Many of us would have tasted the Oliebollen on New Year's Eve. Made of flour, eggs, and milk— these deep-fried balls served with a sprinkling of powdered sugar are quite a treat. During the Sinterklass festival, Zwarte Piet may have showered you with the pepernoten or Dutch spiced cookies.
Liquorice, available in a wide variety of shapes and flavors, is typically Dutch. They can be sweet or salty, flavored with honey, mint, ginger, and sometimes even coconut. Muisjes, literally meaning mice, falls in the category of bread spreads. Made from anise with a sugar coating, it is traditionally served on rusk to celebrate the birth of a child.
Another sweet treat from Holland are the Poffertjes, which are like pancakes, though much sweeter and with a softer core. Stroopwafles are the syrup filled waffle cookies that one should not miss. Typically left on top of a cup of steaming hot coffee for a few minutes, to allow the syrup to melt, they are deliciously chewy with a taste of cinnamon and mixed spices. Vlaai is a traditional tart from the southern province of Limburg. Though they come in different flavors, apricot is the most popular.
If you enjoy savory snacks, then the Dutch bitterballen, made of minced beef and served with a mustard sauce, may take your fancy. Erwtensoep made from a thick puree of dried split peas and flavored with bacon strips is another hearty Dutch dish. Other traditional dishes include balkenbrij, made from pork meat and Saucijzen Broodjes or sausage bread rolls. For the more adventurous, there are the pickled herrings eaten with raw onions.
The traditional Dutch drinks, Jenever and Oranjebitter, are also worth a mention. The latter is mainly had on Queen's day and is essentially brandy with orange peels in it while the former is strong traditional liquor produced by distilling malt wine and then flavored with herbs.
Dutch cuisine has also been heavily influenced by its former colonies of Surinam and Indonesia. The food that emerged from Surinam was a melting pot of Indian, Chinese, French and African culinary traditions while the Indonesian influence is obvious from the popularity of satay sauce to accompany the Dutch national favorite patates.
So, before you dismiss Dutch food as being bland and unimaginative, take a look around you or browse through some Dutch cookbooks. Maybe you will be in for a pleasant surprise!
