18 x Famous Dutch Recipes

Dutch cuisine isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind when you think of world-famous food cultures, yet the Netherlands has a surprising number of traditional dishes that are truly worth discovering. Below you will find 17 of the most delicious and famous Dutch recipes – classics that showcase comfort, simplicity, and nostalgic flavors. Dutch food may have a reputation for being straightforward rather than adventurous, but once you dive into typical Dutch dishes, you’ll uncover some real culinary gems. Think fluffy pannenkoeken, homemade Dutch apple pie (appeltaart), crispy kroketten, hearty stamppot and of course the best oliebollen recipe for New Year’s Eve.

Most Popular Dutch Foods

Being Dutch myself, I grew up with many of these traditional dishes. In my childhood the focus was very much on “aardappels, groente en vlees” (potatoes, vegetables, and meat) – a combination that shaped Dutch home cooking for generations. But Dutch cuisine has much more to offer, especially when it comes to baked goods, snacks, and cozy winter comfort food.

Dutch Recipes

In this roundup, I’m sharing the most popular Dutch foods from my own kitchen. Most of these are my favorite Dutch comfort foods and have been the dishes I grew up with.

Boerenkool Stamppot (Kale Mash)

Dutch Butter Cake or Boterkoek

My mum was never a good cook, so we never got homemade butter cake growing up but I made this easy and addictive version with chocolate and dulce de leche and have been hooked ever since!

Dutch poffertjes or mini pancakes

Poffertjes or mini pancakes are one of those delicious Dutch treats that you just got to try for yourself. I have a yeasted recipe for this as that is the old fashioned way of making them.

Traditional Dutch pea soup (erwtensoep)

If there is one Dutch recipe that says it all; it would be this Dutch pea soup. Making it the ‘proper’ way does take quite a bit of time but it’s so worth it. Perfect for the colder months of the year! Pea soup is made with split peas and is the ultimate comfort food.

Apple cake

An apple cake (appelcake) is one of my favorite sweet Dutch recipes. It’s easy to make and the good news is that you can easily add any other kind of fruit into the cake batter instead of the apple slices.

Dutch Pancakes

Dutch pancakes is one of my favorite childhood memories. My dad always made a giant stack of delicious pancakes. Master pancake maker!

Dutch Pepernoten Recipe

As a kid we got served this delicious treat every year around Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas is one of those typical Dutch holidays and is best compared to Santa Claus. Although definitely not the same! Pepernoten are also called kruidnoten and while they are technically two separate recipes, the terms are used interchangeably in Dutch culture.

Stroopwafels

If there is one cookie that is famous outside of the Netherlands; it must be the stroopwafel. It’s also quite funny how different countries pronounce this as there isn’t really a good English translation for the name. Syrup waffles is the most commonly used but it doesn’t actually mean the same thing.

Dutch Apple Pie

Growing up my mum almost ‘made me’ bake apple pie for every birthday. We usually big birthdays where the entire family (and ours was a rather large family) would sit in a circle and eat – among other things – apple pie. Preferably with either ice cream or whipped cream. So good. I don’t make it quite as often anymore but it’s still one of my favorite recipes.

My mum couldn’t cook and baking was even worse for her, so I was the designated baker in the family.

Ontbijtkoek or Dutch breakfast cake

Ontbijtkoek is another favorite Dutch recipe and easy to make. The literal translation would be breakfast cake and yes this is eaten a lot for breakfast. Just a slice. Usually with a generous layer of unsalted butter. So good. But it can also be served with coffee easily or as a snack for on the go.

Runner bean mash (snijbonen stamppot)

If you talk about Dutch recipes you cannot skip the so-called stamppot. Stamppot is basically mashed potatoes with some kind of vegetable. Usually kale, endive or – in this case – runner beans.

Hete Bliksem (Hot Lightning)

Another mash kind of dish is this hete bliksem. It’s a mash of potatoes and apple. Making it somewhat sweet but generally served with some smoked fried bacon or a slice of pork belly. I like to actually serve this with baked cheese!

Rijstevlaai (vegan)

One of the kinds of pie we eat a lot of in the Netherlands is vlaai. Vlaai originates from the south of Holland but you can buy it in special “vlaai-stores” around the country. Rijstevlaai is one of my favorite flavors (rice pie) and this is a vegan version of the traditional recipe.

Arnhemse meisjes (Girls from Arnhem)

No, no these are not actual girls. Don’t worry. Why these cookies have that slightly odd name you can check on the post. The cookies are crisp and wonderful!

Dutch Doughnuts (Oliebollen)

Every year around New Years the whole country eats oliebollen. So definitely one of those famous Dutch recipes! With good reason too as it is super delicious. In the month of december you an usually buy them in an oliebollenkraam. An outdoor vendor that bakes and sells oliebollen in the thousands!

Arretjescake

Arretjes cake or Dutch refrigerator cake is super easy to make and can best be compared to something like rocky road.

Sauerkraut Casserole

Sauerkraut in the form of a delicious casserole is the ultimate comfort food dish if you ask me!

Dutch Macaroon Pudding (Bitterkoekjespudding)

Dutch oven

I had to google this myself; I love using a Dutch oven, but than I wondered why they are even called a Dutch oven. I’m sure you’ve heard of a Dutch oven before and have probably used it for a pot roast or beef stew but what is Dutch about it? Is it used for traditional Dutch dishes or why that name?? I had to look it up myself and found this interesting article that explains the origin of the name. 

So there you have it; my list of my favorite Dutch recipes.

FAQ Dutch Recipes

What is traditional Dutch cuisine known for?

Traditional Dutch cuisine is known for being simple, hearty, and seasonal. Historically it focuses on ingredients like potatoes, vegetables, dairy, bread, and meat. Many classic Dutch recipes are meant to be comforting and filling, especially during colder months.

What are the most famous Dutch foods?

Some of the most iconic Dutch foods include stroopwafels, pannenkoeken (Dutch pancakes), appeltaart (Dutch apple pie), stamppot, hutspot, kroketten, bitterballen, and oliebollen. You’ll also find beloved snacks like frikandel, patat met mayo, and pickled herring.

Are Dutch and Belgian foods the same?

While there are overlaps (especially in fries and pastries), Dutch cuisine is generally more rustic and simple, whereas Belgian cuisine is often richer and more French-influenced. Dutch food leans heavily on dairy, potatoes, and baked treats, while Belgium is famous for chocolate, waffles, fries, and beer.

Is Dutch food spicy?

No – traditional Dutch food is generally mild in flavor and not spicy. However, because of historical ties with Indonesia, Indonesian dishes such as nasi goreng, sate, and rijsttafel are very popular in the Netherlands and can include spicy elements.

Why do the Dutch eat so much dairy?

The Netherlands has a long history of dairy farming and is famous for its cheeses like Gouda, Edam, and Leyden. Milk, yogurt, and cheese are a big part of Dutch breakfasts, snacks, and sandwiches.

What is a typical Dutch breakfast?

A traditional Dutch breakfast is usually very simple and may include bread with cheese, sliced meats, jam, or chocolate sprinkles (hagelslag). Yogurt with muesli is also common.

What is stamppot?

Stamppot is a classic Dutch comfort dish made by mashing potatoes with seasonal vegetables like kale, sauerkraut, carrots, or endive, often served with smoked sausage (rookworst). It’s especially popular in winter.

What desserts are Dutch people famous for?

The Dutch are known for baked treats such as stroopwafels, boterkoek (butter cake), appeltaart, gevulde koek, oliebollen, and speculaas. Pancakes and poffertjes are also often eaten as sweet meals or desserts.

Is it true the Dutch eat raw herring?

Yes – haring (raw cured herring) is a popular Dutch snack, especially during summer. It’s usually served with chopped onions and pickles, and tourists often try it “the Dutch way” by holding the fish by the tail. It’s not for everyone. I don’t particularly like it myself!