The best souvenirs to buy (try and taste) in Amsterdam

Life is good in Amsterdam and tourism is, therefore, a major industry. Once you’ve visited the Dutch capital, it’s a cause for sharing some of what you’ve experienced with loved ones back home.

Everybody who has had a pleasant experience on their travels wants to take something home with them as a reminder of their awesome times, and of course, they want something to show for where they’ve been.

The Dutch country music band from the Netherlands is famous for their ‘Broken Souvenirs’ song about a broken relationship, but Amsterdam is also packed full of happy memories, typical Dutch food, beautiful gifts and novelties. True, when people think of Holland they often think of bringing home some wooden clog shoes, small windmills or tulip bulbs but there is so much more.

Buy souvenirs online

There are also online Dutch supermarkets. You’ll find a generous selection of original Dutch products from leading brands such as Calve, Klene, Pickwick and others, some of the products which you may even have sampled while on your travels in the Netherlands. You can order all your favourite foods safely online with secure payment methods as well as safe shipping worldwide.

We look at some of the best souvenirs that you simply can’t leave Amsterdam without.

Wooden clogs

De Klompenboer is a shop selling clogs – plain ones and ones with lots of colours and patterns. If you’re in the city for an extended period of time you can even go in twice a week and learn about clog painting. There is no shortage of shops selling clogs but at De Klompenboer they can be custom-designed and you can even arrange to have them further personalised with a name painted on them.

Dutch licorice

Who doesn’t love this tasty, sticky sweet treat? You won’t have any trouble finding licorice in sweet shops or grocery stores. The licorice is available in lots of different ways and you can even choose from sweet or salty or choose different flavourings. A wonderful place to buy this licorice is at Het Oud-Hollandsch Snoepwinkeltje, a traditional sweet shop filled with glass bottles lining the shelves and every sweet treat you can imagine.

Dutch chocolate

Amsterdam’s got some of the best chocolates in the world, and in so many flavours, you’ll want them all. Amsterdam chocolatier Puccini Bomboni has these delectable handmade bonbons in tantalizing flavours and some of the choccie treats are made on-site. It will be packaged beautifully for you too, but to ensure super freshness, buy them just before you’re due to fly back home.

Ajax Amsterdam shirt

If you’re a football fan, southern Amsterdam is home to the Ajax Football Club and there are sports shops as well as official retailers in Amsterdam where you can buy- and don a soccer shirt. Ajax has always been at the top of the Dutch football league, so wearing one of these will show you’re a winner all the way.

Shop for souvenirs at the HEMA store

Everybody has to write and use paper at some time or other, use a cup or store something in a glass bottle. With HEMA being an iconic Dutch chain store selling everything from homeware to stationary and books, it’s the perfect place to choose some traditional Dutch designed products that will delight anyone back home.

Waffles and pancakes

While in Amsterdam you’ll want to experience delicious mouth-watering pancakes and waffles, and an awesome place to enjoy these pastries is at The Happy Pig Pancake Shop where you won’t find something more tastier. People who have to watch what they eat will be thrilled to discover that here they can find organic wheat, gluten-free and gluten light pancakes and all with super delicious fillings. Make sure to buy some to take home so friends and family can see what they’ve missed out on. Easy to pack, Stroopwafels with caramel is the ideal Amsterdam souvenir to add in as a gift for those with a sweet tooth.

Barts hats

A top gift to take home to hat-loving family and friend is headwear from Barts. This authentic Amsterdam brand has super stylish beach hats, berets, gloves, scarves – you name it, and they are well priced. You can find these fashion items in any of the Barts stores around Amsterdam.

Dutch cheese

You simply can’t leave Amsterdam without sampling their mouth-watering cheeses, after all, cheese is integrated into the very lifestyle of the Dutch – its a way of life in Amsterdam. Once you’ve tasted their Gouda, Edam cheese or the Bleu de Wolvega organic french-style blue cheese, you’ll know that this is the ultimate souvenir for cheese lovers. There are many cheese shops in the city. Add a nice touch to the cheesy gift and invest in a beautiful cheese slicer or cheese grater with colourful Dutch patterns on the handles.

There is a huge consumer demand for locally produced products from Amsterdam, and when it comes to food, more so for organically produced foods. In Amsterdam, particularly, consumption of organic food is very popular and organic foods are easily found at Amsterdam supermarkets. They’re snapped up by travellers in the city who want to be reminded of their wonderful past experiences in the city.