Nick and I are huge food people – we love great food and as we travel, that’s always a priority for us.  Some cities have great food, others not so much but Amsterdam is one of the great ones.  There is so much to love about Dutch food!  So for some of my favorites here is everything you need to eat in Amsterdam!

Stroopwafels

I’ve been eating Stroopwafels since I was a kid and they are still a favorite.  When we’d fly back to the States from Saudi Arabia as a kid, we always flew through Amsterdam.  My aunt was obsessed with Stroopwafels and so every time we’d fly through Amsterdam we’d race through the airport to find them for her and bring them home.  Now they are available in the States and easier to find, but the best ones are still in Amsterdam.  Don’t miss out on this waffle cookie sandwich with caramel in the middle.

Dutch Pancakes

A favorite of ours when in Amsterdam, Dutch pancakes are sort of like a crepe but the filling just goes on top of the pancake instead of inside.  It’s also a less sweet flavor – hence the sweet toppings you’ll often find on a Dutch pancake.  I like mine simple – either just powdered sugar or a raspberry jam on top.  Nick often gets bacon inside of his and other savory toppings.  Most Dutch pancake restaurants will have a wide variety of choices!

Gouda Cheese

We are big cheese fans so we always pick up cheese in Amsterdam, especially Gouda!  Our favorite stop to buy cheese is the Amsterdam Cheese Company which has locations throughout the city.

Heineken Beer

If you’re a beer fan, Heineken is everywhere in Amsterdam.  A ton of cafes have signs outside advertising they have Heineken.

Bitterballen

You’ll find croquettes and Bitterballen in a lot of places in Amsterdam – a deep fried meatball or cheese filled finger food which is delicious!  Similar in consistency to Spain’s version of a croquette, but usually with more of a meat filling.

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Where to Stay in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has quickly become one of my favorite cities over the past few years.  I visited a lot as a kid as it was our main thorough fare from the Middle East back to the States.  But as an adult, Nick and I have visited a handful of times now and each time I fall more and more in love with it.  We also have a direct flight from Portland to Amsterdam which makes it super easy to explore mainland Europe and I love having the reason to fly through the city and stopover for a day or two.

The famous Dutch city is actually fairly small in size and easy to explore in just a couple days.  Of course more won’t hurt, but if you only have 2 days, here’s the best way to spend 48 hours in Amsterdam!

Where to Stay in Amsterdam

Day 1:

Breakfast at the Pancake Bakery – Head here early before the crowds!  My favorite Dutch Pancake style, plain with powdered sugar, but for a more savory option try bacon!

Wander the Nine Streets – This is the area you always see photos of from Amsterdam, flowing with endless canals and gorgeous row houses.  Watch out for bikes here as the locals will be flying through while you’re trying to sight-see.

Be first in line to tour the Anne Frank House – This famous spot in the city gets really crowded so buy tickets in advance and be the first in line to visit.

Head to the Jordaan for more wandering – This area is a little more local than the Nine Streets with a few less canals but beautiful all the same for a wander.

Lunch at a cafe alongside the canals – There are lots of cafes all along the canals, pick one and enjoy the long lazy lunch.

Afternoon wander through Vondel Park – This large and gorgeous park in the city is well worth a wander through in the afternoon if it’s a nice day.

Pizza for Dinner at Mangiancora in De Pijp area – This place was recommended to me by a local the first time we went to Amsterdam and it’s a gem.  It’s tiny and in a kind of out of the way spot, but the pizza is amazing.

Stay at the Pullitzer Hotel – This hotel has become my go-to in Amsterdam… the location, the design, the service… it’s amazing!

Day 2:

Breakfast at Pancakes! Amsterdam – Start Day 2 with another Dutch pancake, this time at the tiny little Pancakes! Amsterdam location in the Nine Streets.  This place is tiny, like probably only 10 tables tiny so go first thing in the morning or go on a week day.  My favorite here: plain with raspberry jam.

Spend your morning in Amsterdam’s museums – Amsterdam is known for it’s museums and Holland for it’s artists, so wander through whatever museums you might be interested in!

See the I Amsterdam sign – This fairly new but famous landmark is right in the museum quarter so take a gander after your art viewings.

Head back to the canals, buy some stroopwafels and have a mid day snack sitting alongside the canals – One of my favorite things to do in Amsterdam when the weather is decent, buy a pack of Stroopwafels, grab a seat alongside a canal and just watch the day go by.

Canal boat tour in the afternoon – If the weather isn’t great or you just want to see more of the city, a canal boat tour is the perfect exercise.  There are a ton of different companies that do it, so pick one and enjoy!

Early evening – wander through central flower market – While this area is really touristy, it’s still well worth a wander through, especially in the Spring.

Dinner at Luden – We’ve eaten here a few times now in the Nine Streets and every time the food is great.  It’s location is great too!

Stay at the Pullitzer Hotel – See above.

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We arrived in Amsterdam around 8:30am on our flight from Portland.  We headed first to drop off our bags at our hotel (Hotel Pullitzer – which we loved!)  After dropping our bags and freshening up, we headed out for breakfast.  One of our favorite things in Amsterdam is the food, including amazing Dutch pancakes so we headed straight to a favorite spot, The Pancake Bakery, to indulge in a delicious breakfast.  On our way as we meandered through the 9 Streets and the famous canals, the sky was blue, the birds were chirping and incredible clouds filled the sky.  It was one of those incredible early Spring mornings in Amsterdam that you really can’t beat!

Where to Stay in Amsterdam

Tips for Amsterdam

-Just wander!  The 9 Streets are the famous old section of the city with the canals and canal houses – don’t have a destination in mind and just wander through this gorgeous part of the city.

-For Dutch Pancakes, I’d recommend both the Pancake Bakery (more room and easier to get into on a weekend) and Pancakes! Amsterdam (tiny little place and hard to get into on weekends, so go on a weekday or early on Saturday/Sunday).

-Splurge and stay the Hotel Pullitzer!  It was our first time at this hotel but we’ve now found our regular spot in the city, we loved it!

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