If you came to Amsterdam expecting one kind of waffle, the city will surprise you. There are at least four serious styles served here every day: Dutch stroopwafel pressed thin and filled with warm caramel, Belgian Liege studded with pearl sugar, Belgian Brussels with airy crisp ridges, and Dutch poffertjes the size of a fifty-cent coin. This waffles Amsterdam guide walks you through every style, where to eat the best version, and the hands-on activity that lets you press your own Dutch waffle from scratch. For an ingredient-level breakdown of the dough and stroop, see the ingredients in a real stroopwafel with the traditional Gouda recipe.
Use this waffles Amsterdam guide as a starting point and you will eat better than ninety percent of visitors who walk past three of the four styles without realising they exist.
The Four Waffle Styles You Will Find
Most visitors think of a waffle as the deep-pocketed Belgian breakfast version with strawberries and whipped cream on top. That is one style. The others are completely different foods that happen to share a name.
Stroopwafel (Dutch). Two paper-thin waffle layers pressed together with warm caramel syrup. Eaten warm from a market stand, or placed on top of a coffee cup so the steam softens the caramel. This is the most distinctive waffle of the four, and the most native to Amsterdam. Our full stroopwafels in Amsterdam guide covers the city’s best spots.
Liege (Belgian). Dense, round-edged, made with brioche dough and pearl sugar that caramelises during cooking. The pearl sugar is what creates the crunchy sweet pockets. Liege waffles travel well and are eaten cold or warm, with or without toppings.
Brussels (Belgian). Light, rectangular, with deep square pockets. Made from a yeasted batter that produces an airy, crisp result. This is the version usually served with strawberries, whipped cream, and powdered sugar on tourist menus.
Poffertjes (Dutch). Small, puffy, round pancakes the size of a fifty-cent coin, cooked in a special cast-iron pan with shallow round wells. Served by the dozen, dusted with powdered sugar and a knob of butter. Technically a pancake rather than a waffle, but every poffertjes stand in Amsterdam claims the waffle category.
Where to Eat Stroopwafel in Amsterdam
The stroopwafel is the most important waffle in this waffles Amsterdam guide, because it is the only one native to the Netherlands. Look for stalls that press the waffle in front of you on a hot iron rather than selling pre-packaged versions from a tin.
Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp has a long-running fresh stroopwafel stand at the eastern entrance. The waffles are pressed all day, sliced open while warm, and filled with caramel syrup as you watch. A single waffle costs around three euros. For the full market walk, see our Albert Cuyp Market Amsterdam guide.
Van Wonderen Stroopwafels on Kalverstraat 152 is the central tourist option, with dipped versions topped with chocolate, sprinkles, and M&Ms. The base waffle is excellent. The loaded versions are a fun photo even if slightly over the top, and the queue can be long between noon and 6pm.
Stach on Heiligeweg sells fresh stroopwafels alongside their deli range. Calmer than Van Wonderen and a good spot to sit down with a coffee.
Where to Eat Liege Waffles in Amsterdam
The Liege waffle has a small but loyal following in Amsterdam. The best examples are made fresh in the morning and sold at independent waffle bars or in food halls.
The Waffle Bakery on Bilderdijkstraat in Oud-West specialises in Liege waffles. The dough is mixed fresh each morning and the pearl sugar comes from a small Belgian supplier. Topped with Nutella, fresh fruit, or eaten plain, they cost around six euros.
De Hallen food market in Oud-West has at least two stalls selling Liege-style waffles, including one that does a salted caramel version that is unreasonably good. Open daily from 11am to 8pm.
Where to Eat Brussels Waffles in Amsterdam
Brussels waffles in Amsterdam are usually served as a sit-down dessert with whipped cream and fruit, rather than a takeaway snack. The result is often more meal than treat.
The Pancake Bakery on Prinsengracht has a small but reliable Brussels waffle menu alongside their pancakes. Mook Pancakes on Vijzelstraat also serves Brussels-style with seasonal toppings. Expect to pay between eight and twelve euros per serving.
If you only have time for one Belgian-style waffle in Amsterdam, choose Liege over Brussels. The Liege version travels better and tastes more distinctive. The Brussels version is widely available at home in most countries.
Where to Eat Poffertjes in Amsterdam
Poffertjes are the easiest waffle to find badly done. The supermarket frozen version is sad. The street-stand version made fresh is brilliant. Always go to a stand cooking them in front of you.
Albert Cuyp Market has a long-running poffertjes stand at the Ferdinand Bolstraat end. Pancakes Amsterdam sit-down restaurants serve them as a side or starter. Carousel Pancake House on Weteringcircuit is a touristy but reliable choice if you want a covered indoor option.
A portion of twelve poffertjes costs around five euros at a market stand, eight to ten at a sit-down restaurant.
The Hands-On Option: Press Your Own Stroopwafel
Eating a stroopwafel is one thing. Pressing your own on a real iron, slicing it open, and filling it with warm caramel is something else entirely. The stroopwafel workshop on Albert Cuypstraat is a hands-on 45-minute activity where you do exactly that. Sessions hold up to 20 people and run several times a day, so it fits solo travellers, couples, families, and groups.
The workshop sits two minutes off Albert Cuyp Market, so most visitors do the market in the morning and the workshop straight after. Booking ahead is recommended on weekends. You can also book through the FunAmsterdam stroopwafel page if you want to bundle it with other De Pijp activities.
This activity is the cleanest answer to the “how do they make a stroopwafel” question that every visitor ends up asking after their first taste. Belgium has factory tours; Amsterdam has a stall and a 45-minute hands-on workshop.
A Waffle Walking Tour Through Amsterdam
Here is a route that hits all four styles in one day. Distances are walkable for someone fit; allow about ninety minutes between stops to eat and digest.
9am at Albert Cuyp Market: Fresh stroopwafel at the eastern entrance, poffertjes at the Ferdinand Bolstraat end. Two styles, two euros each, twenty minutes of walking in between.
11am at the FunAmsterdam workshop: Press your own stroopwafel for the full hands-on experience. By now you have tasted the street version and the homemade version of the most native Dutch waffle.
1pm walk or tram to Oud-West: Liege waffle at The Waffle Bakery on Bilderdijkstraat, or at one of the De Hallen stalls. This is the most Belgian-tasting moment of the day.
3pm back to the Jordaan or canal belt: Brussels waffle with whipped cream at The Pancake Bakery on Prinsengracht. A heavier finish to a day of eating.
This route covers more than half a kilometre of waffles and gives a real sense of how diverse the city’s waffle culture actually is. For a broader overview of every waffle style in the city, see our main page on waffles in Amsterdam. For more food itineraries, see our broader guide to Dutch food in Amsterdam.
How to Tell a Good Stroopwafel From a Bad One
The stroopwafel is the only waffle in this guide native to the Netherlands, and the quality range is enormous. Here is how to tell.
Texture: The outer waffle should be crisp but not brittle, with a clear honeycomb pattern from the iron. If it feels rubbery or floppy, it sat too long after pressing.
Caramel: Should be runny enough to slowly drip when the waffle is sliced. Cold, hard caramel means it has not been warmed or it is a packaged supermarket version.
Heat: A fresh stroopwafel should be warm enough to slightly melt butter if you put it on the waffle. Anything room-temperature has been sitting around.
Smell: Cinnamon and caramelised brown sugar. If you do not smell anything, the waffle is old.
For background on how the recipe has evolved, the stroopwafel Wikipedia entry covers its 19th-century Gouda origins and the spread of the recipe across the Netherlands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous waffle in Amsterdam?
The stroopwafel is the most famous waffle in Amsterdam and the most native to the Netherlands. Belgian Liege and Brussels waffles are widely available but are imported styles. Poffertjes are a Dutch specialty closely related to waffles.
Where can I find the best waffles in Amsterdam?
For the best stroopwafel, head to Albert Cuyp Market or the FunAmsterdam workshop on Albert Cuypstraat. For Liege waffles, try The Waffle Bakery or De Hallen in Oud-West. For Brussels waffles, The Pancake Bakery on Prinsengracht.
How much do waffles in Amsterdam cost?
A fresh stroopwafel from a market stand costs around three euros. A Liege waffle with toppings runs five to seven euros. A Brussels waffle at a sit-down restaurant costs eight to twelve. A portion of twelve poffertjes is around five euros at a street stand.
Are waffles in Amsterdam vegetarian?
Yes. All four major waffle styles in Amsterdam are vegetarian by default. Vegan versions are harder to find but available at a few speciality bakeries in Oud-West and De Pijp. Always check the butter and egg content with the vendor.
Can I learn to make waffles in Amsterdam?
Yes. The stroopwafel workshop on Albert Cuypstraat is a hands-on 45-minute activity where you press your own stroopwafel on a real iron and fill it with caramel. Sessions hold up to 20 people and run several times a day. It is the only place in Amsterdam to make a Dutch waffle from start to finish.
Plan Your Waffle Day
This waffles Amsterdam guide is built around one principle: the city is most exciting when you eat across all four styles, not just one. Start with a fresh stroopwafel at Albert Cuyp, press your own at the workshop, taste a Liege in Oud-West, and finish with a Brussels in the canal belt. You will leave Amsterdam with a real understanding of why waffles in Amsterdam are not a single category but a whole city’s worth of distinct foods.
Ready to make the most fun stop on your waffle day? Book the stroopwafel workshop on Albert Cuypstraat and turn a tasting tour into a hands-on activity you will remember long after the last waffle is eaten.