Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Appelgebak
Puddings are very popular,
particularly the classic apple pie,
accompanied by a large dollop of
whipped cream
(slagroom)
. By
common consent, the best
appelgebak
in Amsterdam is
served at Winkel. d
Winkel:
Noordermarkt 43
•
Map D2
Top 10 Drinks
Pils
The national drink of the
Netherlands is beer.
Pils
- top
brands Heineken and Grolsch
- is the lager-like beer served
(with froth) in bars. The Dutch
generally drink it from small
glasses, so it remains ice-cold
to the last drop.
Witbier
Wheat-brewed white beer
is pale and cloudy - often
served with a slice of lemon.
Bokbier
A brown, sweet, winter
beer served in round glasses.
Jonge Jenever
Dutch gin is flavoured
with juniper and drunk neat
- usually downed in a swift
gulp from a small glass.
Jonge
(young)
jenever
is
colourless and sharp.
Pannenkoeken
Pannenkoeken
Pancake houses offer an
astonishing variety of fillings -
try the Pancake Bakery
(see
p97)
for an excellent selection.
The traditional Dutch favourite is
a large pancake topped with a
thick syrup called
stroop
. If you
have room for more, there are
delicious, sugary
poffertjes
, the
mini pancakes sold in summer
from brightly painted stalls and
from permanent stands at Dam
Square and Leidesplein.
Oude Jenever
Smoother, more complex,
and slightly yellow in colour.
Both types are referred to in
bars as
borrel
(a tot).
Kopstoot
Aptly named, a
kopstoot
(head knock) is a
pils
swiftly
followed by a
jenever
chaser.
Naveltje Bloot
Literally, Naked Tummy
Button: a fruit liqueur
traditionally taken when a
mother-to-be shows off her
bump to family and friends.
Patat
Served from street stalls in a
handy paper cone, chips (french
fries) are ubiquitous, and very
good indeed. They are generally
made from whole (not pulped)
Dutch potatoes, and fried in
good, clean fat. Served with a
large dollop of mayonnaise, they
are definitely not for the diet-
conscious. For the very best, go
to Vleminckx.
d
Vleminckx:
Voetboogstraat 33
•
Map M5
Oranje Bitter
An orange-flavoured
liqueur knocked back on
Koninginnedag
(30 April).
Bakkie
A cup of strong black
coffee, the way the Dutch
prefer it.
Koffie Verkeerd
If you like your coffee
milky, “wrong coffee” is
what to ask for.
59
