Amsterdam: Dutch Cheese Tasting Experience with Wine

Cheese and wine make a fine Amsterdam break. This 45-minute tasting offers a pleasant way to learn about Dutch cheese without leaving the city center, with five Gouda cheeses and three wines selected to match them. I like the clear focus on tasting and the chance to hear how cheese is made, aged, and paired with food. The 20% shop discount is also useful if you find a favorite to take home.

The main drawback is the short format. You get a good introduction rather than a full farm visit or cheese-making workshop, and the tasting room is upstairs by stairs only. The alcohol pairings also mean the experience is for adults aged 18 and over.

Key points at a glance

• Five Gouda cheeses: Taste a range of Dutch cheeses, including Old Amsterdam and both cow and goat varieties.
• Three wine pairings: Try one red, one white, and one port selected to suit the cheeses.
• Old Amsterdam story: Learn about the family-run Westland Kaasspecialiteiten business and its best-known cheese.
• Friendly presentation: Hosts such as Aris, Rik, Ron, Roberta, and Maria have been praised for making the session funny, relaxed, and easy to follow.
• 20% shop discount: Buy more cheese, chutney, or other products downstairs after the tasting.
• Short and central: At 45 minutes and $23 per person, it fits neatly into a day of sightseeing.

Entering the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store

You meet at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, then go upstairs to the tasting room. That arrangement works well because the shop gives you an immediate look at the products before the educational part begins.

The tasting room is on the first floor, accessible only by stairs. If you have a mobility impairment, this is not a suitable choice. The room has been described as cozy and private, and one past session was held in air conditioning, which can be welcome during a warm Amsterdam day.

The setup is simple rather than theatrical. You sit with other members of the group, listen to the host, and work through the cheese board at a comfortable pace. Some sessions have been small, with only a few people, while the room can hold around 18. Your experience will depend on the booking size, but the format allows questions and conversation.

That social element is part of the appeal. This is not a silent sampling where someone points at cheese and rushes you onward. Hosts have been praised for checking that everyone understands, answering questions, and keeping the mood light. Aris, Rik, and Roberta are among the hosts singled out for their humor and clear explanations.

Learning how Dutch Gouda is made

The first part gives you a basic guide to Dutch cheese-making. You learn how milk becomes cheese, what happens during aging, and why two cheeses made in a similar style can taste very different.

The session also explains the difference between cow and goat Gouda. That is a useful comparison because it gives you something specific to notice rather than asking you to judge cheese by age alone. A young goat cheese may have a different character from a mature cow’s milk Gouda, and the tasting lets you compare them directly.

A good host will encourage you to smell, taste, and think about texture before moving on. You may notice changes in firmness, saltiness, sweetness, and intensity as the cheeses become older or use different milk. The point is not to turn you into a professional cheese judge in one sitting. It is to give you enough vocabulary and confidence to choose cheese more thoughtfully later.

The production story also connects the tasting to Westland Kaasspecialiteiten, a historic family-run business behind Old Amsterdam and other brands. The recipes are kept within the family, but the presentation gives you a few hints about the company and its approach to cheese-making.

That company background adds useful context. Old Amsterdam is not presented as just another piece of Gouda on a shop shelf. You learn why the name is familiar in the Netherlands and how a family business built a range of cheeses around its specialty.

Five cheeses, served in a useful order

The heart of the activity is the five-cheese tasting. The selection focuses on Gouda, but it is not meant to be five identical samples. You compare different ages, milk types, and flavor profiles.

Expect portions designed for tasting rather than lunch. Several people have found the amount sufficient for learning and sampling, while one practical point is worth keeping in mind: if you arrive hungry, five small pieces of cheese will not replace a full meal.

The order matters. Starting with a milder cheese helps your palate notice the changes as the board moves toward stronger or older flavors. Fig bread and water are provided to refresh your palate between samples. The fig bread also gives you a chance to see how a touch of sweetness changes the cheese.

One useful tip is to taste each cheese before reaching for the wine. That gives you a better sense of its natural flavor. Then take a sip of the suggested wine and try the cheese again. You may find that the pairing softens saltiness, brings out a creamy note, or makes an aged cheese taste fruitier.

Some cheeses may be cow’s milk Gouda, while others may be goat’s milk. The exact five can vary, so you should not arrive expecting a fixed list of named varieties. Old Amsterdam is central to the experience, and the shop downstairs offers even more choices if you want to continue tasting after the session.

Three wines and why the pairings matter

The package includes one red wine, one white wine, and one port wine. A sommelier selects the wines to complement the cheeses, so you are not simply given three unrelated drinks.

The white wine can provide a lighter contrast to a softer cheese. The red may work better with a firmer, more mature piece, while port brings sweetness and weight to the final pairing. The exact labels are not specified, and the emphasis is on how the wine interacts with the cheese rather than on a formal wine lesson.

I like this part because it turns the tasting into a small experiment. You can see how the same cheese changes when paired with water, bread, or wine. The wine also keeps the experience from feeling like a shop demonstration. It becomes a relaxed food pairing session, with enough explanation to help you repeat the idea at home.

The wine portions have generally been well received, and one past participant found the host generous with refills. Still, you should treat this as a tasting, not a wine bar visit. The listed package includes three wines, and the focus remains on cheese.

The minimum drinking age is 18. If someone in your group does not drink alcohol, the activity may be less appealing because the wine pairings are a central part of the program.

The Old Amsterdam story and the family business

Old Amsterdam is the name most closely linked to this tasting. The session explains the brand, the family-run Westland Kaasspecialiteiten company, and the way its cheeses are made and aged.

You will not get a secret recipe. The family keeps those details private, which is part of the company’s character. What you do get is a look at the traditions and decisions behind a familiar Dutch product.

This is where the activity works best for curious eaters. You are not just sampling a cheese because it is famous. You are learning why aging affects flavor, how milk type changes the result, and how a producer builds a recognizable style.

The presentation can vary with the host. Aris has been praised for combining jokes with useful information, while Rik has been noted for his understanding of wine pairings and cheese. Roberta has been described as especially strong on the company’s story, Gouda, and the wines. Those details suggest that the person leading your session will shape the mood, but the overall format is designed to be both social and educational.

The shop downstairs and the 20% discount

After the tasting, you can return to the shop and use a 20% discount. This is more than a small marketing extra if you find a cheese you genuinely like.

The discount can make the $23 price feel better, especially if you were already planning to buy Dutch cheese as a souvenir. Some people have also picked up chutney, and a free chutney has been offered in at least one session. Do not count on the extra item, but do ask about current shop offers.

Shopping after tasting is far more useful than choosing cheese at random. You already know which flavors you prefer, whether you like young or aged Gouda, and how goat cheese compares with cow’s milk cheese. You may also discover products such as Old Amsterdam goat cheese or truffle Gouda, both of which have been popular choices after the session.

Be careful with timing if you are carrying cheese for the rest of the day. The activity information does not specify storage or shipping arrangements, so ask the shop staff about practical options before buying a large amount.

Is 45 minutes long enough?

For an introduction, yes. For a full cheese course, no.

The 45-minute schedule is a strong fit for a city break. You can place it between canal sightseeing, a museum visit, or an evening meal without giving up half a day. The compact timing also keeps the tasting focused. You sample five cheeses, try three wines, hear the company story, and have time for questions.

The tradeoff is that there is no stated visit to a farm, dairy, or production floor. You are learning in a tasting room above a shop. If you want to see cows, watch curds being made, or handle cheese yourself, you need a different kind of outing.

I see the short length as a benefit for most first-time visitors to Amsterdam. The experience gives you a local food angle without demanding a long trip outside the city. It is also a good rainy-day plan, especially because you can combine it with nearby indoor activities.

What the $23 price gets you

At $23 per person, the value is good if you enjoy both food and explanation. You receive five cheeses, three wines, fig bread, water, an English-speaking host, and the shop discount.

Buying five cheeses and three glasses of wine separately could easily cost a similar amount, but the real value is the guided comparison. A host helps you notice differences that might otherwise pass you by. You also leave with practical pairing ideas rather than just a full stomach.

The value is strongest for couples, families with adult children, and small groups of friends. It can also make a pleasant birthday activity. One person used the experience for a birthday outing with their mother and found the host’s humor a major part of the occasion.

The value is weaker if you do not like alcohol, have strict mobility needs, or want a substantial meal. It is also not the best pick if you already know a great deal about Gouda and wine pairing. For everyone else, the combination of tasting, instruction, and discount is fairly priced.

Who will enjoy this Amsterdam tasting?

I would suggest it to you if you fit one or more of these descriptions:

• You want a simple Dutch food experience in Amsterdam.
• You enjoy cheese but usually buy it without knowing much about age or milk type.
• You like wine pairings and want to compare red, white, and port with cheese.
• You prefer a short activity that fits around a busy sightseeing day.
• You want a useful edible souvenir and appreciate a discount on shop purchases.
• You enjoy friendly group settings rather than formal lectures.

It is especially good for food-curious adults. The tone is informal, and the hosts have been praised for being funny as well as clear. You will likely get more from it if you ask questions and pay attention to how each wine changes the cheese.

I would choose another activity for young children, anyone who cannot use stairs, or anyone looking for a large meal. The drinking age is 18, and the tasting room is not accessible by elevator.

Practical advice before you book

Give yourself a little time to find the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store before the start. The meeting point is the store itself, and the tasting room is upstairs.

Wear comfortable clothing and arrive ready to sit, listen, and taste. You do not need specialist knowledge. The session is built for beginners, and the host explains the basic ideas as you go.

Plan your shopping decision after the final pairing rather than before it. You may prefer the mild cheese at the beginning, then discover that a more aged or goat cheese is the one you want to take home.

The experience is offered in English, with an English-speaking host or greeter. If you need to cancel, free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Amsterdam schedule is still changing.

Should you book the Dutch cheese tasting?

I would book it if you want an easy, good-value food activity with a friendly host and no long travel outside Amsterdam. The five Gouda samples give you a clear sense of Dutch cheese, while the red, white, and port pairings add enough variety to keep the 45 minutes interesting.

The biggest reason to choose it is the balance of fun and useful information. Hosts such as Aris, Rik, and Roberta have made the presentation a highlight, and the 20% shop discount gives the experience a practical finish.

Skip it if stairs are a problem, you do not drink alcohol, or you want to see cheese being made on a farm. Otherwise, this is a compact way to eat, learn, and find a worthwhile Dutch souvenir for $23.

FAQ

Where does the Amsterdam cheese tasting take place?

You meet at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store in Amsterdam. The tasting room is on the first floor of the store.

How long does the cheese tasting last?

The scheduled duration is 45 minutes.

How many cheeses are included?

The tasting includes five different Gouda cheeses, including Old Amsterdam cheese.

What wines are included?

You receive one red wine, one white wine, and one port wine. The wines are selected to pair with the cheeses.

Is food included besides the cheese?

Fig bread and water are included to help refresh your palate between tastings.

Is the tasting room wheelchair accessible?

No. The tasting room is upstairs and can only be reached by stairs, so the activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

What is the minimum age for the wine tasting?

The minimum age to drink alcohol is 18 years old.

Do I receive a discount after the tasting?

Yes. You receive a 20% discount in the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store after the session.