Cheese and Wine tasting in Amsterdam

The clever part of this Amsterdam tasting is the pairing lesson. You do not simply eat five cheeses and sip wine. You learn how age, milk type, texture, and wine style change what you taste, all above the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store on Damrak. Guides such as Rick, Maria, Luca, and Ron have led sessions, depending on the date.

I like the small-group format, capped at 26 people, and the mix of five award-winning 2024 cheeses with several wines. I also like that the hour gives you useful Dutch food background without taking over your day. The main consideration is that the tasting also introduces the shop’s products, so it feels partly like a sales presentation. That is not unusual for a store-based tasting, but it may not suit you if you want a fully independent food tour.

Key points to know before you book

• Five cheeses, several wine pairings: Taste a range of Dutch cheeses, often including young and aged Gouda, goat cheese, and cow’s milk cheese, with white, red, and Port wines.
• A short, focused lesson: The session lasts about 55 minutes, making it easy to fit between sightseeing stops.
• Guides shape the experience: Rick, Maria, Luca, and Ron are among the presenters praised for clear explanations, humor, and friendly service.
• Above a central cheese shop: The tasting takes place at Damrak 62HS, close to public transportation and in the center of Amsterdam.
• Useful for food beginners: You learn how to notice age, milk type, and pairing contrasts instead of simply being told which cheese tastes good.
• Plan for shopping afterward: Cheese is available in the store, and one account notes a 10 percent post-tasting discount.

What happens inside the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store

The experience begins at Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam, a central address that is easy to pair with a day around Dam Square and the main canal area. You check in at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, then move to the tasting area upstairs.

The setting is more practical than grand. You are in a shop with a dedicated room above it, rather than in a vineyard, farmhouse, or historic cellar. That makes the location convenient, though you should set your expectations accordingly. This is a polished shop presentation with a teaching room, not a countryside food excursion.

Once seated, you receive the tasting portions, wine, and cutlery. Some sessions also provide a small booklet with information about the cheeses. The presenter explains how Dutch cheese is made, how long different cheeses mature, and how to notice the difference between goat’s milk and cow’s milk cheese.

The presentation has enough structure to keep the short format moving. The guide introduces the cheese, explains its character, and then shows how the selected wine changes the flavor. You may also get a quiz at the end, with a small prize in at least some sessions. The tone can be light and social, especially when the group is small.

Five Dutch cheeses and the logic behind the pairings

The cheese is the reason to book this activity, and the tasting gives you more range than a single wedge of standard Gouda. The selection focuses on Old Amsterdam products and includes five cheeses. Details can vary, but the tasting has included cow’s milk and goat’s milk cheeses, with examples ranging from about four to eighteen months of age.

That age range matters. Younger cheese tends to be softer and milder, while a longer-matured cheese can become firmer, saltier, and more pronounced. The guide uses those changes to show why one wine may work better with a particular cheese than another.

You may taste three wines, commonly a white, a red blend, and a Portuguese ruby Port. Another account describes two whites and a red, so the exact lineup may change. The important point is the comparison, not memorizing a fixed menu.

A white wine can make a mild or creamy cheese feel fresh. A red may hold up better against a firmer, more savory cheese. Port brings sweetness and weight, which can work well with an intensely aged cheese or a chocolate cheese served as a small dessert-style extra in some sessions.

This is where the tasting earns its keep. You are shown how pairing works, rather than being handed a plate and left to guess. If you already know a lot about wine, the lesson may feel basic. If you are still learning why a pairing works, it gives you a useful set of principles to take to the next cheese counter.

The Dutch cheese story in less than an hour

The guide also places the food in a Dutch setting. You hear about Gouda production in the Amsterdam area, the making process, the maturing period, and the founders of Old Amsterdam Cheese.

The history is presented as part of a brand experience, so it is not a neutral lecture on every cheese made in the Netherlands. Still, it gives the tasting context. You begin to understand why Dutch cheese is often discussed by milk type and age, and why a cheese labeled by maturity can taste so different from a younger version.

I find this kind of short lesson useful early in an Amsterdam visit. It gives you a better eye for cheese shops and market stalls later. You may not remember every production detail, but you will have a clearer idea of what you are buying when you see young, mature, or extra-mature cheese on a counter.

The guide is central to the experience. Rick is described as strong on both wine and cheese, while Maria is praised for her presentation and friendly manner. Luca has been singled out for explaining the tasting well, and Ron is noted for being engaging with groups. Since the presenter depends on the date, you should not book expecting one particular person unless the provider confirms it.

Why the 55-minute length works

At about 55 minutes, this is a compact activity. You do not lose half a day getting to a distant food producer, and you do not need to plan a meal around it. It can fit well on a rainy afternoon or between major Amsterdam sights.

The short timing also keeps the lesson focused. You taste five cheeses, sample the wines, and hear the main points without getting bogged down in a long technical lecture. Several descriptions put the experience at roughly one hour, which is a fair way to think about it.

There is a tradeoff. You should not expect a long conversation about every cheese, extensive food portions, or a full Dutch meal. This is a tasting and introduction, not lunch. If you want a substantial meal, plan one separately.

The wine is included, but the activity is still a tasting rather than an evening of drinking. The minimum drinking age is 18. The provider does not list private transportation, so you make your own way to the store and return to the same meeting point when the session ends.

Group size, atmosphere, and solo visitors

The maximum group size is 26, but the room can feel much more personal when attendance is low. One session had only a couple, allowing plenty of direct attention. Other groups have included friends, couples, and solo participants seated together.

That mix can work in your favor. Cheese and wine naturally give people something to discuss, and the guide often keeps the tone open and social. If you are traveling alone, this is a fairly easy setting for meeting people without signing up for a full-day group tour.

A full group of 26 will feel less intimate. You may have fewer chances to ask individual questions, and the presentation will need to follow a set pace. Even so, the guide is available to answer questions and offer food recommendations.

The room is described as attractive and carefully arranged, with a presentation screen and a dedicated tasting setup. It is not presented as a formal fine-dining venue. Wear what you would normally wear for sightseeing, and remember that the experience takes place in a working cheese shop.

The store visit and the shopping angle

The shop is not just the meeting point. It is part of the business model, and the tasting naturally leads you toward the cheese counter afterward.

That is both useful and worth noting. You can buy the cheeses you liked and take a Dutch food souvenir home. One account reports a 10 percent discount after the tasting, though you should confirm current terms when booking or at the store.

The commercial side is clear. You are learning about the Old Amsterdam range while tasting it, so the presentation promotes the products sold downstairs. One person found the format more promotional than independent, and that is a fair criticism.

I would not treat that as a reason to reject the experience. Many store tastings work this way, and the price includes a guided lesson rather than just samples. But if you want a broad comparison of unrelated Dutch producers, this is not the best match. You are mainly learning through one cheese brand and its selected pairings.

Is $32.65 a fair price?

At $32.65 per person, the value depends on what you want from the hour. You receive five cheese samples, wine, cutlery, a live presentation, and a short lesson on Dutch cheese and pairing. For a central Amsterdam activity lasting less than an hour, the price is reasonable if you care about the teaching as much as the food.

The value is strongest for beginners. You get an organized tasting, explanations of age and milk type, and guidance on matching cheese with white, red, and fortified wine. You also avoid paying for a longer tour when you only want a small food experience.

The value is weaker if you are only looking for cheese to eat. A shop can sell you cheese without charging for the presentation, and the tasting does promote its own products. You are paying for the guided comparison and the setting, not simply for five large portions.

Booking about two weeks ahead is sensible, since the experience averages around 14 days of advance booking. If your schedule is flexible, it may be easier to fit in than a major museum or full-day excursion. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Who should book this tasting?

I would recommend it to you if you enjoy food, want a low-effort Amsterdam activity, or are curious about why Dutch cheese tastes different at different ages. It is also a good choice for a rainy day, a solo outing, or a short break between sightseeing plans.

It suits first-time wine tasters because the guide explains the basics without requiring specialist knowledge. It also suits cheese fans who want to compare goat and cow’s milk cheeses and see how maturation affects flavor.

Families need to consider the alcohol rule. The minimum drinking age is 18, and the experience is designed around wine, so it may not be the right pick for a group with younger children. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

You should think twice if you want a farm visit, a broad survey of many Dutch producers, or a full meal. You should also be comfortable with a store-connected presentation and the possibility that the exact wines or guide will vary.

Practical details that make the choice easier

Your mobile ticket is accepted, and the activity is offered in English. It starts and ends at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, so there is no separate transport plan to arrange.

The central address makes this easy to add to an Amsterdam day. Leave enough time to find Damrak 62HS and check in, especially if you are moving through the crowded center. The activity itself lasts about 55 minutes, but the shop visit afterward can add time if you want to buy cheese.

Most people can take part, and the venue is near public transportation. Private transportation is not included. If you have dietary concerns, allergies, or questions about substitutions, ask the provider before booking, since the supplied details do not list alternatives.

My verdict on the Old Amsterdam tasting

Book this if you want a short, friendly cheese lesson with real tasting value. The strongest parts are the five-cheese comparison, the white, red, and Port pairings, and the presenters who make the material easy to follow.

Go in knowing that it is tied to the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store and includes a promotional element. For $32.65, I think the hour is worthwhile when you want an introduction to Dutch cheese and a pleasant break from museums and canals. If you simply want to buy Gouda, skip the ticket and visit the shop. If you want to understand what you are tasting, book the session.

FAQ

Where does the cheese and wine tasting take place?

It takes place at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam, Netherlands.

How long does the experience last?

The tasting lasts approximately 55 minutes.

How many cheeses will I taste?

You will taste five different cheeses. They are described as award-winning cheeses from 2024, with examples including goat’s milk and cow’s milk cheeses at different stages of maturity.

How many wines are included?

The tasting includes wine pairings selected for the cheeses. Sessions have included a white, a red blend, and a Portuguese ruby Port. The exact selection can vary, and one description also notes two whites and one red.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

What is the minimum drinking age?

The minimum drinking age is 18.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted, and the payment is not refunded.