Amsterdam: Dutch Cheese Tasting Experience with Wine

Cheese lessons feel like a game. In a compact session at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, you sample five Gouda cheeses, learn the Dutch basics behind aging, and hear what makes Old Amsterdam famous.

I especially like how quickly the experience moves from story to taste. I also like the wine pairing approach, with three wines chosen to match the cheeses you are currently holding, not some random glass that has nothing to do with the board.

One thing to plan for: the tasting room is on the 1st floor and you reach it by stairs only, so it is not a great fit if you need step-free access.

Key highlights to expect

• Five Gouda cheeses in about 45 minutes, with enough variety to notice differences fast
• Old Amsterdam explained, including background on Westland Kaasspecialiteiten and the brand story
• Three wine pairings (red, white, and port) matched to each tasting moment
• Palate cleanser support, including fig bread and water between bites
• Fun, English-led hosting, with named presenters such as Aris, Rik, Roberta, Maria, and Ron
• Then shop downstairs, with a 20% discount to take your favorites home

A quick start at Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, Amsterdam

If you want a food activity that feels very Amsterdam but not touristy in a sticky way, this is a great bet. You meet right at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, so you are already in the right mindset. You are going to taste, ask questions, and walk out with a clearer idea of what you actually like.

The tasting happens upstairs in a dedicated room. It is reached via stairs only, and the stairs matter because the session is designed to be quick and focused rather than slow and flexible.

The room itself is set up for comfort, and the vibe stays relaxed. Hosts such as Aris, Rik, Roberta, Ron, and Maria show up as friendly guides who keep things moving and make room for questions.

The 45-minute rhythm: five Gouda tastings plus wine

This is built to be simple: you get a board with five different Gouda cheeses and you taste them in sequence. Between tastings, you get a little help resetting your palate with water plus fig bread, so the next cheese does not get covered up.

The wines come in three styles, and they are not all the same. You get one red wine, one white wine, and one port wine, and the goal is to complement what you are eating right then.

What I like about this format is the pacing. In under an hour, you get enough repetition to learn something real, like how age changes texture and flavor and how fat, salt, and nuttiness react to different wine styles.

What you will notice across the five cheeses

Even though all five are Gouda, they are not identical. You will start to pick up differences in aroma and flavor intensity, and you will also see how age affects the bite.

You will also get a cue on the cow versus goat angle. Some tastings include both cow and goat Gouda styles on the board, which makes the learning more useful if you usually buy one type and ignore the rest.

Old Amsterdam: why one brand became a Dutch cheese reference

Part of the attraction here is the story of Old Amsterdam. You do not just taste it and move on. You learn how the brand is tied to a historic, family-run business, Westland Kaasspecialiteiten, and how the company presents its cheese-making tradition.

You also learn that some recipes are treated as family secrets. You do not get the exact formula handed to you, but you do get enough hints to understand the logic behind the flavors you are tasting.

If you are the kind of person who buys cheese and then regrets not knowing what to look for, this background helps. When you understand what a producer is trying to achieve, it gets easier to choose again later, instead of grabbing whatever looks best under shop lights.

How the session makes cheese-making feel less mysterious

You get an overview of the cheese-making process in the Netherlands and what it takes to become a cheese-tasting master. It is not a full textbook lesson, but it gives you the right mental framework.

You learn the basics of making and aging Dutch cheese, and that is what makes the tasting click. By the time you hit the later cheeses, you are not just guessing. You are matching what you taste to what you were told to expect.

Wine pairing that actually follows the cheese

The wine pairing is the part that makes this more than a cheese platter with wine on the side. The wines are specially selected by a sommelier to complement each cheese on the board.

So instead of one glass throughout, you get a sequence. You taste a cheese, then you sip a wine meant for that cheese, then you reset with fig bread and water, then you repeat.

Red, white, and port, and why Gouda cares

Gouda can be buttery, nutty, sweet, and salty, and the flavor range shifts with aging. That is why wine choice matters.

The white wine tends to handle lighter, milder bites nicely, helping you keep your focus on dairy sweetness. The red wine is there for deeper, more intense flavors, where you want structure to meet the cheese’s richness. The port wine adds a dessert-like richness, and it can make aged cheese taste even more layered.

Even if you do not call yourself a wine person, you can learn fast here. The guide helps you connect what you taste in the glass to what you taste on the cheese, and the contrast becomes your lesson.

The palate resets you get between tastings

This part sounds small, but it makes a difference: you get fig bread and water to cleanse your palate between tastings.

If you have ever tried to taste multiple cheeses in a row without resets, you know what happens. The first bite tastes great, then everything after starts to blend into one big dairy impression.

The fig bread is especially useful because it adds a sweet, fruity note. That makes it easier to restart your taste buds and notice what changes from one Gouda to the next.

“Cheese master” training, in plain language

The host walks you through how to taste like you are evaluating quality, not just craving snack time. You learn what to pay attention to: aroma, texture, and how the flavor develops as it warms in your mouth.

You also learn how age changes the experience. That matters because Gouda is not one flavor, it is a family of flavors across time.

From the way the sessions are led by presenters like Aris and Rik, the tone tends to be upbeat, with a good mix of facts and humor. You are meant to participate, not just listen.

The practical benefit for you is simple: you will walk out more confident buying cheese. You will know whether you prefer younger Gouda’s smoother, milder character or older Gouda’s deeper, more pronounced notes.

Air-conditioned comfort and small-group energy

One pleasant detail: the tasting room can be set up as a private, comfortable space. Some people also mention that it is air-conditioned, which is a real quality-of-life factor in Amsterdam.

Group size is generally kept manageable. The room can host up to around 18 people, but it often feels intimate enough to make the tasting feel personal rather than rushed.

That means you can ask questions without shouting, and you can get real guidance on what to try next.

Value check: is $23 really worth it?

For $23 per person, you are getting a lot more than “a few bites.” You get 5 cheeses, 3 wine pairings (red, white, port, plus a white), and palate support (fig bread and water). You also get an instructor and a story-based introduction to Old Amsterdam.

The final value piece is the 20% discount in the shop downstairs. That turns this from a one-time experience into a shopping trip with a reason to spend smarter.

If you are the kind of person who likes to buy cheese to take home, this can pay off fast. Even if you only buy one or two items, the discount can shrink the cost enough to feel like you got a deal on both the tasting and the takeaway.

Alcohol note for planning

Wine is part of the experience, so the minimum age is 18. If you are traveling with someone under that age, this specific session is not a fit due to the alcohol component.

Where this experience fits best in your Amsterdam plans

This works well when you want something indoors that does not drain your whole day. At 45 minutes, you can pair it with nearby canal walks, a museum stop, or a food-focused evening.

It also works if you love learning but do not want a lecture. The format stays hands-on: you taste, you compare, and you get quick explanations tied to what is on your board.

If you are on a tight schedule

Because the session is short and structured, it is easy to plan around. You meet at the Old Amsterdam store and stay in that tasting flow, which reduces decision fatigue.

Who will love it most, and who might not

You will likely love this if you:

• want a guided Dutch cheese and wine pairing experience
• enjoy tasting-based learning, not just browsing
• plan to buy cheese afterward and would benefit from a trained eye

You might skip it if:

• you need step-free access, since the room is upstairs and accessible only by stairs
• you do not want alcohol at all, since wine is included and there is a 18+ rule

Also, the tastings are designed for tasting and comparison. Some cheese portions can feel like small bites, but the goal is clarity, not filling up your stomach.

Practical tips before you go

A few small moves can make the tasting more fun:

• Go with an open mind. Gouda is famous for a reason, but you will likely find differences you did not expect.
• Pace yourself. Take your time between bites, and use the figs and water.
• Plan to taste, then shop. The 20% discount in the store downstairs is part of the experience, so leave yourself a little buffer to browse after.

If you care about learning names and brands, pay attention to the Old Amsterdam story and the reference to Westland Kaasspecialiteiten. That background makes the label feel less like marketing and more like a real production tradition.

Should you book this Amsterdam cheese tasting with wine?

I think this is a strong booking for most people who want a smart, short food experience with real guidance. The combination of five Gouda cheeses, three wine pairings, and the 20% shop discount gives you value that is easy to feel, not just read.

Book it if you want to come away with a clearer sense of what you like in Dutch cheese, and you are willing to taste your way through the differences. Skip it only if stairs are a problem for you or if wine does not fit your plans.