Amsterdam: Dutch Bitterballen and Croquette Tasting

Amsterdam’s most unusual snack stop is inside the station itself. At Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas, you sit in a restored first-class waiting room from 1885 and taste six versions of the Dutch fried snack known as bitterballen and croquettes. The room’s old railway details make this more than a quick platform bite.

I like the beautiful setting and the chance to try several flavors in one sitting. I also like the one-hour format, which fits neatly into a day of sightseeing and gives you a taste of Dutch food without committing to a full meal. Drinks cost extra, so the $15 price is fair rather than a spectacular bargain.

The main drawback is that the food portion is modest. Some diners find six pieces a little dear once you add a beer or wine, and service can be slow or uneven at busy times. Still, the building gives this tasting a character you cannot get from a standard snack bar.

Key points to know before you book

• Taste six distinct Dutch snacks: veal bitterbal, Peking duck bitterbal, Thai green curry bitterbal, cheese and arugula croquette, chicken satay croquette, and shrimp croquette.
• Eat in a former first-class waiting room: The restaurant occupies a restored section of Amsterdam Centraal dating from 1885.
• See Pierre Cuypers’ railway work: The architect also designed the Rijksmuseum and created the station between 1881 and 1889.
• Plan for about one hour: This is a compact tasting, not a long guided food tour.
• Budget for your drink: Table water is included, while drinks are listed separately.
• Use the Cuyper Hall staircase: Go to platform 2B and ask the floor manager for the tasting.

What you are really booking for $15

This is a small food tasting wrapped in a grand railway setting. For $15 per person, you receive six different fried snacks and table water. That works out to about $2.50 per sample before considering the setting, service, and the chance to compare flavors side by side.

I would not book this expecting a full lunch. Bitterballen and croquettes are filling snacks, but six small pieces may not satisfy a hungry person after a long day of sightseeing. You can order other food from the restaurant, including soups, but those purchases are separate.

The value is strongest if you already want to see Amsterdam Centraal from a different angle. You are not paying only for six bites. You are also getting a seat in one of the station’s old first-class rooms, a place many people pass without noticing. If you only want inexpensive Dutch fast food, a neighborhood snack bar may cost less.

The listing gives a price of $15 and says drinks are not included. The tasting description also refers to enjoying beer, wine, or a soft drink, so check the current terms when booking. To keep your budget clear, assume you will pay separately for any Heineken, wine, or soft drink.

Finding the old first-class room at Amsterdam Centraal

The meeting point is Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas at Stationsplein 15. Inside Amsterdam Central Station, make your way to the Cuyper Hall and use the staircase toward the restaurant at platform 2B. Once you arrive, ask for the floor manager and arrive on time.

This is not a street-front café that is easy to spot from outside. Give yourself a few minutes to find the correct interior route, especially if Amsterdam Centraal is crowded or you have luggage. The station is large, and platform numbers alone do not always make the restaurant obvious.

The instructions specifically direct you to a staircase in the Cuyper Hall. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but if you need a step-free route, confirm the best entrance with the restaurant before arrival. That is a practical point worth checking rather than assuming the staircase is your only option.

The experience ends back at the restaurant, so you do not need to arrange transport between stops. That makes it easy to continue sightseeing in central Amsterdam after your snack.

A first-class railway room from 1885

The building is the star of the experience. The restaurant sits in the former first-class waiting rooms of Amsterdam Centraal, in a monumental structure dating from 1885. The room has been renovated while keeping its old railway identity, including the sign that once indicated waiting times.

The result is a dining room with a formal, old-fashioned feel. You get tiled railway architecture, historic details, and views toward Amsterdam’s old city center rather than the anonymous look of a modern station food court. Some diners have also encountered Elvis, a cockatiel associated with the restaurant. The bird is not part of the food program, and you should not count on seeing him, but he has become one of the room’s memorable characters.

The restaurant has been recognized by The Guardian as one of Europe’s top 10 station restaurants. That description makes sense once you see the room. The setting feels designed for lingering, even though the tasting itself is short.

I especially like the way this location connects food with travel. Bitterballen are ordinary Dutch bar snacks, but eating them in a restored first-class waiting room gives them a sense of place. You are not simply checking off a local dish. You are trying it in a room built for people waiting to leave Amsterdam by train.

The Pierre Cuypers connection

Amsterdam Centraal was designed between 1881 and 1889 by Pierre Cuypers, a master builder from Roermond. He also designed the Rijksmuseum, so the station and museum share a connection that is useful to notice while you are in the city.

Cuypers is often credited with reviving architecture in the Netherlands. His work at the station turns a necessary transport building into a major piece of city design. During the tasting, the restaurant’s information sheet gives you additional context about the building and the food.

This is not a long architecture lecture. You will not spend the hour touring the whole station with a guide. Instead, the setting and written information give you enough background to see the room with sharper eyes. If you have visited the Rijksmuseum, the connection adds another layer to your day.

Six Dutch snacks, six different flavors

The tasting gives you six pieces, each with a different filling or style. The selection includes:

• Veal bitterbal
• Peking duck bitterbal
• Thai green curry bitterbal
• Cheese and arugula croquette
• Chicken satay croquette
• Shrimp croquette

A bitterbal is a small, round, breaded snack with a savory filling. A croquette is usually longer or larger, with a crisp coating around a soft filling. Both are served hot and are commonly associated with Dutch cafés, bars, and snack counters.

The useful part of this tasting is the comparison. Instead of ordering one familiar croquette, you can see how the same basic format works with traditional veal, seafood, cheese, Asian-inspired fillings, and curry spices.

The veal bitterbal gives you the classic starting point. The shrimp croquette shifts toward a seafood flavor, while the cheese and arugula version is a good choice if you want something less meat-heavy. Peking duck, chicken satay, and Thai green curry bring international flavors into a distinctly Dutch snack form.

The written sheet helps you keep track of what you are eating. Staff explain the dishes, and the notes provide extra gastronomic information. This is useful because the snacks look similar from the outside. Without labels, it would be easy to confuse the flavors.

Do not expect a formal cooking demonstration. The focus is tasting and explanation at the table, not watching the kitchen prepare each item. That keeps the visit short, but it also means the experience may feel more like a restaurant sampler than a fully guided food tour.

Service, pace, and the real dining experience

The staff are generally professional and willing to explain the food. The best version of the experience includes a friendly welcome, clear descriptions, and time to enjoy the room. Several diners have also praised individual staff members for being warm and engaging.

Service can be less consistent. Arrival may feel brisk rather than welcoming, and some sittings take longer than expected. The food itself can arrive promptly, but the overall pace depends on the restaurant’s workload. Keep that in mind if you have a train to catch immediately afterward.

You should allow the full hour and avoid scheduling this just before a tight departure. The attraction is partly the room, so rushing through the samples would miss one of the main reasons to come.

The restaurant is also a good place for people-watching. Amsterdam Centraal brings together commuters, tourists, railway staff, and diners, while the old room gives the scene a calmer, more polished feel. You get the energy of the station without sitting beside a standard fast-food counter.

Drinks and what is included

Table water is included. The food tasting is included, but drinks are listed separately. You can order beer, wine, or a soft drink from the restaurant, with Heineken draft beer and house wine specifically mentioned among the choices.

A drink fits the Dutch café setting, especially if you want to stretch the visit beyond the food samples. A beer also makes sense with bitterballen, which are traditionally associated with casual drinks and bar snacks.

Still, the extra cost changes the calculation. At $15, the tasting is reasonably priced for a historic central location. Add a beer or wine, and you are paying for a light meal in a handsome room rather than a low-cost snack. If you are watching your spending, stick with the included table water and treat the tasting as a small lunch or afternoon stop.

Who will enjoy this experience most

I would recommend this to you if you want a simple introduction to Dutch snack culture and appreciate historic buildings. It works especially well for a first visit to Amsterdam because it combines local food, railway history, and a central location in one short stop.

It also suits couples, solo visitors, and families who want a break from walking. The one-hour length is manageable, and the six flavors give different eaters something to compare. The cheese and arugula croquette may appeal to someone who does not want a meat filling, though the full selection is not presented as vegetarian.

You may want to skip it if you need a substantial meal, dislike fried food, or have no interest in historic interiors. The tasting is not a full city food tour, and it does not include several restaurant stops or a long walking route.

It is also less compelling if your only goal is to eat bitterballen as cheaply as possible. In that case, buying a single snack elsewhere may be better value. This experience earns its price through the room, the range of fillings, and the setting inside one of Amsterdam’s major monuments.

Should you book the Amsterdam bitterballen tasting?

Book it if you want six flavors in one sitting and like the idea of eating inside a restored first-class station room. The combination of Pierre Cuypers architecture, a compact tasting, and a central location makes it an easy addition to an Amsterdam itinerary.

Skip it if you expect a large meal or a highly interactive cooking lesson. The portion is modest, drinks cost extra, and service may not always move quickly. For most visitors, the strongest reason to book is not the quantity of food. It is the chance to try a familiar Dutch snack in a remarkable railway setting.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later. The tasting lasts one hour, with starting times depending on availability.

FAQ

Where does the bitterballen tasting take place?

It takes place at Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas inside Amsterdam Central Station, at platform 2B. The address is Stationsplein 15.

How do I find the restaurant?

Use the staircase in the Cuyper Hall inside Amsterdam Central Station. When you arrive, ask the floor manager for the tasting.

How long does the experience last?

The tasting lasts one hour.

What food is included?

You receive six different types of croquettes and bitterballen: veal, Peking duck, Thai green curry, cheese and arugula, chicken satay, and shrimp.

Are drinks included?

Table water is included. Drinks such as beer, wine, and soft drinks are listed separately and are not included in the tasting price.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $15 per person.

Is the restaurant in a historic building?

Yes. The restaurant occupies former first-class waiting rooms in Amsterdam Centraal, a monumental building dating from 1885.

Who designed Amsterdam Central Station?

Pierre Cuypers designed Amsterdam Central Station between 1881 and 1889. He also designed the Rijksmuseum.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.