The Best Meals to Eat in the Dutch Winter

Winters do get pretty gloomy and unforgiving in the Netherlands sometimes. Surviving the season can be hard especially if you’re an expat coming from a place with a tropical, humid climate and are not used to the freezing temperatures. During such times, there’s only one thing that can make us happy – our favorite warm meal. Cooking a warm, comforting dish to fight the chills not only warms our bodies but also calms our souls.

Be it a filling of ramen noodles, a cup of hot chocolate, our favorite curry dish, or simply a serving of a mouthwatering dessert, we always crave our preferred comfort food to fight the chilly weather. Even a simple bowl of vegetable or chicken soup works wonders during these gloomy days, and especially if you catch a cold or a fever.

Dutch people also have their own traditional recipes prepared especially for cold days. Some recipes were invented centuries ago and passed down across generations, making them the most popular meals among kids and adults. Many Dutch and non-Dutch restaurants also offer a winter special menu featuring many warm, hearty dishes.

There are plenty of food options to eat in the Netherlands during the winter. We’ve shortlisted some of the best go-to meals to eat during the long Dutch winter.

Stamppot

One of the most preferred comfort foods among locals is stamppot. It is a traditional dish prepared with mashed potatoes and a variety of vegetables or meat. Some typical stamppot recipes include boerenkoolstamppot (mashed potatoes with kale), hutspot (with onions and carrots), and andijviestamppot (with endives). Very often, it is served with a sausage (rookworst). No matter the variation, stamppot tastes delicious and warms you on cold days.

Erwtensoep

Who doesn’t like a nice, hot bowl of soup to combat the cold weather? Erwtensoep, or snert, is the typical Dutch pea soup made from split peas and other vegetables. One large bowl of this soup is your best remedy when you have the chills or simply to survive the biting cold. The locals often prepare this recipe when it’s freezing, or, in Dutch, snertweer.

Hachée

Hachée is the traditional Dutch stew made from beef and onions as the base. Other ingredients include apple butter, fish, vegetables, and an acid (wine or vinegar). It is usually served with aardappelpuree (mashed potatoes), making it a warm and hearty meal in winter. If you love a rich blend of flavours in a single dish, you must try this one!

Oliebollen

A sweet delicacy usually eaten on New Year’s Eve, oliebollen are small balls of dough, often baked or fried. People enjoy them with powdered sugar on top or raisins baked inside. Some people claim that oliebollen were invented around the 17th century, making them among the oldest Dutch treats. Although they’re eaten during Christmas and New Year’s Eve, you can enjoy them throughout the winter.

Poffertjes

A favorite among kids and adults, poffertjes are a tiny version of pancakes, prepared with a mixture of flour, milk, eggs, and yeast (or baking powder) and poured into a ‘poffertje pan’. They are topped with powdered sugar and sometimes, melted butter. The sweet flavors from a freshly-made hot poffertje burst in your mouth, giving you a warm and satisfying feeling. They may be a traditional go-to winter delicacy, but you can relish a serving of poffertjes all year round.

Pannenkoeken

Pannenkoeken or pancakes are another Dutch speciality, beloved among locals and internationals. They are made with the same ingredients as poffertjes, but unlike their smaller counterparts, pancakes can be sweet or savory. Sweet pancakes are often topped with fruits, chocolate sauce or maple syrup. Savory pancakes are topped with vegetables or meat. Be it any flavor, pannenkoeken never disappoint and make a scrumptious meal.

Broodje Bal

Broodje Bal, or a meatball sandwich, is a typical Dutch savory dish made with small balls of a mixture of beef and pork, covered with soft bread. It is served with mustard sauce, mayonnaise, or curry sauce. For meat lovers, this is a perfect solution if you’re looking for a quick, on-the-go snack on a busy day.

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We hope these delicious options save you the trouble of searching for hot meals to prepare on those freezing days. Sit back and relax with your favorite movie as you relish your comforting meal.