Amsterdam Cheese Museum Review: Free Cheese Tasting in the City
When you visit a new place, it’s a crime not to try the things that place is known for. In Amsterdam, that usually means exploring the city on a bicycle, going on a canal cruise, and possibly visiting Keukenhof if it’s tulip season.
But beyond tulips, canals, windmills, and those wooden shoes nobody actually wears, there’s one very Dutch thing that deserves just as much attention.
Cheese.
And lots of it.
Table of Contents
A brief intro to Dutch cheese
The Dutch have been making cheese for a very, very long time. Like, prehistoric long. Archaeologists have found clay pots dating back to around 800 BC that suggest cheese production was already a thing back then.
Fast forward to today, and the Netherlands is now the fourth-largest cheese producer in Europe.
In the Netherlands, cheese is as much an identity as it is food. Many Dutch cheeses are named after cities or regions, like Gouda, Edam, Leyden, and Maasdam.
Some of these names are legally protected, meaning only cheese made in those specific regions gets to use the name.
Popular types of Dutch cheese
1. Gouda
A mild-flavored yellow cheese made from cow’s milk.
When aged, it develops a caramel sweetness with a slight crunchiness from cheese crystals.
2. Edam
A semi-hard cheese with a pale yellow interior and a rind of red paraffin wax. Does not spoil but only hardens with time.
Has a milky and buttery taste, and almost no smell.
3. Leyden
A semi-hard cow’s milk cheese flavored with cumin and caraway seeds.
4. Maasdam
A cow’s milk cheese with a smooth yellow rind and internal voids (holes) from the ripening process.
Has a nutty and sweet flavor.
5. Leerdammer
A semi-hard cow’s milk cheese with a creamy white texture, distinct holes, and a sweet and somewhat nutty flavor.
6. Hollandse Geitenkaas
A semi-hard white cheese made using pasteurized cream or goat’s milk.
Has a soft, mild, and clean taste.
You can learn about these cheeses and more at the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. And best of all, you also get to taste them, for free!
Amsterdam Cheese Museum
I’m a big fan of food-based travel experiences, especially when they involve tasting things. Even more so when those tastings are free.
Read: Free Food Tour in Sofia, Bulgaria
So when I found out there was a cheese museum in Amsterdam that lets you sample different cheeses without charging you an entrance fee, I didn’t need much convincing.
Cheese is one of my favorite foods after all (yes, including the stinky kinds).
But where I’m from, it’s ridiculously expensive, not to mention boring. We usually only have overpriced cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan if we’re lucky.
Anything beyond that feels like a luxury item. So walking into a place where cheese is abundant, varied, and freely offered felt almost unreal.
How to get to the Amsterdam Cheese Museum
The Amsterdam Cheese Museum is located right in the heart of Amsterdam’s city center and is easy to find if you’re wandering near the canals.
- Walking: Across the canal from the Anne Frank House (5 minutes’ walk).
- By public transport: From the Central Station, take tram 13, 17, or bus no. 21, 170, 171 to Westermarkt stop.
- By car: From the Amsterdam ring A10, exit on S105 and continue driving until you reach Bloemgracht.
What it's like inside the Amsterdam Cheese Museum
The ground floor of the museum is essentially a cheese shop on steroids. You’re presented with more cheese than you’ve ever seen in one room.
Wheels and blocks of cheese everywhere, neatly arranged, each with a little bowl of toothpicks and tiny cubes for sampling. You’re encouraged to try them. All of them. This is not a test of restraint.
You’ll be surprised to find that even Gouda cheese alone comes in many different varieties and infusions — from pineapple bits to garlic to pesto.
Whether you like sweet or savory, choosing a favorite is nearly impossible and frankly unnecessary.
After you’ve had your fill, you can make your way down to the basement, which is where the actual museum part is.
Down there, you’ll find displays explaining the journey of milk turning into cheese, the history of cheese-making in the Netherlands, old tools, replicas, videos, and texts.
There’s also the most expensive cheese slicer in the world (because of course there is), and a photo corner where you can dress up like a traditional Dutch cheese farmer. I respect any museum that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Apparently, the staff also offer guided tours if you ask, but the store was quite busy when I visited, so I didn’t want to bother them.
Is the Amsterdam Cheese Museum worth visiting?
I did read that the Netherlands has other cheese museums, notably a bigger, more elaborate one in Alkmaar, where you can also join guided tours to cheese markets and farms. That one sounds great too if you have more time and enjoy structured activities.
However, Alkmaar is 43 kilometers away from the capital, so for those of you who are short on time or simply don’t feel like making the 40-minute journey, the Amsterdam Cheese Museum is a great alternative.
You still get to learn about Dutch cheese and taste a ridiculous amount of it for free, and you don’t even have to leave the city. If you’re a foodie, I’d say this is a must-visit place in Amsterdam. And even if you’re not, could you really say no to free cheese?
One last practical thing: the cheese sold here is vacuum-packed and travel-friendly, which means you can safely bring it home without stinking up your bag. They also ship worldwide, in case you don’t feel like playing suitcase Tetris with blocks of Gouda.
All in all, it’s not the most life-changing museum in Amsterdam. But it is one of the tastiest.
Opening Hours: 09:00 to 20:00 daily
Entrance Fee: FREE!
Have you visited any ‘edible museum’ before? Or have you heard of any? If yes, please share in the comment section below. I’d love to have more food experiences abroad!
very informative. i suka cheese tapi tak pernah tau type of cheese. makan je pandai haha
Oh haha, saya pun tak tau banyak sangat. Tapi tau la beza cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, Brie, n blue cheese. Sbb tu je yg biasa ada kat Malaysia ni.
mesti wangi masuk dalam muzium cheese tu! I dah boleh imagine bau dia haha nampak cantik lah packaging dia. Siap ada tester lagi untuk pengunjung
Hmm, tak perasan pulak ada bau ke tak masa masuk kedai tu aritu. Macam tak kot. Rasanya Dutch cheese ni tak bau kuat sangat macam blue cheese. Tapi packaging memang cantik. Semua vacuum-packed, senang kalau nak bawak travel atau pos ke mana-mana.
dia jenjalan cari cheese plak.. hahahaha~ akak kat rumah ni balik balik mozarella, cheddar je.. rupanya banyak lagi ya jenis cheese yang ada.. kagum jap..
Banyak kak, kalau pergi supermarket yang ‘atas’ sikit kat Malaysia ni, dapat la tengok jenis-jenis cheese yang lain, tapi harganya pun ‘atas’ la. Bila pergi Eropah, memang saya gunakan segala peluang yang ada untuk makan cheese, sebab murah. 😀
Menariknya ada muzium macam ni. Bila la dapat pergi travel macam ni kan
Tu la, saya pun tertanyta-tanya bila la boleh travel lagi.
Teruja bila tahu banyak je is cheese yang ada. I memang penggemar cheese dan memang akan ambil tahu jenis jenis cheese yang ada.
Then, you wajib singgah ke Cheese Museum ni kalau pergi ke Amsterdam nanti. Sementara tu, bookmark la dulu ya, untuk rujukan akan datang. 🙂
oh this brings back such great memories. my brother brought back all kinds of dutch cheeses and they were amazing. thanks to your article, i now understand each type better! there are just so many more to try.
I agree, Grace. So many cheeses, so little time, right? Haha. I wish to learn more about cheese in my future travels, and I hope you will too! 🙂
wow! i think i just found my favorite blog. I love cheese! am feeling so excited when i see all your pictures shared about cheese. loving all the details you share. i shall print out this post for my future reference.
Thank you so much, Viola! Glad you enjoyed the article. It’s crazy to think that this is only a small portion of the many other types of cheese out there!
As for now, I wish we can travel around the country freely. But yes, we have to do our parts in flattening the covid lines.
Be safe.
Not sure how this comment relates to the article, but yes, we do have to do our part in flattening the curve. You be safe too.
Am actually replying to your question at the bottom of the article.
As for the edible museum – I haven’t been to any.
Ah ok, Rawlins! I agree — it’s such a bummer not to be able to travel around the country or abroad.
kalau i suka cheese cheddar parmesan mozarella tapi sebenarnya banyak lagikan jenis cheese ouch hungry pula now rasa nak makan mac n cheese bila tengok ni 🙁
Haah, cheese ni ada banyak jenis lagi, Syafiera. Yang ni baru Dutch cheese, belum lagi kira yang dari negara-negara lain di Eropah, atau dari benua-benua lain di dunia. Agaknya kalau dikira semua, mau sampai beratus-ratus jenis.
peminat cheese mmg kena pergi sini.. barulah puas hati.. semua cheese ada..
Ya, Mus. Peminat cheese memang kena pergi sini. Tapi tak semua jenis cheese ada, yang kat sini cuma keju keluaran Belanda saja. Walaubagaimanapun, tetap boleh dapat bermacam-macam jenis.
i wish i can visit this museum someday. Looks fun exploring different type of cheese. The best part is you can taste the sample. I have not visited any edible museum before, how sad
You’re right, Zharif — although it’s cool to learn about the cheese making process and all, the best part will always be the tasting part! Hope you’ll get to visit it too someday.
Ummi! MasyaAllah best betul dapat pergi muzium keju! Banyak informasi kan. Bila dah tau banyak cheese, mesti ada favourite kan? Yang mana satu pilihan kalbu?
Hmmmm…sangat susah soalan tu, kak Ruby. Hahaha. Tak dapat nak pilih yang mana satu paling suka, sebab semua sedap. Lepas tu, saya ikut mood juga, kadang-kadang rasa nak makan yang lembut dan berkrim. Kadang-kadang nak yang separa keras dan rasa yang lebih kuat. Senang cerita, borong je la semua.
Seriously I didn’t know there are so many type of different cheese until i read this entry.. Worth to check them out on my next trip, don’t know when we can travel freely again..
These are only Dutch cheeses, Kitkat. So that’s only a small percentage of the many other types of cheese in this world! Ya, I hope we’ll get to travel freely again soonest.
Bestnya I dah la peminat cheese. Pergi museum macam ni one of my dreams la. Suka tengok sejarah and how diaorang buat sesuatu benda yang I suka
Setuju sangat-sangat, Airah. Bila kita dah suka sesuatu benda tu, dah tentu la kita nak tau lebih lanjut sejarah dan cara pembuatannya, kan? Dan yang paling best, dapat rasa secara percuma. Jadi, kalau Airah pergi ke Amsterdam nanti, jangan lupa singgah cheese museum ni tau!
People usually know French cheese but I much more like Dutch cheese. Every time I’m travelling thought Amsterdam I’m buying some local cheese 🙂
Oh, that’s cool, Ann. I have yet to try authentic French cheese. Will make a point to do so on my next visit, and compare the two 😉
Wow! This is really awesome ! Learn up all cheese at Amsterdam Cheese Museum ! That’s mouse mommy favourite foodies too CHEESE!!!
Awesome! It’s one of my favorites too. You must try to go to the Amsterdam Cheese Museum, then, Mouse Mommy. 🙂