Cheese and Wine tasting in Amsterdam

Cheese makes Amsterdam taste better. This compact tasting at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store brings together five award-winning cheeses from 2024 and selected wines, then explains why certain pairings work. I like the clear focus on Dutch cheese and the chance to learn about milk type, aging, and production instead of simply eating a few samples. I also like the friendly guides, including hosts named Ron, Rick, Maria, and Luca in different sessions. The main drawback is that this is held in a cheese shop, so part of the experience naturally supports the store’s sales.

At about 55 minutes, it fits neatly between sightseeing stops, especially on a rainy afternoon. You should expect a small educational tasting rather than a full meal, and the exact wine lineup or extras may vary by session. For $32.65 per person, it offers fair value if you enjoy guided tastings, though cheese lovers looking for a broad market tour or a long meal will want something more substantial.

Five useful things to know before you book

• Five cheeses form the core tasting: Expect a selection of Dutch cheeses, with examples including goat and cow cheeses aged from about four to 18 months.
• The usual wine match includes three styles: Sessions commonly feature a white, a red, and a Portuguese ruby port, with some descriptions also noting two white pours.
• The tasting takes place above the store: The meeting point is the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store at Damrak 62HS, close to central Amsterdam sights and public transport.
• The guide does more than pour wine: You learn how cheese is made, how aging changes flavor, and why a wine suits a particular cheese.
• You may get a shopping benefit afterward: Some sessions offer a 10 percent cheese discount, which can help if you plan to take Dutch cheese home.
• The group can reach 26 people: That is small enough for a shared class, but not always intimate. Smaller groups can receive more personal attention.

What happens at Damrak 62HS

You begin at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, at Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam. This central address makes the tasting easy to add to a day around Dam Square, the canal belt, or Amsterdam Centraal. You do not need private transportation, and the activity ends where it starts.

The shop itself is part of the setting. You are not entering a separate restaurant or a grand museum room. Instead, you move into a tasting space above the store, where some sessions use a presentation screen and a live host. That arrangement gives the activity a practical feel. You can hear about cheese making, taste the examples, and then look at the products downstairs.

I would arrive with a little time to spare. The meeting point is specific, but Damrak is a busy central street, and the store is easy to mistake for one of the many food shops in this part of town. Your mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation arrives when you book.

Five cheeses, from fresh character to mature flavor

The main lesson is comparison. You taste five cheeses and learn to notice how milk type and age affect them. The available descriptions point to a mix of goat and cow cheeses, with ages ranging from roughly four to 18 months. That range gives the session a useful structure, from milder flavors to firmer, stronger examples.

You may taste several Gouda-style cheeses, since the presentation focuses on Dutch cheese making and the Old Amsterdam name. The point is not only to decide which cheese you like best. You are encouraged to notice texture, salt, sweetness, sharpness, and the way a cheese changes after you sip wine.

The goat and cow comparison is especially useful for first-time tasters. The guide explains how to spot differences in flavor and texture, rather than expecting you to already know what to look for. This turns a familiar food into a small lesson in tasting.

One sample described by a participant was a chocolate cheese served as a dessert-style extra. That is not presented as a guaranteed part of every session, so treat it as a possible surprise rather than a promise. The same applies to handouts and quizzes. Some groups receive a small booklet with the cheese information, and some sessions finish with a short quiz and a small prize.

The cheeses are traditional rather than heavily flavored. If you want chili, herbs, or truffle versions, this may feel conservative. The focus is on the cheese itself, its age, and its production rather than novelty flavors.

Why the wine pairing matters

The wine is not just there to make the tasting feel festive. The guide uses it to show how a drink can soften salt, sharpen acidity, or balance a mature cheese. You usually receive a white wine, a red wine, and a port, with the port offering a sweeter match for stronger or dessert-like flavors.

The wines come from Europe rather than being limited to the Netherlands. Descriptions of the tasting mention a French white, a red blend, and a Portuguese ruby port. Another session included two white wines and one red, so the exact selection may change. That is worth remembering if you are hoping for a specific bottle.

I like this part because it gives you a method you can use later. Instead of simply being told that two items pair well, you are shown the difference between trying them alone and together. The guide explains why one wine works better with a young cheese and another with a more mature piece.

The pours are part of an educational tasting, not a night of unlimited drinking. You must be at least 18 to take part in the wine portion. If you do not drink, the supplied details do not specify a separate nonalcoholic option, so it is sensible to ask before booking.

The guides make the short format work

A 55-minute tasting needs a good presenter. The most warmly described hosts are Ron, Rick, Maria, and Luca, although you should not assume a particular person will lead your session. The strongest sessions are built around clear explanations, gentle humor, and plenty of room for questions.

The guide covers cheese production, aging, Dutch cheese traditions, and the founders of Old Amsterdam Cheese. You also get practical advice about pairing cheese and wine, plus culinary suggestions for the rest of your time in Amsterdam. That makes the hour feel more useful than a simple product sample.

Maria was praised for making a solo visit comfortable, while Ron was described as engaging with a group of friends. Rick was noted for explaining both wine and cheese clearly. Those details suggest that the tone can work for couples, groups, and people visiting alone.

Still, the experience depends on the presenter. One strong host can turn five pieces of cheese into a memorable class. A rushed host would make the same tasting feel like a sales pitch. The available feedback points strongly toward friendly, lively instruction, but it is wise to keep the commercial setting in mind.

A shop setting with a practical payoff

The store is not an accidental backdrop. Old Amsterdam Cheese Store is the provider, and the tasting introduces you to products you can buy afterward. That is not necessarily a flaw. In fact, it lets you taste before spending money on a larger piece of cheese.

Some sessions offer a 10 percent discount at the end. The supplied details do not state that this applies every time, so ask your host if buying cheese is part of your plan. You can also request the names of the exact cheeses and wines used. One useful suggestion from a participant was to provide a printed list, and that is good advice for your own shopping.

I would bring a phone note or take a picture of any handout. Cheese names, aging periods, and wine labels can blur together after five samples. If you find a favorite, buy it before leaving rather than hoping you will remember the name later.

This shop connection makes the experience less independent than a tasting held in a neutral wine bar. If you dislike sales-oriented stops, you may feel the commercial side. If you want a reliable place to sample Dutch cheese and then choose a souvenir, the arrangement works in your favor.

Is $32.65 good value for one hour?

At $32.65, this is not the cheapest snack in Amsterdam. You are paying for five cheese samples, wine, cutlery, a guide, and a short lesson in food pairing. You are also paying for the convenience of a central location and a fixed format that requires no planning.

The value is strongest for you if you would otherwise buy several cheeses and wines without knowing what to choose. The explanations about goat versus cow milk and the effect of aging give the tasting more purpose than a plate of cheese on its own. The possible 10 percent shop discount also reduces the sting if you plan to purchase afterward.

The value is weaker if you want lunch. The tasting is not described as a full meal, and 55 minutes passes quickly. You might leave ready for another snack, especially if you have spent the morning walking around Amsterdam.

The rating is 4.7 from 135 submitted ratings, and 93 percent of people recommend it. Those figures point to a reliable experience, but they should not hide the limits. This is a short shop-based class, not a full-day culinary tour, a farm visit, or a broad survey of Dutch food.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend it to you if you fit one of these descriptions:

• You enjoy cheese and want to understand how age and milk type change flavor.
• You like wine but want a relaxed introduction to food pairing.
• You have a free hour near Damrak.
• You are traveling alone and want a shared activity with easy conversation.
• You need an indoor plan for wet Amsterdam weather.
• You want to choose Dutch cheese with more confidence before taking it home.

It also suits a group of friends. One group of nine had a good time with Ron, and the guided format gives everyone something to discuss. Couples may prefer a smaller session, while solo visitors can benefit from the social setting.

It may not suit you if you want a quiet, private tasting, a large lunch, or a tour devoted to several parts of Amsterdam. The maximum group size is 26, so the room can feel more like a class than a private lesson. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed, but the supplied information does not give detailed seating or dietary guidance.

Timing, access, and cancellation

The experience lasts about 55 minutes and starts and finishes at Damrak 62HS. It is offered in English, uses a mobile ticket, and is near public transportation. The tasting is often booked about 14 days ahead, so I would reserve early if your Amsterdam dates are fixed.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted. The cut-off follows local Amsterdam time.

My verdict: book it for a focused Dutch cheese lesson

I would book this tasting if you want a friendly, central, one-hour introduction to Dutch cheese and wine. The best parts are the comparison of five cheeses, the explanation of aging and milk types, and the chance to ask questions while you taste. The guides appear to be the heart of the experience, with Ron, Rick, Maria, and Luca each bringing a warm teaching style in different sessions.

I would skip it if you are seeking a substantial meal or an experience far removed from retail. The store connection is clear, but it also lets you sample before buying and may provide a 10 percent discount. For $32.65, that is a sensible deal for food lovers with a spare hour, especially on a rainy day near central Amsterdam.

FAQ

Where does the cheese and wine tasting take place?

It takes place at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam, Netherlands.

How long does the experience last?

The tasting lasts approximately 55 minutes.

How many cheeses will I taste?

You will taste five different cheeses, described as award-winning cheeses from 2024.

What wines are included?

The tasting includes selected wines. Descriptions of sessions mention a white, a red, and a Portuguese ruby port. Some also mention two white wines and one red, so the exact selection can vary.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Is transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included. The tasting starts and ends at the store, which is near public transportation.

Do I need to be 18 to drink the wine?

Yes. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

How many people can join the tasting?

The maximum group size is 26 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.