Eating on the Cheap in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the most beautiful city in the Netherlands and one of those most beautiful cities in Europe. While Amsterdam is a beautiful city that is visited by many throughout the world, it is not cheap. One of the highlights of Amsterdam is the cuisine which is generally expensive, but it is still possible to eat good in Amsterdam on a budget you just have to know where to eat at. A good idea is to eat in bars and coffee shops, I know this may sound sleazy but many bars and coffee shops in Amsterdam serve a variety of sandwiches that are delicious, filling and affordable, the drinks aren’t too bad either.

If you’re one of those people who enjoys pancakes then you’ll love the many pancake houses spread all throughout Amsterdam. But when you step into a Amsterdam pancake house don’t expect American style pancakes and syrup, the Dutch version of pancakes which are called pannekoeken comes in many varieties and are delicious and won’t put much of a damper on your wallet. If you’re a vegetarian or a person who enjoys healthy foods then you should check out some of the vegetarian and whole foods restaurants which are moderately priced just like most are in the U.S.

The Leidseplein district of Amsterdam is any food lovers paradise. In Leidseplein you’ll find a wide variety of foods such as Japanese, Italian, Indonesian, Greek, Mexican and traditional Dutch foods. The beauty of the food in this district is that all of these restaurants are in competition for your business so the prices tend to be very competitive. If you’re a fan of French fries or frites you’ll be happy to know that it is sold in most parts of Amsterdam and served in a paper cone with mayonnaise, the snack is fairly cheap. Try finding a vending machine in Amsterdam, unlike in the U.S. where most vending machines serve just snacks and drinks, the vending machines in Amsterdam sometime serve entire fast food meals that are not very expensive. Another good idea to save money and eat good in Amsterdam is to try to only visit a restaurant once a day and shop in the grocery stores and markets for your other two meals and snacks. Check your hotel for ice which will keep your food and other goods fresh.

One of the highlights of the food in Amsterdam is the stroopwafel, which is available through most markets and street vendors, they are thin, waffle type cookie with delicious caramel in the middle. Search around the city for the street vendors with the best deal on the stroopwafel to save yourself a couple of dollars. If you’re one of those people who don’t mind doing a little research then a great idea would be to purchase a budget guidebook that will list the most affordable restaurants and cafes.

Just like in most cities try to avoid the tourist areas for food, you will almost always be ripped off. Leave the tourist area of the city and go a couple of blocks away and look for good restaurants that will be much cheaper then those in the tourist area of the city.