What to eat Netherlands? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Opening times can vary from place to place, and it's always worth checking, not least because of staff shortages. Usually, restaurants open for lunch from 12pm to 2pm and for dinner from 6pm to 10pm. Kitchens close earlier than in France: think about it! Reservations are required for the most popular addresses.

The Netherlands is a country that can be experienced at many speeds and on a budget. However, prices have risen enormously in recent years, and restaurants will be a major item of expenditure if you want to eat properly seated.

Doggy bags are not compulsory, but many restaurants practice them.

If you're hungry and on a budget, Febo is a unique and iconic Dutch option. This fast-food dispenser lets you satisfy your cravings by literally pulling your food out of a wall. Operating like a vending machine, Febo offers a variety of hot snacks.

Officially, service is included in the price, but it's a good idea to leave a tip in cafés, restaurants and with cab drivers. 10% of the bill is a good indication. While service in the Netherlands is often rough and slow, don't forget that many waiters and waitresses are students making ends meet. The French don't always get good press, and they don't have a reputation for generosity: go ahead, make a small gesture!

Restaurants normally serve water free of charge, but it would be a little inappropriate not to take mineral water in a Michelin-starred restaurant. Bread baskets are not a tradition in the Netherlands, and you'll only find them in luxury restaurants.

Fish stalls are probably the most local way to eat healthy and like the locals. Bonus: fish and herring trays are affordable options. A practical and typical plan!

We don't recommend any address bearing the name of a famous Italian spread. These are the tasteless addresses found in ultra-touristy neighborhoods, serving greasy, sugary food, often already presented in the stalls.

Children are welcome in many restaurants, and there is often a special menu for them.

All cafés and restaurants have been smoke-free for several years. This ban also includes electronic cigarettes. Terraces, of which there are many across the country, remain one of the few places where smoking is still permitted.

It's simple: touts will never take you to a good restaurant.

Opening hours vary from establishment to establishment, but bars and cafés generally open from 11am and close at 1am. On Friday and Saturday nights, they close at 2am, and sometimes at 3am. Some establishments have 24-hour licenses and can stay open very late. Bars are very popular from 5pm onwards, the time of the famous borrel, the after-work drink.

Addresses that do offer them are often the ones to avoid: no happy hour in good Dutch bars..

If you're on a tight budget, we advise you to avoid drinking wine during your stay, which is often expensive, in favor of more affordable beer, preferably local.

While binge drinking, particularly among students, is a real problem, alcohol is officially forbidden to minors. To buy and consume it, you'll need to prove you're over 18.

The Borrel: the famous drink at the end of the working day, around 5pm! It's customary to get together over a lager and a tray of snacks (chunks of cheese and meatballs).

Minors will not be allowed to consume alcohol in cafés and restaurants, but they will have access to them. Some bars do not allow children, but we've made this clear in the description.

Smoking only on the terrace! Electronic cigarettes are also prohibited inside cafés.

You don't order a pint here. Beers are best drunk as halves.