Amsterdam: Dutch Cheese Tasting Experience with Wine

Amsterdam’s cheese scene gets much more interesting when you taste five Goudas side by side with three carefully matched wines. This short session explains how age, milk, and texture change the cheese, rather than simply handing you a plate and saying enjoy.

I like the lively hosts, especially Aris and Rik, who turn a compact lesson into a social event. I also like the practical finish: you receive 20 percent off cheese in the shop, so you can buy the favorite you just learned to recognize. The main drawback is the 45-minute length, which feels brisk if you want a long, leisurely wine tasting.

Key points at a glance

• Five Gouda cheeses: Compare different ages and styles, including cow and goat cheeses.
• Three wine pairings: Taste one red, one white, and one port chosen to suit the cheeses.
• Old Amsterdam story: Learn about the family-run Westland Kaasspecialiteiten business and its brands.
• Helpful teaching: Hosts explain cheese-making, aging, and pairing in clear English.
• Useful shop discount: The 20 percent saving makes it easier to take your favorite cheese home.
• Important access note: The tasting room is upstairs and reached only by stairs.

A 45-minute introduction to Dutch cheese

This is a compact tasting rather than a full meal or a half-day food tour. You meet at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, then go upstairs to the tasting room, where an English-speaking host guides you through the session.

That short format works well in Amsterdam. You can fit it between canal sightseeing, museum visits, or an evening meal without giving up half your day. At the same time, you should arrive ready to pay attention. Five cheeses, three wines, a little company background, and pairing advice are packed into less than an hour.

The tone depends partly on the host. Aris is repeatedly praised for being funny and outgoing, while Rik is especially good at explaining the wine matches and cheese-making process. Other hosts, including Roberta and Maria, have also led sessions praised for clear presentations and friendly help. The experience is not a silent tasting. You are encouraged to ask questions and take part.

Starting with the Old Amsterdam story

The first part places the tasting in the setting of Old Amsterdam cheese. You learn about Westland Kaasspecialiteiten, a historic family-run business connected with the brand, its cheese-making, and its different labels.

The family recipes remain private, but the introduction gives you a useful sense of what you are tasting. Old Amsterdam is not just a generic Dutch souvenir cheese. The session explains how the company presents its cheeses and how age and production affect the final result.

That background matters because Gouda is often treated as one broad category. In practice, the word covers a wide range of textures and flavors. A younger Gouda can be soft and mild, while a more aged cheese can be firmer, sharper, and more complex. The tasting helps you notice those changes instead of treating every orange-yellow slice as the same.

You may also hear about the difference between cow’s milk and goat’s milk cheeses. Several participants especially enjoyed the younger goat Gouda, and one popular purchase was Old Amsterdam goat cheese. If you are curious about milk types, this is a good point to ask questions.

Tasting five Goudas side by side

The heart of the experience is the cheese board. You sample five different Gouda cheeses, with the host explaining what to look for as you move from one piece to the next.

The portions are tasting sizes, not lunch portions. One pair described them as small pieces but enough to learn from, while another found the servings generous. That is the right way to think about this activity: you receive enough cheese to compare the samples and understand the lesson, but you should not book it as your main meal.

Expect differences in age, firmness, milk, and flavor. The exact selection can vary, so I would not book expecting a particular five-cheese lineup. The useful part is the contrast. You can notice how a cheese changes as it matures, and how a goat version differs from a cow’s milk Gouda.

Fig bread and water are provided between tastings. The bread gives you something mild and slightly sweet to pair with the cheese, while water helps clear your palate. These small details make the tasting easier to follow, especially when moving from a gentle cheese to a stronger one.

The host also explains how cheese is made and aged in the Netherlands. You will not see a working dairy or a cheese-making demonstration, but you do get a guided explanation of the process. For someone who has only encountered Gouda as a supermarket block, this is a useful step up.

Why the wine pairings matter

The wine is more than a free drink alongside the cheese. You receive one red wine, one white wine, and one port, selected by a sommelier to work with the cheeses.

The host explains how to taste the cheese on its own, then try it with the wine. That comparison shows why pairings can change your impression of a food. A cheese that seems mild on its own may taste fuller with red wine, while a sweet port can make a firm, salty cheese feel rounder.

The three styles also give the session a clear rhythm. The white wine offers a lighter match, the red gives you a fuller option, and the port provides a sweet finish. Exact wine labels are not specified, so you should focus on the pairing lesson rather than expecting a particular bottle.

A few people found the wine pours generous, and one person noted that an additional pour could be requested. I would treat that as a possible courtesy rather than a guaranteed part of the package. The stated inclusion is one red, one white, and one port.

If you do not drink alcohol, the activity may be less suitable since wine is central to the session. The minimum drinking age is 18 in the Netherlands, and the activity is not designed as a children’s tasting.

A social class with a sense of humor

The host makes a real difference here. Aris is often singled out for making people laugh while still explaining the cheese well. Rik is praised for his skill with pairings and for answering questions. Roberta and Maria are also remembered for making the presentation clear and friendly.

The session can feel intimate when the group is small. One participant attended with only another couple, while the tasting room can hold around 18 people. Group size will affect the mood. A small group gives you more room to ask questions, while a fuller session may feel more like a shared tasting party.

That social element is one reason this works well for couples, families with adult children, birthday outings, and friends looking for a relaxed indoor activity. It is less suited to someone who wants a private, silent tasting with detailed technical notes.

You might also pick up practical restaurant or food-pairing suggestions during the conversation. The host’s role is not limited to reading facts. The best sessions respond to questions and help you understand how to use what you learned after leaving the shop.

The shop discount and what to buy

After the tasting, you can browse the cheese shop downstairs and receive a 20 percent discount on purchases. This is a useful benefit because you have just identified which styles you actually like.

The discount also improves the value of the $23 price. You are not simply paying for five small samples and three drinks. You receive instruction, the tasting, fig bread, water, and a saving on cheese if you decide to buy some for later.

I would wait until after the tasting before shopping. A display of Dutch cheese can be tempting, but the session gives you a better basis for choosing. If you like a firmer, older Gouda, buy that. If the goat cheese wins you over, the discount gives you a good reason to take it home.

Some people bought Old Amsterdam goat cheese and truffle Gouda after the session. Those are examples, not a fixed recommendation, but they show how the tasting can turn a familiar souvenir into a more personal choice. Ask about storage and travel suitability in the shop if you plan to carry cheese home.

Is $23 good value?

At $23 per person, I consider this a strong value for a short Amsterdam food activity. You receive five cheeses, three wine styles, instruction in English, palate cleansers, and a 20 percent shop discount.

The value is strongest if you enjoy both cheese and wine. Three pairings give the session more substance than a basic cheese sample, and the teaching helps you understand why the matches work. If you already know a great deal about Gouda or wine, you may find the information fairly introductory.

The 45-minute duration keeps the price sensible, but it also sets limits. This is not a full lunch, a vineyard visit, or a behind-the-scenes dairy tour. Think of it as a focused lesson and tasting in a central shop setting.

One practical point: the tasting room is on the first floor and accessible only by stairs. It is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. The shop itself may be easier to enter, but the tasting takes place upstairs.

How to fit it into your Amsterdam day

The short duration makes this easy to place in a busy itinerary. Schedule it before a meal if you want the tasting to serve as an appetizer, or after sightseeing when you need an indoor break.

The cheese and wine can be filling enough to slow you down, but you should not count on it as your only food for the day. Fig bread is included, yet the focus is tasting and learning rather than providing a complete meal.

It also works well in poor weather or on a hot afternoon. The tasting room has been described as cozy and air-conditioned, which gives you a comfortable pause from Amsterdam’s streets. Because the room is upstairs, remember the stair access when planning with older relatives or anyone who has difficulty climbing steps.

The meeting point is the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store. Check the start time when booking, since availability varies. Free cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before the activity, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your plans are still moving around.

Who should book this tasting?

I would choose this for first-time visitors who want a simple introduction to Dutch cheese without leaving Amsterdam. It is also a smart pick for anyone who enjoys food pairings but does not want a long formal class.

Couples and small groups are likely to get the most from the relaxed format. It can also make a nice birthday activity, as one person used it for a mother’s birthday. The hosts bring enough humor and warmth to keep the session from feeling stiff.

You should look elsewhere if you need step-free access, avoid alcohol, or want a full meal. It is also not the best choice if you are seeking a farm visit or a detailed technical cheese course. The value lies in the combination of clear instruction, enjoyable samples, and a pleasant social setting.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you like Gouda, wine, and short food experiences with a human touch. The strongest reasons are the five-cheese comparison, the red, white, and port pairings, and hosts such as Aris and Rik who make the lesson lively.

Book it with realistic expectations. You are getting 45 focused minutes, not an all-day culinary tour. Arrive hungry enough to enjoy the samples, leave room for a shop purchase, and remember the stairs. For $23, the tasting offers a useful introduction to Dutch cheese and a practical 20 percent saving if you find a favorite to take home.

FAQ

Where does the cheese tasting take place?

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

How long does the experience last?

The tasting lasts 45 minutes.

How many cheeses will I taste?

You will taste five different Gouda cheeses.

Which wines are included?

The experience includes one red wine, one white wine, and one port wine.

Is the activity held in English?

Yes. The host or greeter leads the experience in English.

Is food provided besides the cheese?

Fig bread and water are included alongside the cheese tasting and wine.

Can I receive a discount after the tasting?

Yes. You receive a 20 percent discount in the shop downstairs.

Can children join the wine tasting?

The minimum age to drink alcohol is 18 years old.

Is the tasting room accessible without stairs?

No. The tasting room is upstairs and can only be reached by stairs, so the activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.