Amsterdam on your plate: Local delicacies and Dutch wines during your cruise

Amsterdam is a city of traditions, craftsmanship, and hidden culinary treasures. When you sail through the canals with Classic Boat Dinners, you don’t just see the beauty of the city; you can literally taste it. Increasingly, our guests and travel agents ask for an authentic ‘local experience’. While we have mastered international gastronomy to perfection, we love taking you on a journey of discovery through the finest products from Dutch soil.

The ultimate savoury snacks: Triple-A quality

Forget standard snacks; with us, the selection of savoury appetizers is of an unprecedented standard. We work exclusively with products we call ‘Triple-A quality’. Take, for example, the world-famous shrimp croquettes from bakery Holtkamp. These crispy delicacies are an Amsterdam icon and are served on board exactly as they were intended: pure and full of flavour. Our Dutch ‘bitterballen’ are also of a different calibre. We don’t source these from wholesalers, but directly from the kitchens of the Amstel Hotel or The Dylan. Combined with a mature Reypenaer cheese – an award-winning Dutch classic – we offer you a snack platter that captures the essence of Amsterdam craftsmanship.

Fresh from the water: Herring and oysters

During the summer months, one product is an absolute must: Dutch herring. It is perhaps the most iconic snack of the city. We serve the herring fresh and in the traditional manner, which often provides our international guests with an unforgettable first introduction to Dutch culture. Additionally, we have oysters on the menu year-round. When the season allows, we resolutely choose oysters from Dutch waters. Should the local quality be less due to the season, our chef sources from France, but the preference always remains ‘local’. For us, it is about the best flavour at the right moment.

Surprising wines from home soil

A local experience naturally includes a matching glass of wine. As a wine-producing country, the Netherlands has emerged strongly in recent years, and we love letting you taste that development. We maintain close contacts with vineyards that prove our soil and climate can deliver magnificent results. For instance, we proudly serve wines from the Apostelhoeve in Maastricht. This is one of the oldest and most prestigious wine estates in the Netherlands, renowned for its refined white wines. But we also look further afield, for example to Zeeland. Due to the many hours of sunshine in that region, wines are produced there that surprise even the most critical connoisseur. Serving a wine from Zeeland while gliding past Amsterdam’s canal houses completes the experience of ‘local enjoyment’.

A sweet Amsterdam farewell

Even at the end of the cruise, we stay true to the local character. With coffee, we often serve chocolates from Pompadour, and the finale always includes the ‘little masterpiece’ or a surprise from Holtkamp. It is these small, artisanal details that ensure you haven’t just had a dinner, but have truly experienced a piece of Amsterdam. Whether you come for an extensive dinner from top kitchens or want to enjoy the best local snacks and drinks: at Classic Boat Dinners, we ensure the taste of the city stays with you for a long time. Let yourself be surprised by the quality of our own soil and discover how luxury and local flair go hand in hand on the water.