Cheese and Wine tasting in Amsterdam

The best part of this Amsterdam tasting is the pairing lesson: five Dutch cheeses meet three wines, and you learn why an aged Gouda may work better with Port while a younger cheese can suit white wine. It is a compact way to get beyond the cheese counter and understand what you are eating.

I like the friendly, hands-on teaching, with guides such as Rick, Maria, Ron, and Luca explaining production, milk types, and aging in plain terms. I also like the useful central location, at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store on Damrak, where you can buy cheese afterward. The main consideration is that this is held above a shop and also promotes its products, so it is not a broad survey of every Dutch cheese producer.

Quick points before you book

• Five award-winning cheeses: Taste a selection of cheeses recognized in 2024, with examples including goat and cow’s milk cheeses at different ages.
• Three wine styles: The tasting commonly includes a white wine, a red blend, and Portuguese ruby Port, though the exact pours may vary.
• A short lesson, not just a snack: You learn about cheese-making, aging, milk types, Dutch cheese traditions, and food pairing.
• Upstairs tasting room: The session takes place above the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store at Damrak 62HS, close to public transport.
• Small to medium group: The maximum is 26 people, with some sessions feeling more intimate when attendance is low.
• Good rainy-day choice: The entire activity lasts about 55 minutes and takes place indoors.

Five cheeses, three wines, and a crash course in Dutch cheese

This tasting puts the food first. You receive five cheeses and sample them with selected wines while a presenter talks you through the flavors and textures. The point is not simply to decide which cheese you like best. You learn how age, milk type, and strength affect a pairing.

The cheese selection has included two goat cheeses and three cow’s milk cheeses, with ages ranging from about four to 18 months. That gives you a useful comparison. A younger cheese tends to show a softer, milder character, while an older cheese can be firmer and more pronounced.

The wines have included a French white, a red blend, and a Portuguese ruby Port. Another account describes two white wines and one red, so you should treat the precise lineup as changeable rather than guaranteed. The reliable feature is the idea of contrast: different wines are matched with different cheese styles to show how the combination changes in your mouth.

You may also receive a small booklet with information about the cheeses. One session included a short quiz with a prize, which gives the presentation a light, social finish. Do not expect a formal wine course. This is a friendly introduction aimed at curious eaters, not a certification class.

Damrak 62HS: starting in the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store

You meet at Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam, at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store. The activity begins and ends here, so there is no separate transport to arrange. That matters in central Amsterdam, where a short tasting can fit neatly between sightseeing stops.

The shop is a practical setting. You start among the products being discussed, then go upstairs to a room arranged for the presentation. The space has a screen and seating for the tasting, and the setting has been described as carefully arranged rather than thrown together in a corner of the store.

You should allow a little time to find the exact entrance on Damrak. Your mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation arrives when you book. The activity is offered in English.

There is no private transportation, but none is needed for this format. The meeting point is near public transportation, and the end point is the same as the start. If your schedule is tight, the 55-minute duration is easy to plan around. If you want a leisurely meal, it is too short and too focused to replace lunch.

What the cheese lesson actually teaches you

The presenter explains how cheese is made and how it changes as it matures. You may learn to tell the difference between goat and cow’s milk cheese, then compare cheeses that have spent different lengths of time aging.

That comparison is the heart of the activity. Dutch cheese can look simple on a shop shelf, especially when several rounds have a similar golden color. The tasting gives you a reason to pay attention to firmness, salt, sweetness, and the way a cheese lingers after you swallow.

The session also covers Dutch cheese-making around Amsterdam and the origins of Old Amsterdam Cheese. This adds local context without turning the hour into a long lecture. You get enough background to understand why Gouda-style cheese is such a major part of the Dutch food scene.

The best presenters keep the talk lively. Rick has been praised for clear explanations of the wines and cheeses. Maria has led sessions with a warm, personal approach, while Ron has been described as engaging and funny. Luca has also guided tastings and explained the cheese and wine choices in detail. Since the guide can change, your experience will depend partly on who leads the session, but the format is built around a live presenter rather than a recorded speech.

Learning how the pairings work

A good pairing does not mean that one item hides the other. It means the wine and cheese make each other easier to understand. The guide shows you how a white wine can refresh the palate after a creamy or mild cheese, while a red can support a stronger, firmer bite.

Port is especially useful in this lesson. Its sweetness gives you a clear contrast with salty, aged cheese. You may find that a cheese tastes sharper alone but rounder with the Port. That simple experiment is more useful than a long list of tasting terms.

The tasting has also included a chocolate cheese dessert. It is not the main reason to book, and it may not appear every time, but it adds a playful ending when offered.

I recommend paying attention to the order of the tasting instead of rushing to your favorite cheese. Try each piece first on its own, then with the suggested wine. You will get more from the session if you notice what changes rather than simply deciding that you prefer red to white.

The good parts: friendly teaching and a social hour

The most praised feature is the presenter. The guide is expected to answer questions, explain the food and wine, and offer further culinary suggestions. The strongest sessions feel personal, even when you arrive without a group.

The room can also work well for solo visitors. One person described meeting new people during the tasting, while larger groups have used it as an easy shared activity. The setup is social without requiring forced participation. You can ask questions, join the discussion, or simply listen.

The format is also forgiving. You do not need previous wine knowledge, and the subject is easy to enjoy even if you are not an expert on Dutch food. The presenter explains the basics, then lets the tasting do the rest.

The session has earned a 4.7 rating from 135 ratings, with 93 percent of customers recommending it. Those figures suggest a dependable experience, but they do not mean every session will be identical. Group size, guide, and exact wines can affect the tone.

The tradeoffs: shop setting and limited variety

The honest drawback is that the tasting takes place in a cheese shop and promotes Old Amsterdam products. At the end, you may receive a 10 percent discount on cheese. That is useful if you want to take food home, but it also makes clear that this is part education and part product introduction.

That is not a problem for everyone. If you are already interested in buying Dutch cheese, the shop connection is convenient. You can taste before choosing what to bring home, and the guide may help you compare ages and styles.

If you want a neutral tasting featuring many independent makers, this may feel narrow. The selection centers on Old Amsterdam cheese, and one assessment described the session as a good introduction rather than a full exploration of Dutch cheese. You should book it for a focused lesson on Dutch cheese and pairing, not for a tour of Amsterdam’s entire food culture.

The cheese selection also favors traditional varieties. A guest hoping for flavored cheeses may find the lineup conservative. That is deliberate: the guide uses young and aged cheeses to explain production and maturation, rather than filling the board with herbs, cumin, or other additions.

Is $32.65 a fair price for 55 minutes?

At $32.65 per person, this is not the cheapest way to eat cheese in Amsterdam. You could buy several pieces at a shop for less. The price makes more sense if you value the live explanation, the three wine samples, the structured comparisons, and the chance to ask questions.

You are paying for a short guided activity, not a full meal. The portions are designed for tasting, so do not arrive expecting a large lunch or dinner. Pair it with a meal later if you have a healthy appetite.

For me, the value is strongest when you are new to cheese and wine pairing. The guide gives you a method you can use later: identify the milk type, consider the age, taste the cheese alone, then compare it with a suitable wine. That practical skill adds value beyond the food served in the room.

The price also works better for a group or a rainy afternoon. It gives you a fixed indoor plan that requires little time and no transport. Solo visitors can join the social setting, while couples and friends get an easy shared activity.

Who should book this Amsterdam tasting?

You should consider it if you:

• Like cheese, wine, or both and want a guided introduction.
• Want to learn how age and milk type affect Dutch cheese.
• Have less than an hour between other plans.
• Need an indoor activity on a rainy day.
• Are traveling alone and would enjoy a relaxed group setting.
• Want to buy Dutch cheese afterward with a possible 10 percent discount.
• Prefer an English-language presentation.

It is less suited to you if you want a full meal, a long winery-style tasting, or a broad comparison of cheeses from many different producers. It may also disappoint if you expect unusual flavored cheeses rather than traditional young and aged varieties.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The minimum drinking age is 18. The maximum group size is 26, so ask yourself how much personal attention you want. A small group can feel almost private, while a full session will feel more like a short class.

Planning the hour well

Book ahead if you have fixed plans, since the activity is often reserved about 14 days in advance. Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Arrive ready to taste rather than rush. The session is short, and the most useful part is the comparison between each cheese and its wine. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, the supplied details do not specify how the tasting can be adapted, so ask the provider before booking.

Remember that the tasting returns to the same Damrak address. That makes it easy to continue shopping, walk through central Amsterdam, or head to another nearby appointment. The lack of private transportation is not a real weakness here, since the activity is designed as a central stop.

My verdict: book it for a focused, friendly introduction

I would book this if I wanted a short, social lesson in Dutch cheese rather than a formal meal. The strongest reasons are the five-cheese comparison, the white, red, and Port pairings, and the lively guides who explain what you are tasting.

The main limit is its focus on one cheese store and its own products. If you accept that, $32.65 is a fair price for an indoor hour of tasting and instruction. If you want independent producers, unusual flavors, or a larger food spread, spend your money elsewhere.

For most cheese-loving visitors, this is a smart way to fill an open hour in Amsterdam, especially on a wet day or near the end of a city visit. Leave room in your bag for cheese, and pay attention to the aging lesson. That is the part you can take home and use.

FAQ

Where does the cheese and wine tasting take place?

It takes place at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam, Netherlands.

How long does the experience last?

The tasting lasts approximately 55 minutes.

What is included in the price?

Food tasting, wine tasting, and cutlery are included.

How many cheeses do you taste?

You taste five different cheeses. The selection focuses on award-winning cheeses from 2024 and may include goat and cow’s milk cheeses at different ages.

How many wines are served?

The tasting includes selected wines. The listed examples include a white wine, a red wine, and Portuguese ruby Port. Some tasting descriptions also mention two white wines and one red.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The activity is offered in English.

What is the minimum drinking age?

The minimum drinking age is 18.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.