Cheese and Wine tasting in Amsterdam

A cheese and wine lesson in 55 minutes. This Old Amsterdam tasting is all about how Dutch cheese tastes, and why the pairings actually work. I especially like the upstairs presentation setup and the way guides keep the whole hour moving, with clear explanations and easy questions.

One thing to consider: it is a focused tasting, so you get a set lineup (five cheeses and paired wines), not a choose-your-own adventure. If you only like very strong, highly flavored cheeses, you might wish the menu had more variety.

Key Highlights at Old Amsterdam Cheese Store

• A tight 55-minute format that fits neatly into a sightseeing day
• Five cheeses paired with selected wines, including white, red, and port
• An expert-style guide walkthrough that ties cheese aging and milk types to flavor
• A special tasting room upstairs with a presentation screen and a guided flow
• A chance to buy cheese after the tasting, often with a helpful discount
• Small and social with up to 26 people, good for meeting others without the chaos

Entering Old Amsterdam on Damrak

Damrak is one of those Amsterdam streets where you can feel the city’s pulse the moment you step outside. The tasting starts at Damrak 62HS, right in the city center, so it is easy to plug into a day of canals, museums, or just wandering.

The experience itself begins in Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, with the tasting held in an area designed for learning. In a couple of reviews, people describe a room upstairs with a presentation screen, which makes it feel less like a quick snack stop and more like a guided session you can actually follow.

The 55-Minute Structure That Keeps It Fun

This tasting runs about 55 minutes, and that time limit matters more than you might think. In a place like Amsterdam, you often face long tours that eat up your whole day. Here, you get a full story in under an hour, then you can keep exploring without feeling rushed.

You also get a mobile ticket, and the tour is in English. Most travelers can participate, and it is near public transportation, which helps if you are doing it before or after another timed activity.

Another practical plus: cutlery is included. So you do not spend your time hunting for napkins, forks, or toothpicks while you are trying to focus on flavors and pairings.

The Five Cheeses You Taste, and What to Listen For

The tasting centers on five different award-winning cheeses of 2024. That single detail is a gift for your palate, because it pushes you to compare rather than simply sample.

From the guidance style described in reviews, you can expect the teaching to focus on things like:

• milk type (including goat versus cow)
• aging (how time in storage changes texture and taste)
• what to notice when a cheese starts to feel sweet, nutty, tangy, or savory

One review highlights learning how to tell the difference between goat and cow mild cheese and how aging changes the flavor. That is the kind of info that makes your next cheese purchase smarter, because you stop guessing and start predicting.

One more note from the feedback: the tasting may include cheeses that cover a range from younger ages to older styles. If you prefer only very strong cheeses, you might find the lineup leans toward telling a clear aging story rather than chasing maximum intensity in every bite.

Wine Pairings: White, Red, and Port Made to Match

The pairing is not random. Five cheeses get matched with specially selected wines, and reviews repeatedly point to three wine styles served: a white, a red, and a port. The guide explains why each pairing makes sense, so the wine does more than just taste good alongside cheese.

Here is what you can take away before you go, based on how the session is described:

• White wine tends to feel brighter with milder cheeses, especially when you want the cheese to stay smooth rather than heavy.
• Red wine is brought in for richer flavors, where you want more structure to stand up to fat and aging.
• Port works like a sweet and concentrated counterpoint, which can make certain cheeses feel more rounded instead of sharp.

If you are a wine person, you will probably enjoy how the guide talks through the logic the way a sommelier would. If you are not a wine person, you still get something useful: a simple way to link taste to pairing choices you can use later.

The minimum drinking age is 18, so plan accordingly.

The Guide Factor: More Than Just Facts

A big reason people rate this so highly is the guide. Reviews mention presenters like Ron Pieters, Maria, and Luca, with guests praising the mix of warm personality, humor, and clear explanations.

That combination matters. If the session were only lectures, it would be easy to zone out. Instead, it is described as an interactive walkthrough where the guide is ready to answer questions and offer culinary recommendations.

One review even calls out the guide’s delivery as funny and engaging, which you feel in how the hour keeps moving. It also helps that the guide approach leans practical, like teaching you how to evaluate pairings by noticing flavor shifts from one cheese to the next.

What You’ll See, Hear, and Taste Upstairs

The tasting room setup is part of what makes this feel different from a typical cheese shop sampling. People describe an area upstairs with a presentation screen, and the flow includes the explanation first, then the tasting.

You may also receive a small booklet with details about the cheeses used in the lineup. One review adds that there is even a small quiz at the end, with a winner getting a prize. That sort of light challenge is surprisingly effective, because it forces you to pay attention to the differences the guide highlights.

Also, the tastings are described as generous for the time. One review mentions a desert chocolate cheese, so if you have a sweet tooth, be ready for a finish that is not only about wine and cheese.

Price and Value: What $32.65 Gets You

At $32.65 per person for about 55 minutes, the value depends on two things: how much you like structured food experiences, and whether you will use the info again.

You are not paying for a vague grazing session. You are paying for:

• five cheese tastings
• wine tastings paired with those cheeses
• an on-the-spot explanation of why those pairings work
• included cutlery, plus a planned flow in a dedicated room

That turns the cost into something closer to a guided food class. If you love learning by tasting, it can feel like a good deal. If you just want a quick snack while you pass through Damrak, it might feel like money you could spend on cheese and bread on your own. But if you want to leave knowing what you actually enjoyed, the format gives you that.

Getting There From Central Amsterdam (and Why It Matters)

Starting at Damrak 62HS means you can usually reach the meeting point without extra transport. Reviews also call this a great rainy-day plan, which makes sense when your main activity is indoors with seating and a guided presentation.

The activity ends back at the meeting point, which is convenient if you are planning a museum next or want to continue walking the same area afterward.

With a maximum of 26 travelers, it is not huge. That keeps the group conversation possible, and it also means the guide can still check in with people without the session turning into a one-way lecture.

When This Tasting Is Best for You

This is a strong fit if you want a guided food experience that does not drag on. It is also ideal if you love cheese and want a way to understand taste, aging, and pairing without needing a year of study.

It can be especially good for:

• couples who want a shared activity in the center of town
• solo travelers looking for an easy social moment without an all-day tour
• wine lovers who want pairing logic, not just sipping
• people who plan to buy cheese to take home and want to choose better

If you strongly dislike dairy, you should skip this. If you are very picky about flavored cheeses and only want specific styles, know the tasting is built as a curated lineup rather than an all-you-can-choose menu.

Service animals are allowed, which is helpful to know ahead of time.

Should You Book It? My Decision Guide

I would book this if you want a compact, practical tasting session with a real guide and a clear pairing approach. The combination of five cheeses, wine pairings, and a guided explanation is what turns it from a casual stop into something you can actually use next time you taste Dutch cheese.

Skip it if you already know exactly what you want and you just want to buy cheese quickly, because the tasting is still a set experience. And if you dislike learning formats where you take a few notes or follow explanations, you might find it more structured than you want.

FAQ

How long is the cheese and wine tasting?

It lasts about 55 minutes.

Where does the experience start?

The meeting point is Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam, Netherlands.

What is the experience offered in?

The tasting is offered in English.

What will I taste during the session?

You will have a food tasting and a wine tasting. The tasting focuses on five different cheeses paired with selected wines.

What is included in the price?

Food tasting, wine tasting, and cutlery are included.

What is not included?

Private transportation is not included.

Is there an age limit for drinking wine?

Yes. The minimum drinking age is 18.

How big is the group?

The experience has a maximum of 26 travelers.

Can I get a full refund if I cancel?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Is there any mobile ticket or digital ticketing?

Yes. The tour uses a mobile ticket.