Cheese and wine in Amsterdam? Easy win. In just 55 minutes, you’ll taste five cheeses at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store on Damrak, with an English guide pairing each one with white, red, and port wine. It’s a simple, food-first stop that fits right into a walking day through the center.

I especially like the pairing logic—the guide shows why a bite works with a sip, not just what to try. And I like the small-group feel (max 26), which makes it easier to ask questions and get practical recommendations for what to buy after.

One thing to consider: this is a tight, tasting-focused session. If you want a long wander through the shop, or if you’re not drinking wine (18+), the time might feel a bit short.

Key Things I’d Bet You’ll Enjoy

• Five award-winning Dutch cheeses for a real comparison, not just one safe choice
• Three wine styles (white, red, and port) used to explain pairing, step by step
• Clear guidance from the cheese-and-wine host, with time for questions
• A format that works in rainy weather, because you stay inside and learn by tasting
• A deal at the end (a 10% discount on cheese comes up in multiple reviews)

Why Five Dutch Cheeses and Wine Pairing Works in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is great at big-ticket sights. But when you want something tasty and low-stress, a cheese-and-wine tasting is a smart move. This one is built around contrast: you don’t just sample a random assortment. You taste five different types of Dutch cheese and get help recognizing what changes from one to the next—texture, aroma, and how the flavor moves across your palate.

The pairing part is what turns it from snack time into a lesson you can reuse later. You’ll try white, red, and port wines with the cheeses. That matters because each wine style behaves differently in your mouth. White wine often highlights freshness and acidity. Red wine can handle deeper, fattier flavors. Port brings sweetness and body, which can make certain aged notes feel smoother rather than sharper.

A few reviews highlight specifics that help you understand what the tasting is teaching. You may get examples that include goat and cow cheeses, and you may hear explanations tied to aging, with one review calling out cheeses from about 4 to 18 months. Even if you’re not a cheese nerd, that framing is useful: it gives you a way to predict what you’ll like before you buy anything.

And if you’ve ever stood in a cheese shop thinking, I have no idea where to start—this type of tasting does a lot of the groundwork for you. You learn the difference in a practical, you-can-feel-it way, not just from a poster on the wall.

Price and What You Actually Get For $32.65

At $32.65 per person, this isn’t a freebie, but it’s also not priced like an all-day food tour. For the money, you’re paying for three things that are hard to replicate on your own:

Food tasting + wine tasting + guided instruction

The tour includes the tasting itself and cutlery, so you’re not dealing with the awkward logistics of trying to eat politely with cheese plates you didn’t plan. You also get a guide who answers questions and can point you toward other foods and pairings in the shop.

A time-efficient format

The duration is listed at about 55 minutes. In a city where you’re always choosing between walking museums and long canal detours, an hour is a friendly length. You can do this, then still go taste stroopwafels later—or chase down a bite at a classic Dutch bakery.

You’re not paying for transportation

No private transport is included. That’s normal for a central shop experience, but it’s still good to know. The tour starts at Damrak 62HS and ends back at the meeting point, so you’ll be walking in that area and using public transit if needed.

The bottom line on value: if you want both education and samples in one stop, the price makes sense. If you only want one cheese and zero wine, you might feel like you’re paying for more than you planned to eat.

Damrak Meeting Point: Central and Easy to Fit Into a Day

You start at Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam. That’s right in the busy center, which is exactly why this tour works. You don’t need a special route or a complicated meeting time in some out-of-the-way neighborhood.

It also ends back at the meeting point. So you can treat it like a timed food break on a larger Amsterdam plan instead of a standalone event that pulls you across the city.

Because it’s near public transportation, you can get in and out without a big schedule headache. This is especially useful if your day is already packed with indoor stops, like museums and canal boat rides, and you want one more learning-focused experience without adding long walking time.

Old Amsterdam Cheese Store: The Setting and How the Session Runs

This tasting takes place at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, and multiple reviews mention the practical setup: there’s a learning space above the shop with presentation support. One review describes a room with a presentation screen and a live presenter. That kind of arrangement matters because it keeps the session moving while you’re learning.

You’ll get a short instructional flow, then a guided tasting. Some reviews mention you may receive a small booklet with details about what you’re tasting, plus a quiz at the end with a small prize. Even if you’re not the quiz type, it’s a fun way to lock in the differences you just tasted.

Also, the tour includes cutlery, which seems like a small thing—until you’re holding cheese with your hands in a hurry. Here, it’s set up for you to eat comfortably and focus on flavor.

Group size stays reasonable, capped at 26 travelers. That usually means you’re not in a huge hall with a loud speaker. It’s more like a structured tasting with room for your questions, which matters for getting the most out of the pairing explanation.

And yes, English is offered. That keeps the instructions clear and helps you ask follow-ups without guessing what the guide is saying.

The Tasting Itself: What You’ll Taste and How Pairing Gets Explained

The core structure is straightforward:

• Stop at Old Amsterdam Cheese Store
• Taste five different award-winning cheeses of 2024
• Pair them with wines selected for the tasting (white, red, and a port)
• Get guidance on what makes each pairing work

The pairing explanation is where you get value. One review specifically calls out that the guide walks you through how pairing works, and another highlights tips on telling the difference between goat and cows mild cheese and the aging process.

That’s the key idea: you’re learning a method. Cheese isn’t just one flavor. It changes with milk type (goat vs cow), age, and how it’s handled. Wine also isn’t just one drink. It has acidity, sweetness, and weight. When the guide matches them, they’re effectively teaching you how to read the flavors you’re tasting.

From the reviews, you can expect a setup like this:

• A progression through cheeses, where the guide points out what to notice
• Wines used to show contrasting sensations—freshness with one cheese, deeper strength with another, and sweetness balance with port
• A chance for the host to answer questions and offer extra suggestions

A few reviews even mention a small dessert element, like a chocolate cheese. That’s not guaranteed in the official tour outline, but if it’s offered on your session, it usually works as a sweet finish after you’ve reset your palate.

Also, the guides named in reviews—like Ron Pieters, Maria, and Luca—get praised for being friendly and engaging. Even if you don’t know their style ahead of time, you can expect the tone to be part teacher, part host.

What You Learn So You Can Shop Better After

Here’s what I think makes this tasting more than a one-time snack: you leave with a way to buy cheese without panic.

Several reviews focus on cheese fundamentals that help you in the shop:

• how to tell goat vs cow cheeses apart
• what aging does to flavor and mouthfeel
• how to reason through pairings instead of copying a guess

If you’ve ever tried to buy Dutch cheese and ended up with something too strong (or too mild), this helps you avoid that mistake. Even a basic understanding like mild vs aged can make a big difference in what you’ll enjoy later back at your hotel.

There’s also the practical side: one review notes that at the end you can get a 10% discount on cheese. Another mentions how the tasting is tied into the business. Either way, it gives you a clear reason to pay attention during the session—because you can walk out with the right souvenir instead of random purchases.

And if you’re the kind of person who likes to keep learning while you travel, this is a nice match. You’re not stuck watching slides for 45 minutes. You taste, compare, and adjust your preferences in real time.

Who Should Book This Cheese and Wine Tasting

This fits best if you’re one of these travelers:

• You like food-focused activities that don’t require long walking
• You enjoy tasting and want clear pairing explanations
• You want something indoor and structured for a tight schedule
• You’re traveling solo or in a group and like the chance to meet others in a small setting

It’s also a great option when your Amsterdam day includes heavier sights and you want a calmer experience where the “main event” is actually on a plate.

Who might want to think twice:

• If you don’t drink wine, remember there’s a minimum drinking age of 18, and the tasting includes wine as part of the pairing.
• If you want a long, meandering cheese-shop tour, this is designed as a 55-minute tasting, not an all-afternoon browse.

In other words, if cheese and wine are your thing, this is a very doable use of an hour.

Practical Tips I’d Use Before You Go

A few small moves can make the experience better:

• Eat lightly beforehand. You’ll be tasting five cheeses and three wine styles, so a big heavy meal earlier can blunt the flavors.
• Go in with curiosity. Ask the guide what you should buy later, based on what you liked during the tasting.
• Pay attention to goat vs cow and aging notes. Those concepts keep coming up in the feedback, and they’re the easiest way to remember what you learned.
• Plan your purchase right after. If there’s a discount in your session (a 10% offer is mentioned in reviews), it’s the moment to act on your new favorites.

One more thought: this is on Damrak, so you’re in a high-traffic area. Show up a few minutes early so you can relax instead of rushing.

Should You Book This Amsterdam Cheese and Wine Tasting?

I’d book it if you want an hour that’s equal parts tasting and learning, with a guide who helps you connect flavors instead of just serving samples. The structure—five cheeses, white/red/port wine, and focused explanations—makes it a strong choice for first-timers and food lovers alike.

I wouldn’t book it if your plan is mostly sightseeing miles and you’re not interested in wine or pairing. In that case, the time and the included tastings might feel mismatched to your priorities.

If you do book, you’ll likely leave with two wins: you’ll have tasted excellent Dutch cheese and you’ll have a clearer idea of what to buy next.

FAQ

How long is the cheese and wine tasting?

The experience lasts about 55 minutes.

What’s included in the tasting?

You get food tasting and wine tasting, plus cutlery.

How many cheeses and wines will I try?

You’ll taste five different types of cheese and pair them with three wines: white, red, and port.

Where does the tour start, and where does it end?

It starts at Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam, Netherlands and ends back at the same meeting point.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes, the experience is offered in English.

What’s the minimum drinking age?

The minimum drinking age is 18 years.

If you want, tell me your travel dates and whether you prefer mild or strong cheeses—I can suggest how to set expectations for what you’re most likely to enjoy at this tasting.

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