Local food map Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Amsterdam guides
Recipes 10
Pick a recipe
All Amsterdam recipes
Ball-shaped Meat Croquettes — traditional dish from Amsterdam, Netherlands
Snack Meat

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥400kcal
💪15gProtein
🌾25gCarbs
🥑28gFat
🌿2gFibre
⚖️150 gServing

* Per serving · 150 g. May vary.

Allergens

🌾 Gluten 🥛 Dairy

Ball-shaped Meat Croquettes

How to order / say it
Say it Bitterballen — [BI-tuh-BAH-len]
Order I'd like some bitterballen, please.
Locally Ik wil graag wat bitterballen, alstublieft.
Say locally

Small meat-based breaded snacks, deep-fried and served hot.

Why try it?

Bitterballen are the epitome of Dutch snack culture, often enjoyed with a cold drink. They're deeply rooted in Dutch social life, often found in cafés and pubs shared among friends.

How it tastes

Crispy on the outside with a smooth, savory meat filling that bursts with flavor once bitten. Typically paired with mustard for a tangy contrast, they're best enjoyed warm to savor their richness.

Origin & History — first documented: 1700

Bitterballen date back to the 18th century as a way to utilize leftover meat, turning it into a pleasant bar snack. Over time, they have permeated Dutch bars as an accompaniment to bitter drinks, hence their name.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🥩 200 g beef
  • 🥩 250 ml beef broth
  • 🥛 50 g butter
  • 🌾 50 g flour
  • 🫒 500 ml oil
  • 🧄 50 g onion
  • 🌾 100 g breadcrumbs
  • 🥣 to serve mustard

Method

  1. 1 Cook onions, butter, and beef in a pan until soft.
  2. 2 Add flour to make a roux, then slowly mix in beef broth.
  3. 3 Chill until set, then form into balls, bread, and deep-fry.
  4. 4 Serve hot with mustard.

More from Amsterdam

Cheese Sandwich © Wikimedia Commons
Snack Vegetarian

Cheese Sandwich

Kaasbroodje
KAAS-broot-yeh

Golden puff pastry filled with savory cheese.
Dutch Cheese © Wikimedia Commons
Snack Vegetarian

Dutch Cheese

Goudse Kaas
HOW-dah kas

A semi-hard cheese with a rich, creamy flavor and smooth texture.
Kibbeling © Wikimedia Commons
Street food Fish & Seafood

Kibbeling

KIB-ble-ing

Battered and deep-fried white fish pieces, commonly served with sauce.
Stroopwafel © Wikimedia Commons
Dessert Vegetarian

Stroopwafel

strope-vah-fel

Thin, filled waffles with caramel syrup.
Apple Pie © Wikimedia Commons
Dessert Vegetarian

Apple Pie

Appeltaart
AH-pel-tart

A traditional Dutch pie filled with apples, cinnamon, and sometimes raisins.
Herring © Wikimedia Commons
Snack Fish & Seafood

Herring

Haring
HAH-ring

Raw herring fillet served with onions and pickles.
Poffertjes © Wikimedia Commons
Dessert Vegetarian

Poffertjes

POH-fer-chess

Mini Dutch pancakes, served with powdered sugar and butter.
Herring Sandwich
Street food Fish & Seafood

Herring Sandwich

Broodje Haring
BROH-juh HA-ring

Raw herring served in a bread roll with onions and pickles.
Dutch Pancake © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Vegetarian

Dutch Pancake

Pannenkoeken
PAN-en-koo-ken

Large, thin pancakes often enjoyed with a variety of toppings.
Utrecht Tart
Dessert Vegetarian

Utrecht Tart

Utrechts Taart
oo-TREKTS tahrt

A traditional sweet pie with fruit filling.
All Europe recipes — Netherlands — Amsterdam — Ball-shaped Meat Croquettes
keyboard_arrow_up