15 Best souvenirs from Amsterdam blog post was first published on Culture Tourist on 24 August 2018 and updated on 10 May 2024.

Bringing a lovely souvenir back home from your trip makes you feel like you’re at that particular destination for just a bit longer. And the same applies to the Dutch capital. You’ll find a souvenir shop on every corner in Amsterdam. However, finding the right one to bring back home could be a challenging task. It should be something produced in the Netherlands that is meaningful and has a story linked to the Dutch capital. After buying presents and souvenirs in Amsterdam for my friends and family for years, here is my list of the best souvenirs from Amsterdam.

The best souvenirs from Amsterdam

This post contains some affiliate links. Read our Privacy Policy for more info.

⤷ Read more: Amsterdam 3 Day Itinerary

1 – Stroopwafels

Stroopwafels are typical and probably the most famous Dutch cookies you’ll find on every corner in the Netherlands. These popular cookies contain two thin wafels and caramel syrup between them. They’ve been loved among the Dutchies for centuries, so you’ll even find them on some of the paintings of Dutch masters in the Rijksmuseum.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? You’ll find stoopwafels in any Dutch supermarket like Albert Heijn or HEMA for around two euros. However, if you’d like to go with more fancy stroopwafels, check out the van Wonderen Stroopwafels shop on Kalverstraat or at Stach shops. If you’d like to buy fresh stroopwafels, visit some of the Amsterdam markets.

2 – Dutch cheese

The Netherlands is the second biggest cheese producer in the world. Gouda, Edam, Old Amsterdam and Boerenkaas are just some of them. So, buying different kinds of Dutch cheese could make a great souvenir from Amsterdam.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? Locals eat lots of cheese, so you’ll find some pretty good ones at the supermarket. However, I usually buy it at the market. My tip is to stroll through some of the Amsterdam markets, try some cheese there, and buy your favourite.

⤷ Read more: Christmas presents from or inspired by Amsterdam

3 – Dutch chocolate & sweets

Chocolate has always been a popular sweet in the Netherlands. However, during the last few years, I have seen an increasing number of new brands and special producers appear on the Dutch chocolate scene.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? Although you can find it at the supermarkets, my advice is to visit some of the special shops for the best chocolate from the Netherlands. Puccini Bomboni and Urban Cacao could be an excellent starting point. My special recommendation goes to Van Stapele Koekmakerij for the best cookies in Amsterdam.

4 – Tony’s Chocolonely

Although I could include it in the previous paragraph, Tony’s Chocolonely deserves a separate section between the best souvenirs from Amsterdam. Founded in 2005, they are one of the biggest chocolate producers in the Netherlands. Besides producing their chocolate without slave or child labour, they often partner with Dutch companies, like the Rijksmuseum, to create a unique packaging design, making a lovely present for your friends and family from the Netherlands.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? Tony’s Chocolonely Superstore, where you’ll find the largest selection of their products, is located in the city centre. However, you can also find their best sellers in the Dutch supermarkets and at Schiphol Airport.

5 – Colouring postcards ‘Dutch symbols’

I’m promoting my own product here. But I genuinely believe it’s a great souvenir from Amsterdam. Colouring postcards with 10 different Dutch symbols on them could be lovely postcards you’ll send to your family and friends. Or, you can keep them as a nice souvenir from Amsterdam. And the best thing is, you can colour and adjust them to your taste. You can check out designs and get your set at the link here.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? You can order your set of these colouring postcards in the Culture Tourist webshop. They are available again from 12 July 2024.

⤷ Read more: 10 Fun things to do in Amsterdam this summer

6 – Books inspired by or about Amsterdam

Novels about places I’m visiting are my new favourite souvenir! Numerous great books were inspired by Amsterdam or have a story set in the Dutch capital. I wrote about some of them in my Literary Guide to Amsterdam. To help you with your search, here are some of my favourite books about about Amsterdam.

⤷ TIP: If you’re visiting Amsterdam with children, check out my review of Paola Bucciol’s The ABCs of Amsterdam book.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? One of the best places to visit in Amsterdam for book lovers is The American Book Center. They have a great selection of English books, many of them dedicated to Amsterdam. You’ll also find a great book selection at the Rijksmuseum shop. Check out the Amazon links above if you’d like to purchase them before or after your trip.

7 – Peanut butter from De Pindakaaswinkel

The Netherlands is home to one of the best peanut butter producers in the world. It’s a small company with a very cool vibe and a place where I’m leaving a small fortune each month. Their peanut butter comes in many different flavours. It’s packed in cute jars, making a perfect souvenir from Amsterdam.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? Check out all of De Pindakaaswinkel’s locations on this link.

⤷ Read more: Is the I amsterdam City Card worth it?

8 – Tulip Bulbs

Amsterdam is a city of flowers, and one of its most recognisable symbols is the tulips. Why not bring some of them back home with you? You can buy a handy box with tulip bulbs and plant them on your balcony or garden, reminding you of the Dutch capital daily.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? The central place to shop for flowers in Amsterdam is its floating flower market on Singel Canal. There, you’ll find a variety of tulip bulbs to bring home as a lovely souvenir.

9 – Dutch art and design

The Netherlands is famous for its fantastic artists like Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals. You’ll find their work in Amsterdam museums. However, while visiting Amsterdam, check out the work of many talented contemporary Dutch artists and designers. Buying some of their work will make a wonderful souvenir from Amsterdam.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? The best place to look for Dutch design is at the Droog store. However, one of my favourite places to look for Dutch art is at the many small shops and galleries at Nieuwe Spiegelstraat. It’s a street that connects the Rijksmuseum and Herengracht. Numerous antique stores and art and design shops there sell everything from antique Delft pottery to modern Dutch art.

⤷ Read more: What to see at Museumplein in Amsterdam

10 – Cheese slicer

One of my favourite gifts from the Netherlands is a cheese slicer. It’s a very Dutch product, but it’s so handy. Dutch cheese is a bit firmer, so having one of these slicers to cut it perfectly thin is convenient. You’ll find many brands in stores, but my favourite is Boska cheese slicers.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? For the best selection, visit some of Amsterdam’s special home cooking shops.

11 – Colouring postcards ‘Rembrandt in Amsterdam’

One of the most famous Dutch Golden Age painters, Rembrandt van Rijn, lived and worked in Amsterdam almost his whole life. If you’d like to bring a souvenir from Amsterdam linked to the famous artist, check out Culture Tourist colouring postcards set ‘Rembrandt in Amsterdam’. Through the seven designs, you can explore locations where famous paintings were created or places close to his personal life.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? You can order your set of these colouring postcards in the Culture Tourist webshop. They are available again from 12 July 2024.

⤷ Read more: Rembrandt in Amsterdam

12 – Hagelslag

Hagelslag is a common part of Dutch breakfast and a great souvenir from Amsterdam. It’s chocolate sprinklers that are supposed to be eaten on bread. They are very popular in the Netherlands.

Traditionally, in the Netherlands, when babies are born, a cookie with pink or blue hagelslag is served to celebrate the occasion.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? Look for them at the Dutch supermarkets.

13 – A gift from the museum shops

Amsterdam is home to some fantastic museum shops! My favourite is the one at the Rijksmuseum, where you can choose from numerous gifts inspired by art from that terrific museum. The whole section is dedicated to books about Dutch art, history and Amsterdam. Another excellent museum where you can find the best souvenirs from Amsterdam is the Stedelijk Museum. It’s a great place to look for design products and books about modern and contemporary art. A great thing is that you don’t need an entrance ticket to access it.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? Rijksmuseum (address: Museumstraat 1, Amsterdam), Stedelijk Museum (address: Museumplein 10, Amsterdam).

⤷ Read more: Best museums in Amsterdam & Tips for visiting them

14 – Jenever

If you like gin, you should try its Dutch version, jenever. Actually, jenever is a gin’s predecessor, because the gin was developed after jenever was introduced in England by the Dutch. Jenever has been produced in the Netherlands for centuries. It was first mentioned back in the 13th century. The jenever production went through a little Renaissance lately, so you’ll find numerous producers creating different kinds of flavours of this unique drink.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? Check out the list of the best jenever spots in Amsterdam on this link.

15 – A Rembrandt graphic from the Rembrandt House Museum

Last year I got one of my favourite souvenirs from Amsterdam. It was a copy of one of Rembrandt’s graphics made on a traditional printing press, very similar to the one the famous master used. As the museum curator said, you can’t get closer to Rembrandt.

Where to buy it in Amsterdam? At the Rembrandt House Museum souvenir shop (address: Jodenbreestraat 4, Amsterdam)

⤷ Read more: Rembrandt House Museum

This list of the best souvenirs from Amsterdam will help you decide what to bring home from your trip to the Dutch capital.

What are your favourite Dutch souvenirs? Would you add any to this list? Let me know in the comments below!

, , ,