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Amsterdam souvenirs: The best gifts and keepsakes to bring home
Some of the best Amsterdam souvenirs are aged Gouda and handmade ceramics. Get tips from our local host on what to buy and where to shop.
The best Amsterdam souvenirs include Dutch cheese, jenever, and Delft blue pottery. These are authentically Dutch items, far from touristy souvenirs that everyone seems to buy. To help you choose the best souvenirs at more unique markets, we’ve consulted our local Holafly expert, Laura Gala, who looks beyond the generic finds.
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Top 10 Amsterdam souvenirs
Here are some of the ideas for perfect Amsterdam souvenirs and gifts to bring home.
1. Dutch cheese
The best souvenirs from abroad are typically what locals go for themselves. Hard cheese tops our list of the best Amsterdam souvenirs, and for good reason. Locals love buying and gifting cheese. They also avoid commercialized souvenir shops in city centers.
Laura advises purchasing Dutch cheese like “aged Gouda or Beemster wrapped nicely from a local cheese shop.” Her go-to spot is De Kaaskamer in the Nine Streets, one of the best places to visit when exploring things to do in Amsterdam.
Buying traditional aged Gouda cheese wheels, Beemster, or old cheese cubes guarantees elevated flavors. Plus, since they’re vacuum-packed, packing them in your luggage is a breeze. Pair with a traditional cheese slicer for the perfect add-on.
2. Stroopwafels
Devouring multiple Stroopwafels is a core Amsterdam experience, which means you cannot leave the Netherlands without some. While you can’t top eating them warm and fresh at the market, a tin can of Stroopwafels makes a great souvenir for friends and family back home.
Laura recommends getting your Stroopwafels in a “small tin can from Albert Cuyp Market. It’s easy to pack and lasts long”. Head to Rudi’s Original Stroopwafels at the market for the best tin cans. The decorative tin keeps them safe from crushing in your suitcase and preserves the gooey caramel center.
3. Jenever (Dutch gin)
For drink enthusiasts, head to a local liquor store for jenever. This traditional Dutch gin is the predecessor to English gin. Laura explains, “If you have to pick just one drink, it has to be an ice-cold jenever in a cozy brown café.”
These artisanal bottles are also great for gifting. Packing them is really easy, and they travel well. Choose between gong (young) and oude (old) jenever. Jonge jenever is more modern with a neutral flavor profile, while oude is more aromatic and malt-dominant.
4. Miffy (Nijntje)
Miffy souvenirs in Amsterdam are very popular, among both tourists and locals. Known locally as Nijntje (little girl), this cartoon bunny holds a special place in the hearts of locals.
“Miffy is genuinely loved here. Locals grew up with her, so she feels authentic and nostalgic, not touristy,” Laura says. However, she warns travelers to shop carefully: “Research a bit because in some places they sell it overpriced as a tourist trap.” Visit official bookstores or the Miffy stores for genuine items.
5. Delft blue pottery (Delftware)
Delft blue pottery (Delftware) is the perfect traditional choice for unique, practical souvenirs from Amsterdam. These are blue-and-white hand-painted ceramics from Delft dating to the 17th century.
Genuine pieces have classic windmills, canal houses, and historical scenes painted on them. They’re marked by official factories like Royal Delft. You’ll come across cheaper imitations made of screen-printed porcelain, so it’s important to know how to distinguish between authentic and fake pieces. Buy Delftware from official stores or museum gift shops.
6. Tulip bulbs
Seeing the Netherlands’ famous tulip fields (about 40 km from Amsterdam) is one of the best things to do while visiting. Naturally, getting a tulip-themed souvenir and bringing home a piece of the famous Keukenhof gardens is a great idea.
Tulip bulbs are a popular Amsterdam souvenir, provided you buy them from the right place. The Amsterdam Tulip Museum sells certified, export-ready bulbs packaged to withstand long-haul transit.
Top tip: Always verify that your package has a customs clearance certificate, especially if you’re taking it to the US. Without the “Certificate of Inspection”, customs officers at your home border may confiscate them.
7. Hagelslag (chocolate sprinkes)
For cheap yet memorable souvenirs from Amsterdam, an everyday item loved by locals is chocolate sprinkles or hagelslag. Dutch locals eat these on buttered bread for breakfast almost every day.
It’s affordable, lightweight, and an authentic part of Dutch culture. Skip the tourist-shop versions and walk into a local grocery store like Albert Heijn to grab a few boxes of dark or milk chocolate sprinkles from Dutch Chocolate Company or De Ruijter.
8. Dutch chocolates and sweets
Bringing home a box of local chocolates can be the best souvenir for you and your loved ones. Explore the city’s local confectioners, instead of commercial shops.
Laura shares her preference, “A nice box of chocolates from a local chocolatier that is not in the centre.” While enjoying an iconic slice of warm appeltaart (Dutch apple pie) at Winkel 43 is absolutely necessary while you are in town, you cannot pack it in a suitcase.
Instead, take home bonbons, gourmet chocolate bars from Tony’s Chocolonely, or Dutch cocoa powder from independent shops to recreate the experience at home.
9. Handmade ceramics and local trinkets
For unique souvenirs, you’ll have to look past the basic wooden tulips and fridge magnets. Take advantage of Amsterdam’s growing contemporary design scene and explore local shops for unique finds.
Laura recommends checking out artisan markets: “The Maker Store is my absolute favorite. Everything here is made by local makers — ceramics, candles, prints, jewelry, skincare”.
Explore De 9 Straatjes (The Nine Streets) for boutique fashion and handmade jewelry, or wander through the Spiegelkwartier for high-end art, design pieces, and vintage finds.
10. Museum merchandise
Getting museum souvenirs from some of the best museums in the world makes sense. The gift shops at the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum offer high-quality items.
Buy certified art prints, books, and beautiful home goods directly from the museum. You can also find notebooks featuring Vincent Van Gogh’s masterpieces and home decor inspired by classic art.
Bonus mentions
If you have extra space in your luggage, keep an eye out for these local favorites:
- Dutch licorice: A salty, black candy loved by Dutch people and shocking to foreigners. Grab a small bag at Albert Heijn to taste test with friends.
- Oliebollen: Traditional fried dough balls perfect for a seasonal treat.
- Organic wine: Pick up a locally sourced bottle of organic wine or a craft Dutch beer from Wijn van Bret.
- Fresh produce: Browse the Noordermarkt for regional snacks and local honey.
- Wooden shoes: Clomped (wooden clogs) are mostly worn in rural areas, but decorative versions can make a lighthearted gift.
Where to buy souvenirs in Amsterdam
While you’ll spot several vendors, stalls, and tourist shops all over Amsterdam, there are a couple of places worth your money for the most authentic souvenirs. Getting to most of these places is also a breeze, thanks to Amsterdam’s public transport system.
Important: While Amsterdam is quite famous for its relaxed cafe culture, never attempt to bring cannabis-related edibles home. This includes bringing them back to the US, where they remain federally illegal.
- Albert Cup Market and Noodermarkt: These are Laura’s top locations for authentic Dutch goods at local prices. Albert Cuyp is open every day except Sunday for stroopwafels, clothes, and some of the best food in Amsterdam. Visit Noodermarkt on Saturdays for antiques and organic food.
- The Maker Store: Located in the De Hallen complex, this is the best place to purchase locally designed pieces, jewelry, and prints.
- De 9 Straatjes: Here you’ll find boutiques, vintage clothing, leather goods, and cozy cafes.
- De Kaaskamer: Located in the Nine Streets, and the perfect place to sample hard cheese before having it vacuum-sealed for travel and commercially labeled to clear customs.
- Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum shops: Head to these for original art prints, stationery, and notebooks.
What to avoid: Laura advises skipping Dam Square’s overcrowded souvenir stalls, Central Station kiosks, and touristy Red Light District shops. “Dam Square is super overcrowded because of the shopping stores — I would skip.”
Stay connected while souvenir shopping in Amsterdam with an unlimited data eSIM
Whether you’re searching for all the best places to buy souvenirs or mapping a route between the Albert Cuyp Market and De 9 Straatjes, you’ll need a reliable internet connection.
Holafly’s eSIM for the Netherlands keeps you connected with unlimited data, 5G speeds, and 24/7 customer support. You get access to the best local networks across Amsterdam and other cities.
Plus, with Holafly’s Always On, you get 1 GB of free monthly backup data with every plan for as long as you keep your eSIM installed.
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FAQs about Amsterdam souvenirs
The best souvenir is probably a vacuum-sealed wheel of aged Gouda or Beemster cheese from a local shop like De Kaaskamer.
Some of the best things to buy in Amsterdam are locally designed goods from The Maker Store or gifts from the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum shops.
You can bring back vacuum-sealed and packaged items, chocolate, and certified tulip bulbs with official certificates. Uncertified plants, seeds, edibles, and cannabis products are prohibited.
The best places to shop include the Albert Cuyp Market for traditional treats, De 9 Straatjes for boutique fashion, and The Maker store.
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Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!
