Wine and Gouda, served upstairs in Amsterdam. Step into the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store for a 45-minute guided tasting that mixes Dutch cheese making, the story of Old Amsterdam, and five Gouda samples, often with a lively host like Aris, Rik, Roberta, Maria, or Ron.

I really like how the session teaches you what you’re tasting without turning it into a lecture. The sommelier-style wine pairings do real work on your palate, and you’ll get fig bread and water to reset between bites.

One possible consideration: the tasting room is upstairs and only reachable by stairs, so it’s not a great fit if stairs are a problem for you. (Also, you must be 18+ to drink the wine.)

Key Things to Know Before You Go

• Five Gouda cheeses in one flight, with explanations tied to age and style
• Three wine pairings (red, white, and port) matched to what’s on your board
• Fig bread and water included to cleanse between tastings
• Old Amsterdam + Westland Kaasspecialiteiten context that turns a snack into a story
• 20% discount in the shop downstairs so you can take favorites home
• English hosts with humor: Aris, Rik, Roberta, Maria, and Ron show up in recent sessions

Why This 45-Minute Gouda and Wine Stop Feels Worth It

Amsterdam can be loud, expensive, and time-consuming. This experience is short, focused, and built around one very Dutch idea: cheese tastes better when you understand it.

You’re paying about $23 per person for a real tasting setup, not just a quick nibble. You get an instructor, five cheeses, three wines, fig bread, water, plus a 20% discount in the shop right below the tasting room. That combination is why it works even if you only have an hour to spare.

The vibe tends to be friendly and slightly funny too. Many hosts lean into interaction—asking if you notice sweetness, nuttiness, or tang—so you don’t feel like a student, even when you learn a lot.

Getting Oriented at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store

Your meeting point is the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store. That matters because the tasting happens in a room on the 1st floor, meaning you’ll start by entering the shop area, then climbing up to the tasting space.

Once you’re there, the layout keeps things simple. The tasting room is designed to hold a small group, and the goal is to pace the flight so you can actually compare cheeses—young vs. older styles, and cow vs. goat when they’re included in the lineup.

Practical tip: give yourself an extra 5–10 minutes to get inside and up the stairs. Amsterdam streets can be busy, and you don’t want to rush right at the start.

The Tasting Room: Five Gouda Cheeses, Fig Bread, and Clean Pairings

This session is structured like a guided tasting flight. You’ll sample five different Gouda cheeses, not random chunks, so the order helps you notice changes in flavor as the cheeses vary.

Between tastings, you get fig bread and water. That sounds basic, but it’s the whole point: it keeps the later cheeses from getting masked by the earlier ones. If you’ve ever tried to taste multiple cheeses back-to-back in a grocery store line, you’ll appreciate the pacing here.

What makes it feel genuinely useful is the way the instructor frames the tasting. You get the cheese-making process at a level you can remember, then you connect that to what you’re tasting in the moment.

Also, you’re not just sampling white and yellow. You’ll likely encounter different styles such as young goat cheese and more mature Gouda types, and the tasting setup helps you hear the differences instead of guessing.

Wine Pairings That Don’t Feel Random

The wine is not an afterthought. You’ll get three wines selected to complement what’s on your board: one red, one white, and one port.

Here’s why that pairing method matters for you: cheese flavors shift with fat content and aging. A lighter wine can sharpen and brighten, while sweeter or more structured options can round out sharper notes. The port, in particular, is the kind of pairing that can make aged flavors feel smoother instead of just salty.

Hosts usually explain the logic in plain terms—what to notice first, how the cheese tastes before the wine, then what changes after. That turns the session into a practical skill you can reuse later at a market or in a wine shop.

One more small win: the group atmosphere keeps you comfortable asking questions. If you’re the type who wants to understand why a pairing works, the host can usually talk it through.

Learning Old Amsterdam and Westland Kaasspecialiteiten Without Making It Complicated

Old Amsterdam is one of the most famous Dutch cheeses, and this session uses it as a thread through the tasting.

You’ll hear the story of Old Amsterdam and how it ties back to Westland Kaasspecialiteiten, described as a historic, family-run business. You also get background on cheese making and aging in the Netherlands—enough to give your tasting real context.

A key detail: the instructor doesn’t expose everything. The “recipes” are treated like a well-kept family secret, so you’ll get hints and approach, not a full industrial formula. That’s okay. The value here is learning the principles you can spot on your own next time.

What you leave with is a clearer mental map of Dutch cheese. Instead of thinking Gouda is one thing, you start seeing it as a range: creaminess, tang, nuttiness, and how aging changes texture and taste.

Bringing Favorites Home: The 20% Discount Downstairs

After the tasting, you can shop. The session includes a 20% discount in the shop downstairs, which is a big deal if you want more than a souvenir.

This matters because Dutch cheese is meant to travel well—especially if you know what you like. Once you identify a style during the tasting, buying becomes easier. You’re not stuck with “this smells good” choices.

If you’re planning snacks for the next few days, this is also a practical move. You’ll get cheeses that match your palate, and you’ll have fig bread and water memories to guide what to pair with bread or drinks back at your lodging.

Who This Cheese-and-Wine Session Suits Best

This is one of those Amsterdam activities that fits a lot of different travelers.

You’ll likely love it if:

• you want a short, high-value food experience (45 minutes on the clock)
• you’re curious about Dutch cheese but don’t want to read a textbook first
• you enjoy pairing food with wine and learning the logic
• you want a relaxed activity that doesn’t require museum stamina

It’s also a great choice for a birthday or small group outing. Many people mention laughter and a host who keeps things light while still explaining the cheese.

It’s not ideal if:

• you need step-free access. The tasting room is only reachable by stairs and isn’t suitable for mobility impairments.

Price and Value: What $23 Really Buys You

Let’s be honest: $23 can be a lot or not much, depending on what you get.

Here, you’re paying for:

• an instructor guiding the flight
• five cheeses
• three wine servings (red, white, port)
• fig bread and water
• and a 20% discount at the store

So even though it’s a short session, it’s not a barebones tasting. If you enjoy cheese and you’re even mildly interested in wine pairing, the discount practically invites you to continue the experience after the tasting.

If you’re not going to buy cheese afterward, you can still enjoy the session for the learning and tasting itself—but the discount is part of the deal, not an extra bonus.

Quick Practical Tips Before You Go

A few things to keep in mind so the experience stays smooth.

First, plan around stairs. The room is on the 1st floor and accessible only by stairs, so wear shoes that handle Amsterdam footpaths and don’t rush the climb.

Second, alcohol has rules. The minimum age to drink is 18. If you’re under 18, you’ll want to think ahead because wine is part of the pairing experience.

Third, arrive a few minutes early at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store so you can settle in. The best tasting happens when you can focus, not when you’re trying to keep your balance and catch up.

Finally, go in with an open mind. Gouda isn’t just “a block of cheese.” The whole session is built to help you taste it as a spectrum.

Should You Book This Amsterdam Cheese Tasting?

Book it if you want a tight, flavorful Amsterdam experience that pairs cheese + wine + Dutch context in under an hour. It’s especially good value when you like the idea of leaving with a couple of cheeses you actually picked with confidence.

Skip it if stairs are a dealbreaker for you, or if you don’t want alcohol involved in the experience. Also, if you’re already a hardcore cheese taster and expect a huge range beyond Gouda, you might prefer a larger tasting at a later time.

For most people—curious eaters, couples, small groups, and anyone with limited time—this is an easy “yes.” It’s practical, fun, and the kind of lesson you can use long after you finish the last bite.

FAQ

How long is the Amsterdam cheese and wine tasting experience?

It lasts about 45 minutes.

What cheeses will I taste?

You’ll taste five different Gouda cheeses.

What wine is included?

The tasting includes one red wine, one white wine, and one port wine.

Is fig bread and water included?

Yes. Fig bread and water are included during the session.

Where do I meet for the experience?

Meet at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store.

What is the minimum age to drink alcohol?

The minimum age to drink alcohol is 18 years old.

Is the tasting room accessible by elevator?

No. The cheese tasting room is on the 1st floor and is only accessible by stairs.

Is this experience suitable for people with mobility impairments?

It is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, since the room is reached by stairs.

Do I get a discount after the tasting?

Yes. You receive a 20% discount in the shop downstairs.

Can I cancel and get a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.