The cuisine that tourists will come across on a visit to Amsterdam is a reflection of the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural flavor of the city itself. Two of the foods that are perhaps most associated with Amsterdam are cheese and herring (a fish that can be found in the nearby salty North Sea.) However, there are quite a few other foods that are quite common and easy to find during your stay in Amsterdam.

Frikandel is a type of sausage that is deep fried and often eaten as a snack. It can be served on bread, or cut into pieces and served on a platter with various condiments, including mayonnaise and curry. The latter form is particularly popular as a party food. In the Netherlands, frikandel-eating contests are held in much the same manner as hot dog eating contests elsewhere. The current record is 47 in one hour.

Erwtensoep, or snert, is a type of pea soup that is one of the more popular items in Dutch cuisine. Erwtensoep is traditionally a winter dish and is often thick enough to be considered a stew as opposed to a soup. Erwtensoep often includes sausage or pork and is served with rye bread and cheese.

Cheese is something that you won't find a shortage of in Amsterdam. Dutch cheeses are famous around the world for their quality. Some popular types of Dutch cheese include Gouda (a semi-hard cheese made from cow milk), Edamer (a mild cheese with a lower fat content than most), and Mimolette (a hard cheese with a distinctive crust).

There are a number of foods that originally come from other cultures that have found their way into Dutch cuisine. In particular, there are a number of Indonesian dishes that are quite common. This stems from the fact that Indonesia was at one point a colony of the Netherlands. For example, the Indonesian dish Nasi Goreng has been long thought of as a part of Dutch cuisine.

If you have room for dessert, there are plenty to choose from. Pastry in particular is very popular in Amsterdam. In fact, the word "cookie" has Dutch origins.