Amsterdam: Dutch Cheese Tasting Experience with Wine

Cheese can be a full Amsterdam lesson. This 45-minute tasting introduces five Gouda cheeses, three carefully matched wines, and the story of Old Amsterdam in a friendly room above the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store. I like the generous mix of cheese and wine, and I like how the guides turn cheese-making and aging into something easy to understand. The main catch is practical: the tasting room is upstairs by stairs, so it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

At $23 per person, this is a sensible short activity, especially if you enjoy food with a bit of explanation behind it. Guides such as Aris, Rik, Ari, Roberta, and Maria have been praised for being funny, warm, and well prepared. The 20% shop discount also gives you a useful chance to take your favorite cheese home.

The session includes red, white, and port wine, plus fig bread and water to clear your palate. Alcohol is limited to adults aged 18 and over, and the portions are tasting sizes rather than a full meal. Plan this as a flavorful break between sightseeing, not as lunch.

What makes this Amsterdam tasting worth your time

• Five Gouda cheeses in one sitting: Compare different ages, styles, and milk types, including cow and goat cheeses.
• Three wine pairings: Red, white, and port wines are selected to work with different cheeses rather than served as a single standard drink.
• Old Amsterdam’s family story: Learn about Westland Kaasspecialiteiten and the long-running family business behind the brand.
• A lively teaching style: Guides including Aris and Rik are praised for humor, clear explanations, and answering questions.
• 20% off downstairs: Use the discount after the tasting to buy cheese, chutney, or other products from the shop.
• Easy to fit into a sightseeing day: The formal tasting lasts 45 minutes, though some sessions may feel longer when conversation and shopping continue afterward.

Entering the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store

Your meeting point is the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store in Amsterdam. The tasting room sits on the first floor, above the shop, and you reach it by stairs. That location matters because the activity begins in a retail setting, then moves into a more private room where the food and talk get your full attention.

The room has been described as cozy, private, and air-conditioned. That last detail is useful in warmer weather, when a cool seat and a glass of wine can feel like a small luxury after walking Amsterdam’s streets. You are not being rushed through an open shop counter. You sit down, receive the tasting board, and listen as the host sets out what you are about to try.

The group can hold around 18 people, though it may be much smaller. A small group makes it easier to ask questions and compare reactions. A full room will feel more social, while a two-couple session can feel almost like a private class. The exact group size is not guaranteed, so book this for the content and setting rather than expecting an intimate lesson every time.

English is the stated language. The hosts named in feedback include Aris, Rik, Ari, Roberta, Maria, Ron, and others, so the person leading your session can vary. The consistent point is the style: clear instruction, plenty of personality, and room for questions.

First tasting: learning what Gouda really means

Many people use Gouda as a general word for Dutch cheese. This tasting gives you a chance to see how broad that category can be. The five samples are all Gouda cheeses, but they are not meant to taste alike.

The guide explains how cheese is made in the Netherlands and how aging changes the finished product. You learn to pay attention to texture, strength, and the way flavors develop over time. The lesson also covers the difference between cow and goat Gouda, a distinction that several tasting participants found especially useful.

This is not a technical cheese-making course. You will not spend hours studying production or visiting a farm. Instead, the guide gives you enough background to make each sample more interesting. A small piece of cheese tastes different when you know to consider its age, milk source, and texture.

The format works well for beginners. You do not need to know the difference between young and aged Gouda before you arrive. You can simply taste, listen, and ask why one cheese is milder, firmer, sweeter, or stronger than another.

Some people may find the samples small. That is normal for a structured tasting, where the aim is comparison rather than filling you up. One visitor described the portions as small but sufficient for learning. The supplied cheese and wine are considered generous by others, so expectations may depend on how much you normally eat.

The Old Amsterdam story above the shop

A major part of the talk focuses on Old Amsterdam, one of the best-known Dutch cheese names. You hear about Westland Kaasspecialiteiten, the historic family-run company connected with the brand, along with its cheese-making work and different labels.

The recipes remain a family secret. That gives the presentation a little character, since you may hear hints about the process without receiving a complete formula. The point is not to reveal a recipe. It is to understand how a cheese company builds a name around methods, aging, and consistency.

This part adds context to what you are tasting. Old Amsterdam is not presented as just another yellow block in a shop. You get the company background, the place of aging in the final flavor, and a clearer sense of why some cheeses cost more than others.

I would pay close attention here if you plan to buy cheese afterward. The lesson helps you choose based on taste instead of picking the most familiar package. You may prefer a younger cheese for mild eating, an aged cheese for a stronger bite, or a goat Gouda for something different.

The tasting is also a useful introduction if you are visiting Amsterdam with family or friends who like food but do not want a long museum tour. It gives you a local product, a family business, and a practical way to understand one part of Dutch culture.

Matching five cheeses with red, white, and port wine

The wine is not an extra drink added beside the cheese. The guide presents three styles chosen to complement the samples: one red wine, one white wine, and one port wine.

The pairings are the most enjoyable part for anyone who likes to notice how food changes with a drink. A cheese may seem sharper on its own, then softer or more rounded with wine. Fig bread and water help reset your palate between samples, so each cheese gets a fair chance.

The sequence and exact pairing for each cheese are not specified in advance, so you should expect the host to guide you through the board rather than follow a fixed menu you can study beforehand. This leaves room for the session to feel like a lesson instead of a checklist.

You may also ask questions as you go. A good tasting is not about pretending to detect ten mysterious flavors in every bite. It is about learning what you enjoy. The guides have been praised for explaining pairings in plain terms and for helping people understand which cheese and wine combinations work best.

Alcoholic drinks are included, but this is still a tasting rather than a wine tour. You receive three wine styles with the cheese, not a full flight from a winery. Anyone who does not drink alcohol should consider that the experience is built around wine, and the provided information does not describe a nonalcoholic alternative.

The minimum drinking age is 18. If you are visiting with children or a mixed-age group, the tasting may not suit everyone in the same way.

Why the host matters more than the room

The food is the reason you book, but the guide shapes the quality of the hour. A dry talk about milk, aging, and wine could become forgettable. Here, the strongest sessions rely on a host who can make the information social.

Aris has been praised for being funny, entertaining, and attentive to questions. Rik has been singled out for his ability to explain wine pairings and cheese production. Roberta was praised for linking the family company, Gouda, wine, and food pairings in a clear way. Other named hosts, including Ari and Maria, were also described as friendly and engaging.

That range of names tells you that the host may change, but the activity is designed to be informal. You might laugh a lot, or you might focus more on the food. Either way, the guide is there to keep the pace moving and make sure the group understands what it is tasting.

This is a good choice for a birthday outing, a couples activity, or a small group looking for something different from canals and museums. One family used it as a birthday treat, while other groups appreciated the chance to ask questions and learn together.

If you prefer silent tasting with no group interaction, this may not be your ideal pick. The friendly banter is part of the appeal.

The downstairs shop and the 20% discount

After the tasting, you can return to the cheese shop downstairs and use a 20% discount on purchases. This is more useful than a generic souvenir coupon because you have just tasted the products and can make a better choice.

You may find additional cheeses beyond the five on your board, including Old Amsterdam goat cheese and truffle Gouda, both of which have earned particular praise. Chutney may also be available, and one session included a complimentary chutney at the end. Since stock and extras can vary, treat that as a possible bonus rather than a guaranteed inclusion.

The discount improves the $23 value, especially if you already planned to bring Dutch cheese home. It can also tempt you into buying more than planned, so decide which samples you truly liked before entering the shop with your wallet open.

Food souvenirs need some thought. If you are flying home, ask the shop about packing or carrying the cheese, though the provided information does not specify shipping or airport arrangements. The practical benefit here is choice: taste first, buy second.

Is 45 minutes enough?

For a first introduction, yes. The 45-minute length keeps the activity easy to add to an Amsterdam itinerary. You can fit it between other plans without giving up half a day.

The schedule includes an introduction to cheese-making, the story of Old Amsterdam, five cheeses, three wines, palate cleansers, and questions. That is a full program for a short sitting. The guide needs to keep the talk focused, so do not expect a long production demonstration or a visit to a dairy.

Some sessions have felt longer because conversation continued or people stayed to shop. That does not change the advertised duration, but it explains why the activity can feel more substantial than a quick counter sample.

I would schedule it when you are not rushing to catch a train or timed museum entry. Even a short tasting is better when you can listen, compare flavors, and decide what to buy afterward.

Price, value, and who should book

At $23 per person, the price is fair for five cheeses, three wines, instruction, fig bread, water, and the shop discount. You are paying for the teaching as much as the food. If you only want a free sample, the price will seem high. If you want a guided introduction to Dutch cheese, it is strong value.

The tasting works best for:

• Adults who enjoy cheese, wine, or both
• First-time visitors who want a local food activity
• Couples and small groups
• Families with members aged 18 or older
• Anyone considering buying Dutch cheese and wanting to taste before choosing

It is less suitable for people with mobility impairments because the tasting room is reached by stairs. It is also not a full meal, a farm visit, or a detailed professional sommelier course.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies make it easier to place the tasting into a changing Amsterdam schedule, though you should still check the available start times before booking.

My call: book it if cheese is part of your Amsterdam plan

I would book this experience if you want a short, social activity with a clear local connection. The best reasons are the five different Gouda samples, the red, white, and port pairings, and the chance to learn about Old Amsterdam before shopping.

The guide’s personality can make the session especially memorable, with Aris and Rik among the hosts praised for humor and clear explanations. Just keep your expectations in the right place: this is a 45-minute tasting in a shop setting, not a countryside cheese farm or a full lunch.

Book it when you want to rest your feet, learn something practical, and leave with a better idea of which Dutch cheese deserves space in your suitcase. Skip it only if stairs are a problem, you do not drink alcohol, or you are looking for a substantial meal.

FAQ

Where does the Amsterdam cheese tasting take place?

Meet at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store in Amsterdam. The tasting room is on the first floor above the shop.

How long does the cheese and wine tasting last?

The stated duration is 45 minutes. Some sessions may feel longer if conversation continues or you spend time shopping afterward.

How many cheeses and wines are included?

You taste five different Gouda cheeses. The wine selection includes one red wine, one white wine, and one port wine.

Is the tasting available in English?

Yes. The host or greeter and the activity are provided in English.

Can I get a discount after the tasting?

Yes. Participants receive a 20% discount in the shop downstairs. Extra products, such as chutney, may sometimes be offered, but they are not listed as a standard inclusion.

Is the activity suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The tasting room is accessible only by stairs, so the activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. You must also be at least 18 years old to drink the included wine.