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Dutch snacks everyone needs to know about

29th June 2020Dutch Food, Expat Life7

The Dutch aren’t known for their cuisine. In fact, some might say that the Dutch completely lack any culinary prowess. Well, I’m here to tell you that it just ain’t so. The Dutch have amazing deep-fried snacks. They’re the perfect addition to an evening of beer and merriment, with the merriment only slightly waning when you accidentally bite the outer crust of your piping hot snack off and scold the roof of your mouth (but that’s what the beer’s for, right?). Here it is then: the ultimate list of Dutch snacks that everyone needs to know about.

Quick Find

  • Bitterballen
  • Kroket
  • Frikandel
  • Belgian/French fries with mayo
    • Patatje oorlog
  • Broodje Bapao

Bitterballen

Is there anything better than a steaming hot pile of bitterballen? (No)

Nothing screams happiness more than the humble bitterbal. Weirdly not bitter, but definitely balls, the bitterbal is the pinnacle of the Dutch snack. These things were made to be eaten alongside a beer, and they’re utterly moreish.

With their crunchy breadcrumbed outer shell, and their (monstrously hot) innards of thick beef ragout, bitterballen usually come in portions of 6 or 8 with a little bit of yellow mustard on the side.

No matter which bar you walk into in Amsterdam, or anywhere else in this country for that matter, you will be able to order a portion of these. And you gotta. It’s the law.

Dutch deliciousness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kroket

Literally – a massive bitterbal I guess, a kroket is another staple fried snack that is often served alongside bread, butter, and the obligatory yellow mustard also served alongside bitterballen.

Often served as either a lunch or a snack, the aim of the game is to split the kroket in half, and kind of mash it into your bread and butter to make the most disgusting looking sandwich you’ve ever laid your eyes on. Bloody delicious though with a beer or a cider on the side, if you’re looking for a hearty, filling, and totally unhealthy lunch, go for it.

Dutch deliciousness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Frikandel

Look, I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t think anyone quite knows what the actual meat content of a frikandel actually is, but for the sake of not putting anyone off their food, a frikandel is supposedly a ‘minced meat hotdog’.

Hotdog it may be, but don’t expect a bun. These things are often dipped into curry ketchup (divine). If you’re a hardcore Dutchie wannabe, you’ll order a ‘Frikandel Speciaal’: a frikandel topped with mayo, curry ketchup and raw onions. There’s still no bun, but you will get one of those flimsy chippy forks to pull it apart with. You’ll try (and fail) not to get any of either sauce on you, but you’ll be very happy at the end of it all.

Dutch deliciousness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Belgian/French fries with mayo

Now for me, there’s nothing greater on this earth than a cone of chips/fries/whatever you want to call them. I would lay down and die for a portion of chips that’s slathered in salt and vinegar. Honestly.

Belgian Fries in Leeuwarden

When it comes to chips in the Netherlands, there’s no vinegar. I know, a complete faux pas. Instead, the Dutch prefer to squirt thick mayo all over their fries. Their very own cone of chips, or ‘een puntje friet, alstu’ will be doused in salt and then dumped in mayo, and that’s the way they love it. There’s only one God greater than chips and mayo to the Dutch and that’s:

Patatje oorlog

Patatje oorlog, or war fries if you will, is such a hot mess that I’m not quite sure anyone really knows what the hell is going on. Ask for patatje oorlog [pa-tat-ye or-loge] if you want your fries to come with mayo, peanut sauce, ketchup, and raw onion. All of them. Together. Yes, the Dutch apparently have something about raw onion?????? Can’t blame them, it is delicious.

I’ve not tried patatje oorlog myself, because I’m not a fan of mayo. That’s sacrilege in the Netherlands by the way. However, I’d totally give it a go if someone scooped the mayo off first, or maybe didn’t put quite so much on top in the first place.

Dutch deliciousness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (minus one star because of the mayo overload)

Broodje Bapao

Ah, something that isn’t deep fried to death!

Originally hailing from Indonesia (the Dutch had colonies in Indonesia, which explains their love of sate sauce, Nasi Goreng, and I guess Broodje Bapaos), a Broodje Bapao is an anaemic looking soft bread bun filled with spicy meats. Literally, they’re like doughnuts: there’s no way of seeing how the filling got in there!

Broodje Bapao with beef or chicken filling

On offer at every supermarket, and best served with a sweet chili sauce, you can pick up single Broodje Bapaos in microwave friendly plastic bags. And that’s all you do with them – lob them in the microwave for 90 seconds, open the bag, burn your hand, and tuck in. Great as party snacks, a Broodje Bapao [brode-che ba-pow] won’t fill you up by itself, but as always, is amazing when you’ve got a beer in your other hand.

Dutch deliciousness: ⭐⭐⭐

Have you ever tried any of these Dutch delights or do you fancy getting your hands on any of them in this list? The next time you land in Amsterdam, I highly recommend you get yourself to the closest snackbar or pub and get yourself acquainted with these delicious meaty treats.

Tot de volgende keer! Liefs xxx

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Previous Post: « Ranked: the best and worst of Dutch liquorice
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah

    30th June 2020 at 10:00 am

    I love those cheese sticks, what are they called? Also had a tasty veggie / noodle deep fried square from one of those little boxes at the service station once, that was also great.

    Fries & mayo – YES
    Dutch curry ketchup – YES (we got Thijs’ mum to send us a load after he moved haha).

    Reply
    • Simone

      30th June 2020 at 1:21 pm

      Ooh, do you mean a kaassouffle?? They’re hot as heck, I’ve burnt myself on one of those in the past. Never tried the deep fried square though haha. I’m not one for mayo, but curry ketchup is something else!!

      Reply
  2. Dalia

    18th July 2020 at 5:12 am

    I forgot to mention that thanks to your lovely guide to fried snacks I finally took the plunge and tried a kroket! I hadn’t had one before and not knowing what was inside always put me off 😂 Granted, it was only at Febo but I felt so Dutch doing it and it was delicious. 10/10 would eat again.

    Reply
    • Simone

      18th July 2020 at 8:23 pm

      Ahh I’m so glad you got round to giving a kroket a go – they’re so tasty, if not a little warm when you first bite into it eh!!! Would you believe I’ve never been to a snack bar since I’ve lived here?!

      Reply

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@nether_netherland

Californian donuts in Deventer? Apparently? The li Californian donuts in Deventer? Apparently? The list of donut flavours at @dailydonutdeventer was wild:
🍩 vanilla glazed
🍩 chocolate 
🍩 strawberry rainbow
🍩 blueberry
🍩 lemon merangue
🍩 marshmallow
🍩 mango coconut 
🍩 maple bacon
🍩 oreo
🍩 white chocolate caramel
🍩 lemon cheesecake 
🍩 smarties 
🍩 cinammon 
🍩 boston cream
🍩 cafe au lait
And of course 
🍩 tompouce...

We went for tompouce and maple bacon, and they were *chef's kiss*, although I couldn't finish the tompouce one by myself (not something i say very often you know 😛). Looking back on that list though, there are a few I wouldn't have minded trying out... what's your choice??

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I 💛 Deventer #postcardgram #deventercity #deve I 💛 Deventer

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This giant piece of architectural beauty is De Waa This giant piece of architectural beauty is De Waag - the old weighing house from 1531, and it sits slap bang in the centre of the town square.

Coo-ee can you see me heh heh. My tiny head was trying to pose with the stone lion on the banister but yeah, the whole building just engulfs me so it's hard to see my cheesy grin. Probably for the best eh. 

At the weekend, the market stalls are set out in front of the building (swipe left? Or right? I literally don't know... left... ???? Crikey I'd be bad at Tinder). I don't know about you but I'd love to have my mini florist stall outside De Waag 🤩🌷

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De Walstraat is Deventer's oldest street lined wit De Walstraat is Deventer's oldest street lined with shops of every description. Antiques, sjokolaa (can you guess what that one sells?), EVEN AN ENGLISH TEA ROOM. I know. They sold crumpets. But they weren't open...

The white line is supposedly meant to keep people walking on the 'correct side of the road' but as you can see, not everyone got the memo 😂

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Hello, does anyone fancy wandering the ultra cute Hello, does anyone fancy wandering the ultra cute streets of Deventer with me over the next few days?!

We did 24 hours in #deventer this weekend and it's become my new favourite smaller city in NL. Guys, it's well cute.

Obviously Covid restrictions meant we couldn't enter shops or cafes, but that's cool. Who doesn't love wandering the streets with a Chai Latte warming up your fingers and a puntzakje full of your favourite joppie covered friet?!

Anyway, hope you guys had a lovely easter. We're celebrating today with brunch and it's just started snowing. April really will do what it wants eh ❄

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I can't quite tell you what I'm searching for, but I can't quite tell you what I'm searching for, but my pal here, het vrouwtje van Stavoren, or in English, the lady of Stavoren is looking for her wealth 💰 (ok, guess we're both looking for the same thing)...

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Looking out over the Ijsselmeer from Stavoren Have Looking out over the Ijsselmeer from Stavoren Haven. You can't tell because of how calm and sunny everything is in this pic, but it was super windy and my fingers were blue from the cold. The Netherlands really is a 4 seasons in one day kinda place ⛵🌬☀️

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