Old Amsterdam: Dutch Cheese Tasting With Wine Pairing

Dutch cheese tasting paired with wine, 45 minutes.

Overview

Forty-five minutes inside a tasting room above a cheese shop on the Damrak, with five Gouda cheeses on the board and three wines poured alongside them: one white, one red and one port. An instructor walks the table through how cheese is made in the Netherlands and why those wines were selected to complement the cheeses. Fig bread and water sit between the pairings to reset the palate.

The cheese comes from the Westland Kaasspecialiteiten business behind Old Amsterdam, a historic family-run operation. Its exact recipes stay a family secret, but the session passes along a few hints about the method and the story of how the brand fits into Dutch cheese-making more broadly. Afterwards the shop downstairs carries more cheeses to try, and the tasting ticket carries a 20% discount there.

This suits travellers who want a short, structured stop in the centre rather than a long excursion. Reviews repeatedly single out the hosts as knowledgeable, engaging and good at keeping the whole table involved in the tasting.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Damrak 62The meeting point is the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store at Damrak 62, 1012 LM Amsterdam. The tasting room is upstairs on the 1st floor, reachable only by stairs.
2. Sit down for the introductionThe instructor opens the session with the history of the Westland Kaasspecialiteiten business, the story of Old Amsterdam, and a primer on Dutch cheese-making.
3. Taste the cheeses with wineFive different Gouda cheeses are sampled in sequence, served alongside three selected wines: a white, a red and a port. Fig bread and water cleanse the palate between tastings.
4. Ask and discussThe session is interactive throughout, with the host inviting questions and keeping everyone at the table engaged as the pairings are poured and passed around.
5. Browse the shop downstairsThe session ends with the option to try more cheeses in the shop below. Tasting guests receive a 20% discount on purchases.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape the session, and most of them come straight from the listing or repeat across reviews.

• Getting there. The meeting point is Damrak 62, in the heart of the city centre and easy to slot between other plans. There is no pickup or transfer included, so travellers make their own way.
• Stairs only. The tasting room sits on the 1st floor and is only accessible by stairs, with no lift mentioned. Anyone who struggles with steps should factor that in before booking.
• Pace and length. Forty-five minutes is short by design, and the summary of recent reviews notes some travellers find the session rushed and would like more time to taste and discuss. Treat it as a compact tasting rather than a leisurely afternoon.
• The host. Reviews repeatedly praise the guides as interactive, informative and good at keeping everyone at the table engaged.
• Food and drink. Five Gouda cheeses, three tasting glasses of wine, fig bread and water are all included. The alcohol minimum age is 18. The 20% shop discount applies downstairs if something on the board stands out.
• Booking and cancelling. Free cancellation runs up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Given the central location and short duration, the session pairs easily with other plans on the same day.

Common issues. The main limits are practical rather than a matter of quality. The tasting room is on the 1st floor with stair access only, which rules it out for some travellers with limited mobility. The 45-minute format feels rushed to some reviewers who wanted more time to taste and talk. Alcohol is restricted to ages 18 and up, and there is no pickup, so everyone arrives at Damrak 62 independently.

Questions People Ask