Dutch cuisine — simple, traditional, based on potatoes, meat, fish, cheese. Holland cheese country — Gouda, Edam, Maaslander. Stamppot — national comfort food.
Main Dishes
Stamppot — mashed potatoes with vegetables (kale with sausage, sauerkraut with bacon, hutspot with carrots/onions). Pea soup (snert) — winter favorite. Bitterballen, kroketten, frikandel — typical snacks. Dutch New herring — raw with onion.
Cheese
Netherlands cheese country — Gouda (60% national production), Edam, Leerdammer, Maaslander, Old Amsterdam. Cheese markets Alkmaar (Friday), Edam, Gouda — tourist attractions. Worldwide export — Netherlands #1 in cheese exports.
Fish
Hollandse Nieuwe — new season herring (June), raw with onion. Kibbeling (fried white fish), lekkerbekje, smoked eel. Fish stalls. Fresh fish at markets.
Indonesian Heritage
Rijsttafel (Indonesian colonial influence) — 12-30 small dishes. Nasi goreng, bami goreng, satay, sambal — part of Dutch cuisine. Toko (Asian supermarket). Loempia (spring roll).
Sweets
Stroopwafel (Gouda 1810) — waffle with syrup. Pannenkoeken (Dutch pancakes), poffertjes (mini pancakes), oliebollen (New Year). Drop (sweet + salty licorice — Dutch obsession). Hagelslag chocolate sprinkles on bread.
Drinks
Heineken, Amstel, Grolsch — world-famous beers. Jenever (gin origin Netherlands, since 1500). Genever cocktails. Coffee culture. Buttermilk (karnemelk).
Traditions
Sinterklaas (December 5): pepernoten, chocolate letter, marzipan. New Year: oliebollen + appelflappen. King's Day: orange bitter. Snack bar culture — patat met (mayo).