We’re about to dive into the world of Dutch breakfast foods, from the sweet hagelslag to the hearty uitsmijter.
I live in Amsterdam, and I’m originally Romanian, but stepped into the culinary Dutch cuisine thanks to my lovely partner Vienna, who is an original Dutchie.
She introduced me to the typical Dutch breakfast and I’m here to share with you how does that look like in the Netherlands.
The first thing I tried was the “boterham met hagelslag” aka “bread with chocolate sprinkles”.
I made it myself and I didn’t get the hype. I just didn’t like it. Felt like unnecessary calories on bread but without the great taste. Turns out I did it wrong.
Once Vienna expertly chose the right bread, the perfect butter, and her favorite hagelslag brand, I loved it!
With each food, we’ll also be sharing our top brand recommendations, so you too can try it at home.
10 Traditional Dutch Breakfast Foods
1. Boterham met Hagelslag (Bread with Chocolate Sprinkles)
A fresh slice of bread, a layer of creamy butter, and a generous sprinkle of hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles). Vienna swears by De Ruijter Hagelslag, the dark and white chocolate flakes, a brand that’s been loved by generations of Dutch folks.
In every Dutch grocery store, you’ll find a huge dedicated area of all sorts of Hagelslag.
You can find it in different flavors (strawberry, vanilla, anis), shapes and colors (orange for King’s Day, pastel colors for Easter).
2. Pannenkoeken (best with Cheese & Bacon and Syrup)
These aren’t your average pancakes. It’s like a crepe but the Dutch version is a bit thicker. The one I love has grated cheese and bacon inside the batter that get very crispy if it’s done right.
Don’t forget to drizzle some Stroop (a thick, sweet syrup) over it – Van Gilse is the top choice here. The salty bacon melted cheese, and sweet syrup create an explosion of flavors in every bite.
Of course, you can also go for the simple ones and top them with anything you’d like: strawberries, whipped cream, syrup, fruits, apples etc.
3. Bread with Toppings
A typical Dutch breakfast is often very simple: brodjes (lil types of bread) with toppings like cheese, cold meats, jam, appelstroop, peanut butter, filet american, or store-bought mayo-based salads (tuna salad, crab salad, surimi salad).
4. Ontbijtkoek with Butter
This spiced loaf sweet bread, cloves, cinnamon or nutmeg with dried fruits and lemon or ginger peel is a staple of the Dutch breakfast table. It’s dense, spicy, and delicious.
As you’re already used to it you should slice it and top it off with a layer of rich, creamy butter to balance out the intense spices. Serve it with coffee or tea for the best experience.
5. Uitsmijter
Uitsmijter is basically a slice of bread topped with cheese, ham, and fried eggs. Is the Dutch version of an English breakfast.
It’s perfect for those mornings when you need a substantial start to the day. It’s simple, but it’s good especially if you grab your ingredients from the local market.
6. Wentelteefjes
Think of Wenteleefjes as a Dutch version of French toast – slices of bread soaked in an egg mixture, then fried to perfection.
Top with powdered sugar or syrup (again, the Van Gilse for the best experience) for a sweet start to your day.
7. Eggs
Boiled, scrambled, poached, fried, or omelet – the Dutch love their eggs in all forms. As in the rest of the world, eggs are a classic dish that you can expect to be on a Dutch breakfast menu.
8. Yogurt with Muesli, Granola, or Cereals
For a healthier option, a bowl of yogurt topped with muesli, granola, or cereals is also a common Dutch choice. Some really make it unhealthy by buying high in sugar yogurts and high-sugar musli.
The creamy yogurt pairs well with the crunchy Quaker Muesli or Cruesli, topped with fresh berries.
9. Porridge
A comforting bowl of porridge on a cold morning is also typical here. You’ll often see in the store Brinta boxes that offer a quick whole-grain porridge mix that is both nutritious and delicious.
10. Beschuit with Strawberries
Last but not least, we have the beschuit, a round, crispy cracker.
Bolletje is a go-to brand for beschuit.
Top these with a layer of butter and fresh strawberries from the market and you have a simple, refreshing breakfast treat.
Oh, and let’s not forget about koffie verkeerd – that’s ‘wrong coffee’ in english, which is basically coffee with milk.
There you have it. I have to say, these are not the healthiest dishes.
Ps: from the whole list #2 is my favorite. What is yours? These are the go-to breakfast food in the Netherlands.
Featured Photo Source: Bolletje
