Which one of these sounds the most delicious? Take the poll HERE.

1. Pannenkoek                                                                                                                              Amsterdam-1

These pancakes (NO! They’re not crepes at all. They’re quite different.) can be found in any Dutch diner. They are often paired with  sweet toppings like apple cinnamon compote, bananas, and nutella or with savory toppings like bacon.

2. Poffertjes                                                                                                                               2014-09-24 10.12.42

Many cultures have their own unique version of pancakes; the Dutch are just so awesome that they have two. Poffertjes are small and fluffy and are similar to American pancakes. Again, they’re often offered with toppings.

3. Herring            

Just about the tastiest thing ever.
Just about the tastiest thing ever.

Smoked herring is vailable at food carts throughout Amsterdam. I’m not sure why but I was expected herring to be gross and I almost didn’t try it. I’m so glad I did because it may have been the most delicious thing I tried in Amsterdam (it’s rivaling the pannenkoek). Basically, if you like lox or other smoked salmon dishes, you will love herring.

4. Smoked Salmon Sandwich

It can be interesting to see how different cultures put their own spins on the common staples. Smoked salmon isn’t just delicious when it’s lox on a bagel, so why not try Dutch smoked salmon with lemon, lettuce, and maybe a bit of cream cheese on some whole wheat bread?

5. Waffles

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The Netherlands are right next to Belgium, home of the best waffles on earth, so Dutch waffles are pretty good. That said, if you’re pairing your trip to the Netherlands with a trip to Belgium, there’s probably no need to rush. Tip: waffles are offered with all sorts of toppings in the Netherlands. However, these are things you could get anywhere else, and rather than compliment the waffle they just drown out the taste, so I’d recommend a plain waffle.

6. Indonesian food

It’s the Indonesian flag made out of food. Get it? Indonesian food 🙂

Just like you can’t go to New York City without trying pizza and Chinese food, you can’t go to Amsterdam without trying Indonesian and Surinamese food (see #7). Indonesian food is a bit like Chinese food, but spicier (hotter) and with its own twist. Who wouldn’t want to try that? I personally recommend the hard boiled eggs, which are lightly fried in flavorful goodness.

7. Surinamese food

Because don’t worry, you’re not the first person to wonder where Suriname is (although virtual high-five if you already knew).

Surinamese cuisine is a fusion of just about everything. It has Amerindian, East Indian, Indonesian, Chinese, and African influences and you should definitely try it. I’d go for the bacalao with fried cassava (<— my detailed description of its deliciousness).

8. Licorice

This is technically a bonus because I didn’t get to try this one, but the Dutch have the highest licorice consumption per capita in the world (a wopping four pounds per year), so the licorice must be pretty good.

Want to read more about Amsterdam and The Netherlands? Check out 24 Things to do in Amsterdam and 68 Hours in Amsterdam.