While museums and sightseeing might be top of the list on a trip to Amsterdam, no trip to the Dutch capital is complete without trying some of its most popular cheeses.
Of all the Dutch cheeses available, probably the most internationally known is Gouda. Although named after the city of Gouda, very little of the cheese is actually made here, with a large amount of the production taking place in Amsterdam itself. For this reason, Gouda is typically available throughout the capital - traditionally made from cow's milk, it works well as both a table and a desert cheese.
Naturally a cheese-fuelled trip to Amsterdam should involve making time for sampling another one of Amsterdam's most famous cheeses, Old Amsterdam. A gourmet cheese made from pasteurised cow's milk, the Amsterdam classic is known for its strong, nutty flavour and firm, smooth texture. Old Amsterdam is available from most Amsterdam cheesemongers and should be served with a glass of fine red wine or quality port.
Alongside Gouda, Edam serves as another of Holland's most famous cheeses. Although sharing the same name as a Dutch town, the name Edam refers to the style of cheese rather than the Dutch town. While Edam and Gouda are often compared to each other, their flavours are slightly different; Edam contains 10% less fat, whilst it is also know to have a very buttery and creamy flavour.
Leyden cheese has become very important throughout Amsterdam and Holland. Leyden, like Edam is made from skimmed milk, so has a slightly lower fat content but a much more powerful, intense flavour; this is mainly due to the cumin and caraway seeds used to flavour it. In fact, legend has it that the cheese was made completely by accident. While an apprentice was working, he accidently spilled cumin seeds into the cheese; however, as he feared getting fired, the incident was kept a secret.
When the cheese was finally tasted it proved so popular that the apprentice went on to become one of Holland's most famous cheese makers. Of course, while the story is considered a myth, understanding the importance of Dutch cheese proves very interesting to learn when visiting its capital city.
For the serious cheese lover, or those looking for a taste of Dutch cheese culture, it is worth factoring a cheese tour into your holiday in Amsterdam. Indeed, over the past few years they have grown very quickly in popularity and many of the hotels in Amsterdam - including the local tourist office - should be able to offer advice on the best ones available to visit.
Amsterdam's cheese culture is just waiting to be explored. From the classic taste of Gouda and Edam to the intense punch of Leyden, cheese is what makes a holiday in Amsterdam so memorable.