Quick answer
The Netherlands is easy for vegetarians. Supermarkets and menus label vegetarian food, Amsterdam has plenty of Indian restaurants, and Surinamese roti shops serve potato and long-bean curries close to home cooking. Watch for animal rennet in cheese, beef fat in some fries and gelatine in sweets. Jain food needs more planning outside Indian restaurants.
How easy is it to eat well?
Vegetarian & Jain friendliness
5 = easy everywhere, 1 = plan every meal
Indian food availability
5 = Indian restaurants everywhere, 1 = rare
What to order (and what to ask about)
Stroopwafel
Two thin waffles with caramel syrup. Most recipes contain egg and butter; fresh ones at markets are best.
Poffertjes
Tiny fluffy pancakes with butter and powdered sugar; the batter contains egg and milk.
Pannenkoeken
Large thin pancakes, sweet or savoury. Choose cheese, apple or mushroom, and avoid spek (bacon).
Patat (Dutch fries)
Thick fries with mayonnaise, peanut satay sauce or both. A few snack bars fry in beef fat, so ask if it is vegetable oil.
Gouda and Edam cheese
Many Dutch cheeses use animal rennet. Look for 'vegetarisch' on the label or ask the cheese shop.
Stamppot
Mashed potato with kale or sauerkraut, a winter staple. It usually comes with smoked sausage, so ask for it without.
Surinamese roti
Flatbread with potato, long beans and curry from the Surinamese-Hindustani community; ask for it without chicken and check for egg.
Vegetarian rijsttafel
A spread of small Indonesian dishes with rice, including gado-gado and tempeh. Ask about shrimp paste in sambals.
Appeltaart
Deep apple pie with cinnamon, usually served with whipped cream; contains egg and butter.
Bitterballen
Deep-fried balls of beef ragout served with mustard in bars; many menus now offer a vegetarian version.
Hollandse nieuwe haring
Raw herring with onions, sold at street stalls in early summer.
Phrases that help
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ik ben vegetariër | I am vegetarian |
| Zonder vlees, alstublieft | Without meat, please |
| Zonder vis | Without fish |
| Zit er ei in? | Is there egg in it? |
| Vegetarisch | Vegetarian (look for it on labels) |
| Plantaardig | Plant-based or vegan |
Is the Netherlands good for vegetarian travellers?
Yes. The Dutch eat less meat than most Europeans, menus mark vegetarian dishes, and supermarkets label products vegetarisch. In Amsterdam you can eat vegetarian at almost any café. Smaller towns have fewer choices, but pancake houses, pizza places and Indonesian restaurants are everywhere.
Watch for hidden ingredients
- Cheese: many traditional Dutch cheeses use animal rennet. Cheese shops can point you to vegetarian ones.
- Fries: most snack bars use vegetable oil, but a few still fry in beef fat. Ask.
- Sweets: Dutch liquorice, gummy sweets and some desserts contain gelatine. Read the ingredients.
- Soups: pea soup (erwtensoep) is almost always made with pork.
Where to find Indian food
Amsterdam has Indian restaurants in most central neighbourhoods, including around Leidseplein and in De Pijp, and The Hague and Rotterdam have good choices too. Many will cook without onion and garlic if you ask when ordering.
The Netherlands also has a large Surinamese-Hindustani community, descendants of Indian workers taken to Suriname in the 19th century. Their roti shops serve flatbread with curried potato, long beans and chana. It is the closest thing to home food, and cheap.
Jain and strict vegetarian travellers
Jain eating takes more planning. Outside Indian restaurants, root vegetables, onion and garlic are in most dishes. Practical options:
- Choose a hotel or apartment with a kitchenette in Amsterdam.
- Carry ready-to-eat meals and dry snacks for day trips.
- Buy fruit, bread, yoghurt and labelled cheese from supermarkets.
Supermarket chains such as Albert Heijn sell good salads, wraps and fruit cups. A supermarket lunch costs ₹400–700 against ₹1,500–2,500 at a café.
Plan the rest of your trip
See things to do in the Netherlands, the Netherlands trip cost for food budgets, and the best time to visit. Visa steps are in our Netherlands visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to find vegetarian food in Amsterdam?
Where can I find Indian food in Amsterdam?
Can Jain travellers manage in the Netherlands?
Is Dutch cheese vegetarian?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
