what to take dutch as gifts from america

A Local's Guide to Amsterdam'south All-time 23 Souvenirs and Gifts to Bring Home

Amsterdam is non only one of the about visited cities in Europe, simply is likewise a cracking gift shopping city. (Note this post was written earlier the pandemic, but hopefully will helpful to travelers someday shortly).

On this latest visit, I was fortunate enough to be staying with some local Dutch friends who helped walk me through some favorite Dutch traditions– and recommended some souvenirs to bring home.

Souvenir shopping in Amsterdam is fantastic no affair what the season.

Shopping the neighborhood markets just outside central Amsterdam becomes a local experience.

I was a lilliputian hesitant when planning this visit. My trip would not exist in the lovely springtime season, merely in the eye of the gloomy, rainy winter. But the timing was convenient so decided to become notwithstanding. Was it worth it?

Yep. While I missed the Netherland's famous tulips and shopping Amsterdam'south vibrant flower market in total flower, I too had the canals all to myself.

While there are times you may ask yourself (specially as you packet upward in rain gear all the same once more) if information technology's worth visiting Amsterdam in the winter and the off season, I would answer with a resounding yes.

In the winter, Amsterdam transforms to a cozy place, where you can duck into a cafe for a slice of apple pie (and avoid the crazy lines). Or shop for your favorite flavor of Tony'due south chocolate without getting elbowed.

I shopped at local Dutch markets, bought Gouda cheese from street vendors, and wandered lesser known neighborhoods for souvenirs.

On our ambling strolls on this visit, nosotros were able to visits Amsterdam's best shops for souvenirs, and stumble upon a few surprises. Hither is our listing:

Quick Content Guide

1. Stroopwafels– the Most Popular Amsterdam Gift
2. Hagelslag (Dutch Chocolate Sprinkles) Souvenir
3. Cannabis (Merely Definitely Not for the Usa)
four. Gouda Cheese
five. Dutch Gin Mayonnaise
6. Slice of Dutch Apple Pie Souvenir
7. Cycle-Related Souvenir
8. Dutch Licorice Souvenir
nine. Gift Gift for Children: Cute Books
10. Tony'southward Chocolonely Bar Gift
- 11. Dutch Olliebollen Mix Gift
12. Wooden Shoe Gift: Maybe
13. Tulip Bulbs Souvenir
14. Racy Souvenir that Gives a Nod to Dutch Openness
xv. Local Dutch Beer
sixteen. Genever Souvenir (Dutch Gin)
17. Speculous
18. Windmill Cookies
19. Herring Souvenir
20. Banksy Souvenir from the Moca Museum
21. Dutch Mustard Souvenir
22. Delft (or Delft-Inspired) Ceramics
23. Maybe: Souvenir with a Windmill on it
- Related

1. Stroopwafels– the Well-nigh Pop Amsterdam Souvenir

When I asked my Souvenir Finder Facebook group what souvenirs and gifts to option upward in Amsterdam (join our group hither), the most popular response was stroopwafels. What exactly is this Dutch delicacy?

Stroopwafels brand a fantastic souvenir or great gift for friends– packaged ones similar these last nigh a calendar month.

Stroopwafels are two sparse, waffle-like cookies joined by a gooey caramel filling. They are unquestionably Amsterdam'due south all-time known treat, enjoyed best by those with a serious sweetness tooth.

You can find packaged stroopwafels to bring dwelling house in whatsoever supermarket, but I recommend sampling a freshly-fabricated, hot stroopwafel straight off the printing.

While traditional stroopwafels are patently, the trend of overdecorated desserts has hit the Netherlands. For over the top, Instagram-worthy stroopwafels, cheque out Van Wonderen.

They will press your stroopwafel right in front of you and dip it in your favorite flavorings.

I can gustation my Van Wonderen stroopwafel (dipped in chocolate and cookie pieces) just looking at this picture. Yum!

Stroopwafels all dressed upwards for Instagram.

2. Hagelslag (Dutch Chocolate Sprinkles) Gift

When I starting time heard that some Dutch people swallow chocolate covered sprinkles on bread for breakfast I didn't believe it. Merely my friend's Dutch young man confirmed that yes it was truthful!

The most popular brand of Dutch chocolate sprinkles is De Ruijter. I wasn't sure where to observe them in the supermarket (candy alley? cereals?) just a local guided me directly to them.

Chosen Hagelslag, these chocolate sprinkles are spread on buttered bread (toasting is optional).

While Helsing may not exist a daily breakfast detail, information technology is quite popular and readily available in any Dutch supermarket (I also saw more high finish versions at specialty stores).

3. Cannabis (Just Definitely Not for the USA)

Permit me beginning past saying check your own state's customs laws concerning cannabis. I can tell my U.s.a. readers that you are absolutely not allowed to bring cannabis in whatever shape or class back with you.

Practice not try to get cannabis by U.s.a. customs. In addition to being illegal, this is a foolhardy mission. Flights landing from AMS are far more likely to be subjected to bag searches (nearly half my flight, including me, had all our numberless searched on my concluding trip).

But if you lot somehow live in a state/city that has no such regulations (please share in the comments!), you will accept many options for your cannabis gift. You can buy it ready to smoke (or eat in various forms, including the popular brownies).

If yous can't bring it home with you, yous can certainly smoke information technology while visiting Amsterdam at one of the many "coffee shops." My local host informed me that these cafes are mostly for tourists, as locals adopt to purchase online and fume at dwelling.

Y'all tin can also selection up a "starter kit" to grow your ain cannabis– the flower market (see below) has many options.

4. Gouda Cheese

Holland may not take the variety of cheeses you'd run across in a state similar France, simply that doesn't mean the supply of cheese is lacking.

The Netherlands and Amsterdam are synonymous with one cheese– Gouda– one of the oldest cheeses in the world notwithstanding made today.

The Dutch do love their Gouda and y'all will observe it everywhere. While gouda is of course readily available in the Us too every bit most of the globe, you probably won't find the different types of gouda available directly at the source.

Visit any local cheese shop for unlimited samples of different variations on gouda to have home the perfect wheel.

Henri Willig shops, located in central Amsterdam, are particularly tourist friendly, with experts on paw to explain the cheese making process.

Gouda is typically sold by age. Merely some local cheese shops (like Henri Willig) also offer some unique season combinations like kokosnoot, cumin, chili pepper and sparkling vino.

5. Dutch Gin Mayonnaise

For some reason, Europeans know how to do mayonnaise right. I usually pick up a tube (the typical packaging) no thing which country I visit.

In Amsterdam, I noticed an an interesting mayo on the shelves of local supermarkets and specialty shops– gin mayo– equally in the liquor, which is a specialty of Amsterdam.

I picked up a tube (a bargain at $2) and can confirm the gin flavoring is only a hint, barely perceptible, that simply makes the mayo taste improve.

Yeah this colorful gin mayo is matter in Amsterdam.

Non sure how to use your Dutch mayo? A dollop makes a tasty accompaniment to french chips.

Dutch fries are fried twice– which makes them impossibly blusterous and well-baked.

6. Slice of Dutch Apple tree Pie Souvenir

Dutch apple pie is different from the American pastry variety. Its cake-like texture is sweet, crumbly and crunchy– an addictive combination.

Granted, apple pie might be trickier to bring home, merely worth it for the dedicated. Winkel Cafe is the place to go for their historic Dutch apple pie.

At that place is ever a line at Winkel, but it is much shorter in the winter months.

The best apple pie in Amsterdam!

You might take this storybook visual of mannerly Amsterdam bustling with cyclists leisurely pedaling in perfect harmony with the pedestrians. This visual would be completely wrong.

In Amsterdam, there is no such affair as leisure biking, at least not on the street's ubiquitous wheel paths.

The Dutch have their cycling seriously– it is a means of transport in whatever weather, any time of twenty-four hours or night, sometimes with a kid in the backseat (or as I witnessed, fifty-fifty in the forepart clutching the handlebars).

And no one (including children and babies) ever wears a helmet.

The Dutch are fast and nimble cyclists. Only make no mistake, pedestrians exercise not have right of way here. You would think that every bit long as you steer clear of the cycle paths (not optional, exercise not walk aimlessly into them) you lot would be condom from collisions.

But cyclists sometimes terminate upward on the sidewalk. Or the sidewalk might be blocked and the merely route around is on the cycle path.

I also found that cyclists routinely disregard street lights and signs and so pay careful attention when crossing the street. They can pitter-patter up on you out of nowhere.

As yous might wait, a city (and country) so dedicated to cycling is going to have some pretty interesting bicycles and cycling paraphenalia. While a bike might be a tricky Amsterdam souvenir to bring home, in that location are plenty of more portable options.

I loved these colorful painted wheel bells, easy to bring home and the perfect fit for any bike.

8. Dutch Licorice Souvenir

If yous similar your licorice black and salty, you will love Amsterdam. The Dutch take the highest consumption of licorice in the world, plenty said.

9. Souvenir Gift for Children: Cute Books

Bringing dwelling house souvenirs and gifts for children can exist tough if you are looking for something unique. We happened to come across the perfect Dutch gift for children while strolling around the lovely Jordaan Neighborhood.

A colorful store called Sam en Julia caught our eye. I was wowed past the miniature displays handmade by the owner (not for sale).

Sam and Julia are 2 adorable mice who accept adventures in the books, penned and illustrated by the owners. The shop as well sells the characters in plushy form, a perfect accompaniament to the books (also bachelor in English language).

ten. Tony'due south Chocolonely Bar Souvenir

I should really write a separate blog mail on Tony's Chocolonely considering information technology is not just delicious, but also a fun shop to visit. I am still hoarding my leftover Tony'due south chocolate souvenirs, information technology is really that expert.

The flagship Tony's Chocolonely shop in central Amsterdam is a must. We had so much fun playing with the chocolate dispensing machines (which dispenses both samples and full bars).

To say the chocolate samples at Tony's are generous would exist an understatement. The samples are gigantic and plentiful– with diverse flavors situated all over the store.

I asked one of the store employees why the samples are so large and they responded that it's because the chocolate is so difficult to break up into smaller pieces! You could go hither and make full up on samples and no i would blink an heart.

Tony's Chocolate even has a blueprint-your-own-chocolate-bar station, where you tin can pick everything from the flavour to the packaging.

I left Tony's ready made chocolate options– bars of all sizes for gifts and for me (I concluded upwards keeping nearly of the chocolate because I couldn't bear to give it abroad).

I bought even more chocolate at the airport because I was worried I wouldn't have enough.

11. Dutch Olliebollen Mix Souvenir

Olliebollen are a fried Dutch treat typically eaten during the winter holiday season. Yous'll find vendor stalls selling them piping hot, powdered carbohydrate optional (accept the pick).

Although I made a complete mess of myself with the powdered saccharide, information technology was definitely worth it and one of the tastiest things I tried in Amsterdam.

While fresh ollibollen are best eaten right away, y'all tin buy a packaged mix at the local supermarket to recreate this tasty treat back domicile.

12. Wooden Shoe Souvenir: Perhaps

I hesitate to include wooden shoes as a souvenir because actually, is anyone going to wear these dorsum domicile? But they are sort of a fascinating piece of Dutch history, and still manufactured to this solar day.

When in Amsterdam, information technology is absolutely worth a brusk train trip to nearby Zaanse Schans to get your fill of windmills, countryside, and yes, an authentic wooden shoe maker.

While wooden shoes are now by and large obsolete and sold to tourists, they are even so used for gardening by some erstwhile-timers.

At whatever charge per unit, I throughly enjoyed my visit to the shoe manufacturing plant/museum and while I didn't come home with wooden shoes. the large souvenir shop had plenty of interesting alternatives.

For example, cushy slippers shaped similar wooden shoes might be a fun gift. I as well saw beautiful sneakers painted with diverse Dutch designs.

xiii. Tulip Bulbs Gift

If yous are lucky plenty to visit Amsterdam in the jump, you can't miss Keukenhof gardens, a colorful explosion of tulips in total bloom.

Colorful tulips at Keukenhof. Photo by @mrhodus1

Tulip bulbs available at the floating flower marketplace.

Simply no thing which season you visit, you can always notice plenty of tulip bulbs to bring home.

While they sell them everywhere (including the airport), for the widest selection hit the flower market in Fundamental Amsterdam forth the picturesque banks of the Singel canal.

Information technology's worth a visit to come across the only floating flower market in the world (in operation since 1862!). The Amsterdam Blossom Market is open Monday to Sabbatum from 9:00 am to v:xxx pm and Sunday from 11:30 am to v:thirty.

While generally you can't bring bulbs/seeds etc. into the United States, at the Flower market I saw signs indicating that certain bulbs could be packaged to articulate The states customs. I did not test this out myself.

xiv. Racy Souvenir that Gives a Nod to Dutch Openness

Amsterdam is known every bit a permissive place, with relaxed laws governing areas other countries consider taboo. That said, there are besides a lot of smarmy sexual activity shops, though these are mostly confined to very touristy areas or the blood-red light district.

Exist warned: photos are not permitted in the ruddy light district anywhere in the vicinity of the workers.

Just if you are looking for something more tasteful that suggests a bit of Amsterdam'south risque, anything goes reputation, consider a custom made bustier.

15. Local Dutch Beer

Although Dutch beer is not nearly as revered as beer from neighboring Kingdom of belgium, y'all tin still observe some interesting local brews unlikely to make the shelves of your liquor store back dwelling house.

When many remember of Dutch beer, popular Amstel comes to mins, founded in 1870 on the Mauritskade in Amsterdam (and after product taken over by Heineken).

Look for local Dutch beer brands on the shelves of any supermarket.

16. Genever Souvenir (Dutch Gin)

Gin is a matter in Amsterdam. Old tasting rooms abound.

Gin is thought to have been invented in the 16th century past a chemist for medinical purposes. Present, gin is the nigh popular drink in the country, with many varieties you'll only find hither.

17. Speculous

You tin notice all sorts of brands of speculoos on the supermarket shelves in Amsterdam.

Speculoos is the flavor of a blazon of spiced shortcrust biscuit, oftentimes institute in spreadable form. I plant the spread a trivial besides sweet, simply many love information technology.

18. Windmill Cookies

Windmill cookies hold a special fondness for me, every bit I grew up eating them as a child. Our local European specialty store stocked them, and somehow fabricated its way into our home.

These delicious addictive cookies are made with an array of spices, almonds and speculaas and are ordinarily shaped in the form of a windmill (I'm not sure they're actually called windmill cookies, but that's what we called them).

19. Herring Souvenir

I did non option up pickled herring but can confirm I did see it available everywhere. There was fifty-fifty an all herring stall in town. If herring is your jam, you will find it in abundance here.

twenty. Banksy Gift from the Moca Museum

Amsterdam has some fabulous museums, most of which I'd been to on prior trips (Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum). But on this visit, I came across an unexpected jewel– the Moca Museum.

The Moca Musuem is not what I expected from a mod art museum. Its meaty size and very unmodern building added to the uniqueness of this fantastic infinite.

The Moca Museum showcases the rock stars of modern art— with the electric current focus on graffiti artist Banksy. Several of Bansky's best known pieces are here, along with some surprises.

I adored this museum– different Amsterdam's other larger museums, it wasn't overwhelming to walk through. While the museum is modern, the pieces here are more than accessible than other modern fine art museums I've been to, and could be enjoyed by whatever visitor.

21. Dutch Mustard Souvenir

Dutch mustard is another nifty souvenir to bring back from Amsterdam– the flavor is strong and tasty. Dutch mustard can be used in the typical ways y'all might use information technology back home (with sausages, in dressings, on sandwiches).

But the Dutch too serve their mustard alongside cheese. And so if you are bringing home a wheel of gouda (highly recommended) you might want to get some mustard to back-trail it for a truthful Dutch feel.

My local friends recommended the mustard made in nearby Zaanse Schans, widely available in all supermarkets.

Dutch mustard has a great seize with teeth to information technology.

22. Delft (or Delft-Inspired) Ceramics

Delftware is made in nearby Delft (a cute town I visited on an earlier trip), and is hands identified by the blue and white patterns. You don't demand to go to Delft to detect a deltware souvenir– they are available at gift shops effectually Amsterdam.

If you similar the look of delftware only not the hefty price tag for the existent matter, there are enough of cheaper fascimiles that have the wait (but not the necessarily the quality) of the original.

Large dishes might exist tricky to carry habitation, just something like a ceramic necklace is like shooting fish in a barrel plenty to wear home.

23. Peradventure: Souvenir with a Windmill on it

If you visit the popular twenty-four hour period trip destination of Zaanse Schans, you will see those iconic windmills that are synonymous with kingdom of the netherlands. A windmill themed souvenir seems like a logical mode to remember your visit.

I did rifle through the many souvenir shops in Zaanse Schans and while there were plenty of beautiful tchockes, I couldn't really find a unique take on a windmill gift. So if yous have your heart ready on a windmill, you'll have to settle for a minature replica, magnet or the like.

Accept y'all brought habitation a gift from Amsterdam? Tell us about your favorites!

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Source: https://souvenirfinder.com/2020/08/19/a-locals-guide-to-amsterdams-best-23-souvenirs-and-gifts-to-bring-home/