Best Amsterdam Food Markets
Who else can better guide us to the best Amsterdam food markets than Karen, the Cooking Coach. The Cooking Coach gives culinary tours, cooking lessons and keeps an interesting blog with recipes and tips.
Here is her round up of the best Amsterdam markets stocking seasonal produce and lots of tasty treats.
Farmer's market on the Noordermarkt: Saturdays only
Obviously this is one of my favourites as I take my culinary tour groups around this market. The section of the market on the Lindengracht is quite like the Albert Cuyp.
One stall I have to mention though is at the opposite end to the Brouwersgracht. This is Carla’s stall where she has the best meat and poultry I have yet found. She has some great game products and has to be the place to order for the festive season.
From the Lindengracht, walk for only two minutes through the little streets to where the Farmer’s market is located on the church square and there, its quite a different experience. Some of the best producers in the country come each week to sell. There is a fantastic mushroom stall which looks amazing at this time of year, a real must. There is a lot of choice on bread, goats and sheep’s cheeses which I love.
And one of my favourite stalls with herbs – if you have ever noticed that sometimes herbs don’t have much flavour, try these ones – it’ll really open your eyes, the taste is so much more intense.
Albert Cuyp Market: Albert Cuyp Straat: Open Monday through Saturday
This is not a farmer’s market, but you can find interesting local producers in amongst the myriade of stalls. Some stock local produce - ask the stall holders where the produce comes from. This market is always seen as a typical Amsterdam cultural experience. I would recommend the fish stalls and also fruit and vegetables. Not all stalls are available each day, so it can sometimes be a hit and a miss. My tip is if you find a stall you like, check with the guys which days they have their pitch. Normally, good stalls are always around on a Friday and Saturday.
Dappermarkt: Dapperstraat: Open Mondays through Saturdays
If I’m honest, this is not really based around seasonal produce, but it is probably one of the cheapest markets in town. You can get a good deal on vegetables and sometimes Dutch cheese. May be that's why the market has been awarded 'best market in The Netherlands'.
The real reason I go to this market, is actually not for the market at all, but for the shops along the street. There are a couple of Indian stores where you can get the biggest and best selection of Indian spices – everything you’ll ever need and more!
Farmer’s Market on the Nieuwmarkt: Saturdays
This area, is an ancient market site, situated around “”De Waag” or Tron (if you're Scottish). There is a small farmer’s market in this area, where you can get good fruit and veg.
There is quite a lot of cheese, but beware, I have noticed a stall with those awful “tourist” cheeses – you can tell them by the highly coloured wrapping and also because of the small size, please, don’t buy them, you might as well eat rubber. If you want to take cheese out of the country, go to a reputable specialist and ask them to vacuum pack it for you. Sorry for my little soap box moment, don’t let it put you off this market.
They also have great wild mushrooms as well as a stall selling jams, preserves and lots of dried herbs and spices.
My favourite thing to do here is to head for the stall where they make fresh crepes or the organic hamburgers, get myself something to munch on, and stroll around.
As this market is situated smack bang in the middle of Amsterdam’s China town, don’t miss the opportunity to have a mooch round the Asian supermarkets.
Landmarkt in Schellingwoude: Daily
This is kind of a cross between a market and a supermarket. It's basically a farmer's market yet when the local producers cannot deliver certain goods, the goods are imported from elsewhere. So when possible, it's organic and local.
There is a good bread area, as well as cheese, meat and fish. Its got a much nicer atmosphere than a supermarket and a good option if the weather is bad as it is covered. You can eat here as well, the products they use to cook all originate from the market. Landmarkt Amsterdam, Schellingwouderdijk 339, Amsterdam. Open Daily till 20h, Sundays from noon till 18h.
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