Stroopwafels
A must try when you are in Amsterdam
Working behind the reception desk is one of the most enjoyable things in the hotel. I can chat endlessly and love to listen to stories and learn about different cultures and customs. For example, there is a hotel guest who stays with us a few times a year and always brings all kinds of delicacies from his country for us to taste.
That gave me the idea to write this blog. I want to introduce you to a Dutch delicacy. Perhaps one of the most delicious delicacies there is. You can buy them fresh, topped with all kinds of supplements or just ready-made in the supermarket. I am of course talking about the stroopwafel!
The stoop waffle originally comes from Gouda, a city in the province of South Holland. It all started in the nineteenth century. A baker experimented with leftover dough and cookie crumbs with syrup in between. After the success of this baker, the number of syrup waffle bakers grew enormously. The baking of stroopwafels was considered a true craft. Each syrup waffle was made by hand, with old-fashioned baking irons. This is also where the famous checkered pattern of the syrup waffle, as we know it today, comes from. Nowadays the stroopwafel is made throughout the Netherlands.
By the way, did you know that there is an annual stroopwafeldag? On that day, bakers from Gouda gather to bake fresh stroopwafels for the public and hand out waffles to children.
Naturally, I went out in Amsterdam to sample several stroopwafels. And I can tell you, there were two places that stood out above all others, and I will tell you about them below.
Van Wonderen Stroopwafels on Kalverstraat. What a beautiful store, the window alone is one you must have seen! Just a little different from the other syrup waffle stores, because here you can choose a topping for on your syrup waffle. All stroopwafels are baked fresh daily and you can choose from a variety of sizes. These syrup waffles are not only pleasing to the eye, but certainly to your taste buds as well. The syrup waffles are packaged in beautiful boxes. So you can also take them home, but certainly also give them as a gift. Besides the (fresh) stroopwafels, the store also offers other Dutch delicacies. Truly a must visit tip!
My other favorite place to eat fresh stroopwafels is at the Albert Cuijp market. The warm, fresh Gouda stroopwafels that father and son make together are really particularly delicious! The men make it a real treat when you come to them for a syrup waffle. They love to tell you all about the history of the syrup waffle and also show you step by step how they make them and what to look out for. This really is, so to speak, the real deal.
All that remains for me to say is: enjoy your meal!
