Typical Dutch breakfast, lunch and dinner - Amsterdam Canal Cruises (2024)

FAQs

What is a typical Dutch lunch menu? ›

Most Dutch people still take a packed lunch to work, typically consisting of a sandwich with brown bread and cheese (known as a bruine boterham met kaas) and half a pint of buttermilk, with a piece of fruit. Dutch office workers often eat a similar meal in their office canteens.

A typical Dutch breakfast consists of bread, whether or not toasted, with cheesemeat butter and sweet toppingslike chocolate spread, sprinkles and flakes. In addition to a sandwich, Dutch people also often eat rusks, gingerbread, currant bread or a plate of porridge.

A typical Dutch lunch consists of an individual portion of cold meals, such as sandwiches filled with slices of meat and Dutch cheese or sweet assortments, accompanied by milk or juice.

It is polite to keep one's hands above the table until all have finished eating. It is recommended to take a small portion as your first helping, so you're able to accept a second helping. The Dutch tend to avoid wasting food. Thus, many appreciate it when their guests finish everything on their plate.

Dutch dinner

The Dutch eat relatively early starting from 5 to 7 p.m., families mostly eat together around the dinner table. A typical Dutch dinner meal consists of potatoes, meat and vegetables, served with gravy. Dinner is often followed by a dessert in the form of yogurt or coffee.

In the Netherlands there are only a few things that you can eat with your hands publicly without it being frowned upon: chips, pizza, bread and meat with a lot of bones, like chicken or spare-ribs. Using your hands and fingers to eat rice, vegetables, potatoes or meat without bones isn't on!

They can be eaten as a snack or as a main course during lunch or dinner. A Dutch pancake is good at any time of the day.

Stamppot (Dutch National Dish)

idiom. : to go to a movie, restaurant, etc., as a group with each person paying for his or her own ticket, food, etc. We went Dutch on dinner.

This one is pretty simple to answer – the Dutch do not have a tipping culture as strongly-ingrained as much of the English-speaking world. In a bar, restaurant, or private boat tour in Amsterdam, provided the service was good, a tip of around 10% is appreciated but not automatically expected.

How to show respect in the Netherlands? ›

Direct eye contact is also customary. Not making direct eye contact is often considered strange or impolite. In the culture of the Netherlands, people have great respect for privacy. If someone wants to discuss something or wants to be introduced to someone, they must take the initiative and express this.

You can pay with cash or a debit card, and often with your phone via NFC (contactless payments), Apple Pay, or Google Wallet. But not everywhere! In the Netherlands, credit cards are not the most commonly used method for payments. In daily life, the Dutch hardly use them.

: something (such as a dinner or movie) for which each person pays his or her own share of the cost. It was Dutch treat—we each bought our own ticket. a Dutch treat luncheon.

The Dutch translation for “lunch” is middageten. The Dutch, middageten, can be broken down into 2 parts:"afternoon" (middag) and "food" (eten).

1. Poffertjes. Probably one of the most famous Dutch dishes, Poffertjes are small pancakes, baked in an iron skillet, and traditionally served with melted butter and dusted with icing sugar. You can enjoy these all year round, but Christmas and New Year are typically the best times to have them.

Broodje kroket is a popular Dutch sandwich consisting of a deep-fried kroket stuffed inside a soft bread roll or a bun. The sandwich is usually drizzled over with spicy mustard and consumed as a flavorful, comforting midnight snack.