Even before I moved to Amsterdam, I was a huge fan of Dutch Gouda cheese. Whether it be pesto flavoured, spiced, smoked or served traditionally, I just can’t get enough of that dairy snack. But I’m not the only local – or visitor – swooning for ‘Dutch kaas.’ And thanks to Amsterdam’s Kaaskelder, everyone can take home a wheel of delicious homemade cheese.
As soon as you enter the Kaaskelder, you are met with a wall of wheels. Gouda cheese is everywhere here and available in all their tasty versions. For the discerning visitor, the Kaaskelder has keenly set out samples of each flavour, made with either cow’s milk or sheep milk.
Along the shop’s other wall is a giant vat of churning buttermilk. The display is just a glimpse into the cheese making process, but it is a throw-back to the shop’s dairy farmers at the Catharina Hoeve. The authentic seventeenth century cheese farm is located in the picturesque town of Zaanse Schans and supplies the Kaaskelder with their cheese assortment.
Thanks to them, and to the makers of the traditional Amsterdamse Oude Kaas (Amsterdam Old Cheese), the Kaaskelder is your one stop shop that lives up to its reputation as Amsterdam’s house of cheese. And don’t be shy about trying some of their sweet snacks too. The shops syrup filled Stroopwaffle cookies are a mouth-watering compliment to their impressive cheese collection.