoyed for over 700, especially when people got a cough.
It was believed that it would help cure a cold, and eventually licorice turned into a fun sweet. Dutch licorice is hard and salty, and they call is double salt licorice.
You will find typical drop from the Venco brand sold in grocery stores, but if you want to purchase special ones, look out for a brand called Oldtimers.
Dome-shaped soft licorice with a K, called Kokindjes, are another hot insider tip!
Dutch Beer & Liqueur
Yes, we know the green beer brand starting with an H is omnipresent in this world.
But, if you really would like to understand contemporary Dutch beer culture better, head to Brouwerij 't IJ in Amsterdam.
The brewery is one of the oldest active breweries in Amsterdam, and they are known for their Dutch beer export. They produce varieties of beer as per Belgian beer standards.
Unfortunately, getting their beer, and other local Dutch beers, abroad is almost impossible.
Another must try when in Amsterdam, which you might want to bring back home, is Advocaat. It's an egg-based liqueur resembling eggnog and the German Eierlikör.
So, if you are customs allow it, you can bring a bottle or two back home, so that your family and friends get to taste real Dutch beer!
Dutch Art Prints and Books
When you visit one of the art museums, such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh museum, you will come across art prints of famous paintings.
These museums have large gift shops filled with stunning art prints, books and more.
The ones in the Rijksmuseum are a treasure trove in itself. Look out for “the Milkmaid” from Vermeer or for “The Night Watch” by Rembrandt.
On top of that, you always have an option to print a painting on order online at the Rijksmuseum, which, I think, is wonderful!
Paint Pigments
The Dutch were long known for their impressive painting techniques and high-quality paint pigments.
De Kat is the last windmill in the world, grinding chalk and combining with pigments into paints.
You can visit the de Kat Paintmill from Amsterdam on a day trip, and there you can purchase some of the finest Dutch painting pigments.
Another tip is to head to an art supplies store in Amsterdam. You will discover a world of unusual paint pigments at Van Beek and at Van der Linde.
Dutch Fashion Brands
We came in contact with Dutch fashion brands thanks to Scotch and Soda.
So, while Scotch and Soda filed for bankruptcy in 2023, they are not the only Dutch fashion brand worth exploring on your trip to Amsterdam.
Head to Denham for jeans, visit Daily Paper for streetwear, go to Hester van Eeghen for designer leather shoes and bags and Goosecraft for more leather jackets.
Most designer stores can be found in the Heiligeweg lane in Amsterdam, which is centrally located.
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