Cheese and Wine tasting in Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s Old Amsterdam Cheese Store turns a quick shop visit into a 55-minute lesson in Dutch cheese, with five award-winning cheeses from 2024 paired with selected wines. The tasting takes place in a room above the store, where your host explains aging, milk types, production, and the logic behind each pairing.

I like the small-group feel, with a maximum of 26 people, and I like that the presentation goes beyond eating samples. You compare young and mature cheeses, goat and cow milk, and wine styles. The main drawback is that this is also a shop promotion, so the tasting ends with a chance to buy cheese, and the selection may feel focused rather than adventurous.

Key points at a glance

• Five Dutch cheeses: Compare cheeses at different stages of aging, including goat and cow milk varieties.
• Three wine styles: Tastings commonly include white wine, red wine, and ruby Port, with the guide explaining why each works.
• A practical cheese lesson: Learn how milk type, age, and texture affect flavor and wine pairings.
• Convenient Damrak location: Meet at Damrak 62HS, near public transportation, in the center of Amsterdam.
• Friendly hosts: Guides named in the tasting feedback include Rick, Maria, Luca, and Ron.
• Good short break: At about 55 minutes and $32.65 per person, it fits neatly into a busy Amsterdam day.

What happens at Old Amsterdam Cheese Store

The experience begins at Damrak 62HS, a central address on one of Amsterdam’s main streets. You meet inside the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store and then head to the tasting area upstairs. This setup matters: you are not sitting in a large restaurant or being driven out to the countryside. You are right in the middle of the city, in a working cheese shop, with the products close at hand.

The room has a presentation screen and a layout suited to a small group. Some sessions may feel intimate, especially when attendance is light. The maximum group size is 26, so the atmosphere can range from personal to moderately social, depending on the day.

Your guide introduces the cheeses and explains what makes each one different. The focus is Dutch cheese, especially Gouda-style cheeses made from cow or goat milk. You may compare cheeses aged from roughly four to 18 months, which gives the tasting a useful sense of progression. Younger cheese tends to be milder and softer, while older cheese brings more body and stronger savory notes.

The guide also covers how cheese is made and how it matures. This is not a technical dairy-school course, but it gives you a framework for tasting. Instead of simply deciding that one cheese tastes better than another, you learn to ask why it tastes different.

Five cheeses, three wine styles, and a useful lesson in pairing

The heart of the session is the tasting itself. You receive five cheeses and a selection of wines. The most often described combination includes a white wine, a red wine, and a ruby Port. Some accounts describe two white wines and one red, so the exact wine lineup can vary, but the point remains the same: you test different wine styles against the same cheese selection.

That format works well because it lets you compare rather than simply sample. A crisp white may suit a younger cheese, while a fuller red can hold its own against something firmer and more mature. Port brings sweetness and weight, creating a different match altogether. The guide explains the pairings as you go, so you can taste first and then check your impression against the recommendation.

I especially like the way this can sharpen your palate without making the subject feel fussy. You do not need a trained nose or a vocabulary full of wine terms. You simply notice texture, saltiness, age, sweetness, and strength. The guide helps connect those traits to the wine in your glass.

The cheese selection is traditional rather than heavily flavored. One tasting included two goat cheeses and three cow cheeses, while another included a small chocolate cheese at the end. Do not expect a parade of chili, truffle, or fruit-infused samples. The emphasis is on the cheese itself and on how age and milk type change the result.

That focus will please you if you want a basic introduction to Dutch cheese. If you prefer unusual flavors or experimental food, you might find the range restrained. The tasting is designed to explain classic cheese, not to stage a bold food challenge.

Why the cheese-making explanation matters

Amsterdam is full of cheese shops, and many will offer samples. The useful difference here is the explanation that comes with the food. You learn about the production process, the role of aging, and the difference between goat and cow milk.

This is also a good way to understand why two pieces of cheese from the same broad family can taste so different. A mild young cheese and an older, harder cheese may call for different wines and different uses at home. The guide links those distinctions to the tasting, which gives you something practical to remember after you leave.

The session also touches on Dutch cheese-making traditions and the background of Old Amsterdam Cheese. That adds local context without turning the hour into a lecture. You are still eating and drinking most of the time.

Some hosts add a quiz at the end, with a small prize for the winner. A booklet may also be provided, giving you the names or descriptions of the cheeses and some information to take away. These extras are not guaranteed in every account, so I would treat them as possible additions rather than a fixed part of the booking.

One useful improvement would be a clear handout listing every cheese and wine served that day. If you want to recreate a pairing at home, exact names help. Ask your host for those details before you leave.

The guides make the difference

The tone of the tasting depends heavily on the person leading it. Guides identified by name include Rick, Maria, Luca, and Ron. Each is described as friendly, engaging, and well informed about both wine and cheese.

Rick is noted for explaining the products and their background in an easy way. Maria receives praise for being warm and attentive, especially for someone attending alone. Luca is described as a strong source of information about the tasting. Ron appears both as a host and as a contact for the store.

That range of names suggests that the exact personality of the session can change from one date to another. The basic structure stays the same, but the jokes, detail, and pace will reflect the person at the front of the room.

This is a social experience, but you do not need to arrive with a group. Some sessions bring together couples and small parties who do not know one another. Cheese and wine give everyone an easy subject to discuss, and the format can work well for solo visitors who want a low-pressure activity.

Groups of friends also fit naturally here. One group of nine used the tasting as a shared activity, while another couple received especially personal attention when attendance was very small. With a maximum of 26 people, you are unlikely to face the scale of a large food hall presentation, though a full session will feel less private.

Is $32.65 good value?

At $32.65 per person, the price is fair if you value the explanation as much as the food. You receive five cheese samples, several wine pours, cutlery, and nearly an hour of guided instruction. You are also paying for a central location and a host who can answer questions.

The value is strongest for first-time visitors to the Netherlands who want a simple introduction to local food. You get a clearer idea of what you are tasting, and you can use the lesson when shopping for cheese later in your trip.

The value is less obvious if you only want a plate of cheese and a drink. Amsterdam cheese shops may offer their own tastings, and the experience does promote the Old Amsterdam brand. You should expect a soft sales element, including the chance to buy cheese in the store and, according to one account, receive a 10 percent discount afterward.

That commercial side is not necessarily a problem. The shop is showing you what it makes and sells, and you can decide for yourself if you want to take something home. Still, it is worth knowing that this is not a neutral survey of every Dutch cheese producer.

What to expect from the timing

The tasting lasts about 55 minutes, which is long enough to feel substantial without taking over your afternoon. I see it as a useful stop between major sights, especially on a rainy day or when you want a break from museums and canals.

The schedule gives you time to hear the explanation, taste the cheeses, compare wines, and ask questions. It is not a rushed shop counter sample. At the same time, you should not expect a long meal. The included food is a tasting portion, not lunch.

Plan to arrive at the meeting address with enough time to find Damrak 62HS. The activity ends back at the same location, so you do not need to arrange a return transfer. Private transportation is not included, but it is not needed for this city-center experience.

The mobile ticket is convenient, and confirmation is provided when you book. The tasting is offered in English. You must be at least 18 to drink the wine, while service animals are allowed and most people can take part.

Who will enjoy this tasting most

This experience suits you if you like food with a local connection but have limited time. It also works for anyone who wants to learn how to pair cheese and wine without committing to a formal wine course.

I would recommend it for:

• Couples looking for an easy shared activity
• Solo visitors who enjoy meeting people over food
• Friends who want a short, relaxed stop in central Amsterdam
• First-time visitors curious about Dutch cheese
• Anyone planning to buy cheese and wanting better guidance
• Rainy-day planners who need an indoor activity

You may want to skip it if you dislike wine, want a full meal, or prefer tastings built around rare and strongly flavored cheeses. The selection leans toward traditional Dutch styles, and the store naturally receives attention during the presentation.

Families should also note the drinking-age rule. The minimum age for drinking is 18, so this is not an all-ages tasting in the usual sense.

Small details that improve the visit

Ask for the names of the cheeses and wines as they are served. This is the most useful way to turn a pleasant tasting into something you can use later. If a pairing works particularly well for you, ask what made it successful and what similar bottle or cheese to look for.

Pay attention to the age differences. Do not rush to pick a favorite after the first bite. The point is to notice how the cheese changes as it matures, and how a wine that seems too light or too heavy at first may suit a different sample.

Keep room in your bag if you plan to shop afterward. The store sells cheese, and the tasting may make you want to take some home. The possible 10 percent discount adds a little extra value, but confirm the current terms with the shop.

If you are traveling alone, sit where you can hear the guide clearly and take part in the questions. The format is social enough to make conversation easy, but the guide remains the focus.

Finally, remember the cancellation rule. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Old Amsterdam cheese tasting?

Book it if you want a compact, friendly introduction to Dutch cheese and wine in a central Amsterdam shop. The price is reasonable for five cheeses, several wines, a guided explanation, and an hour indoors. The guides appear to be the strongest part of the experience, with Rick, Maria, Luca, and Ron each bringing an approachable style.

I would not book it as a substitute for lunch or as a broad survey of the Netherlands’ entire cheese industry. The tasting centers on traditional cheeses connected to the Old Amsterdam store, and the retail element is part of the deal.

For most food-curious visitors, the balance is good. You learn how age and milk type affect cheese, see why different wines work with different textures, and leave with better shopping instincts. If that sounds more useful than simply grabbing a sample at a counter, this is a worthwhile 55-minute stop.

FAQ

Where does the cheese and wine tasting start?

It starts at Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Where does the activity end?

The tasting ends back at the same meeting point, Old Amsterdam Cheese Store.

How long does the tasting last?

The experience lasts approximately 55 minutes.

How much does the tasting cost?

The listed price is $32.65 per person.

How many cheeses are included?

You taste five different cheeses during the session.

What wines are served?

The tasting includes selected wines. The commonly described lineup includes a white wine, a red wine, and a ruby Port, though the exact selection may vary.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The activity is offered in English.

Can someone under 18 drink at the tasting?

No. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Is transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included. The tasting takes place at the central meeting point.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.