Dutch food often gets a bad rap for being bland and boring, but to many, it makes the perfect comfort meal on a rainy day. The increasing popularity of Dutch food restaurants in Amsterdam goes to show that a lekker stamppot, boerenkool and rookworst are enjoyed by some internationals in the Netherlands.
In Amsterdam, it is becoming a common sight to see Dutch food restaurants bustling with people. For example, on Leidsekruisstraat there are five restaurants that serve traditional Dutch dishes and they are all packed full every day.
Hap-Hmm is one of many Dutch food establishments that have to turn guests away daily because they are too busy. “People really queue up. It's not walk up and get in here, you really have to wait a while. So you actually have to call in advance,” Bobbie Douma, the owner of Hap-Hmm told AT5.
If you picture Dutch food, you’re most likely going to think of hearty dishes that contain root vegetables and some type of meat, but you also can’t forget Dutch snacks such as bitterballen or sugary oliebollen. These heartwarming foods can be just what you need to keep warm on a cold and gloomy day.
“Especially in winter the popularity increases, for example pasta restaurants or ice cream parlours switch to Dutch cuisine in winter,” said Eveline Doornhegge from hospitality organisation Koninklijke Horeca Nederland. It’s not just that the food is filling and comforting, but as we would expect from the Dutch who love a good deal, it is not too expensive either. “It tastes very good for a reasonable price,” a tourist told AT5.
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