Cheese and wine, in under an hour. This Amsterdam tasting walks you through Dutch cheese-making, then pairs five Gouda cheeses with three wines in a cozy room above the shop. You also get the backstory of Old Amsterdam, one of the most famous Dutch cheeses, with a guide who keeps things lively.

I especially love how the tasting stays practical. You get fig bread and water between bites, so you can actually notice the difference between young, aged, and goat options. I also like that the format is short and focused: you’re not stuck listening forever, and you still get enough variety to learn something real.

One consideration: the room is stairs-only (1st floor), so if mobility is an issue, this may not work for you. And because wine is included, there’s a strict minimum age for alcohol (18+).

Key Takeaways Before You Go

• Five Gouda cheeses in one tasting session, so you can compare styles without guesswork
• Three wine pairings (red, white, and port) chosen to match the cheese type
• Old Amsterdam explained, including the historic family business behind it
• Fig bread plus water to reset your palate between tastings
• 20% off in the shop downstairs if you want to bring Dutch cheese home
• Small-group feel, with the option to host up to around 18 people

Where You Start: The Old Amsterdam Cheese Store Upstairs

Meet at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store. The tasting happens in a dedicated room on the 1st floor, reached by stairs. It’s not a big, roaming tour through a market maze. It’s more like a “classroom that smells faintly of cheese,” with the shop right there below you.

This matters for two reasons. First, you spend your time tasting and asking questions, not commuting around Amsterdam. Second, you can plan your buying decision right after the session, when the flavors are still fresh in your head.

The setup is also easy to settle into. People describe it as an air-conditioned, private-feeling space with a bathroom available on-site, which is a nice bonus in a city where weather can change fast.

The 45-Minute Flow: 5 Goudas, 3 Wines, and Reset Bites

The experience is built around a simple rhythm: bite the cheese, taste the wine, then clean your palate. In total, you get five cheeses and three wines, plus fig bread and water.

Here’s how it feels in real time.

The intro and cheese basics

You’ll start with an overview of Dutch cheese-making traditions and what to look for as cheese ages. Guides also explain how cheese is made and aged in the Netherlands, and how different factors change flavor and texture. You’re not memorizing a textbook. You’re building a “map” so each new cheese makes sense as you try it.

The Old Amsterdam portion

One of your tastings focuses on Old Amsterdam cheese from the historic, family-run Westland Kaasspecialiteiten business. You’ll hear the story of the brand and what makes it distinctive. Even when specific recipes are kept as family secrets, you do pick up hints about what’s going on behind the scenes.

The main tasting board: comparisons you can feel

You then move through the set of five Gouda cheeses. The board is designed so you can compare. Expect variety across aging and style, including the kinds of differences that people often miss when they just buy one block at random.

Between tastings, you get fig bread and water to reset your palate. This is a small detail that pays off. Cheese tasting without palate cleansing turns into a blur of salty and creamy. With the reset bites, you’re more likely to spot what’s changing from one cheese to the next.

Wine pairings that don’t feel like a gimmick

Each cheese comes with a wine pairing, selected by a sommelier. Your included wines are:

• 1 red wine
• 1 white wine
• 1 port wine

You’ll taste how each wine’s acidity, sweetness, or weight affects the cheese. And you get time to ask questions if something doesn’t match your expectations. In a few cases, guides also offer help with choosing what you’ll like after you leave—handy if you’re thinking about buying a few wheels.

Old Amsterdam in Plain English: What You’re Really Learning

Old Amsterdam is the star, and the story isn’t just branding. It’s about a Dutch cheese tradition that has survived, adapted, and stayed recognizable.

When the guide explains it, I like that you don’t get stuck in trivia. You learn how the business connects to production, why Gouda has a huge range of flavors, and how aging changes what you taste. Guides may mention company background and how cheese making works, then use the tastings to show the differences instead of only talking about them.

A useful detail: some guides have fun with the process. I’ve heard sessions led by people like Aris, Ari/Ares, Rik, Maria, Ron, and Roberta, and the common thread is that they keep it upbeat while still explaining what you’re eating. If you enjoy a guide who tells stories and answers questions without making you feel rushed, this style fits well.

Wine and Cheese Pairing: What to Notice on Your Plate

This is where the session earns its keep. Wine pairing can be a nice extra, or it can actually change the whole experience. Here, the pairing is tied to what you’re tasting, not just what the bottle happens to be.

Try this approach while you’re tasting:

• Notice the cheese first: Is it smooth or crumbly? Mild or strong? Creamy or sharper?
• Then taste the wine: Does it make the cheese taste sweeter, brighter, or more mellow?
• Use the fig bread and water between bites, even if you feel like you’re already done. That reset is part of the lesson.

With the included red, white, and port, you’ll likely see a pattern: lighter wines tend to play well with milder flavors, while a richer wine (like port) can handle stronger, aged notes. But you’re not being forced into one “correct” opinion. The guide’s job is to help you build your own pairing instincts—fast.

The 20% Shop Discount: How to Buy Without Regret

After the tasting, you can go downstairs and buy more cheese. The session includes a 20% discount in the shop, so you get an incentive to turn learning into a take-home stash.

I think this is one of the smartest parts of the experience. You’re not buying blind. You’ve just tasted five Gouda samples and learned how aging and style change flavor. If you loved one cheese on the board, you can track it to the right product without guessing.

A tip: buy with a purpose. Don’t just grab whatever looks iconic. Choose based on what you enjoyed in the session:

• If you liked something smoother and milder, look for a similar aging style.
• If you liked the stronger notes, ask for a match to the style that hit your taste buds.

Also, don’t feel shy about asking questions at the shop. The staff is already in “cheese mode,” and the tasting primes you to understand what they’re recommending.

Value for $23: Short Session, Real Comparisons

At $23 per person for about 45 minutes, you’re paying for:

• five cheeses (so real variety, not one token sample),
• three wine pairings,
• palate cleansers,
• and a guide who explains what you’re tasting.

For Amsterdam, that’s strong value, especially because the discount lets you immediately convert the experience into a purchase. Even if you’re not planning to buy much, this kind of guided tasting can be cheaper than piecing together cheese and wine separately at multiple places.

The timing also helps. You can fit it into a busy day between canal walks, museum time, or a food-focused meal. It’s short enough that you won’t feel like you lost your entire afternoon to a single activity.

Who This Suits Best (And Who Might Skip It)

This works well if you want a focused, food-first Amsterdam experience. You’ll probably enjoy it most if you:

• like cheese but want guidance on the differences between styles,
• enjoy wine pairings and want them explained in simple terms,
• prefer an activity that’s short, indoors, and easy to plan around.

It may be less ideal if:

• you need wheelchair access or have trouble with stairs (the room is not suitable for people with mobility impairments),
• you’re under 18, since alcohol is included (18+ minimum age to drink),
• you hate guided experiences and only want free time to wander (this is a seated tasting session).

Should You Book This Old Amsterdam Cheese and Wine Tasting?

If you’re in Amsterdam and you want one ticket that actually teaches you something while you eat and drink, I’d book it. The combo of five Gouda tastings plus red, white, and port makes it more than a snack stop. Add the 20% shop discount, and it becomes a smart way to buy cheese you’ll genuinely like.

I’d skip it only if stairs are a problem for you or if alcohol is a hard no. Otherwise, it’s a tidy, flavorful way to understand Dutch cheese culture—without needing a day-long food tour.

FAQ

How long is the Amsterdam Dutch cheese and wine tasting?

The session lasts 45 minutes.

Where do I meet for the tasting?

You meet at the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store.

What’s included in the tasting?

You get a guided cheese tasting session, five different Gouda cheeses, three wines (one red, one white, and one port), fig bread, water, and a 20% discount in the shop downstairs.

What wines are included?

You’ll receive one red wine, one white wine, and one port wine, paired with the cheeses.

Is there an age limit since alcohol is included?

Yes. The minimum age to drink alcohol is 18 years old.

Is the tasting room accessible?

The cheese-tasting room is on the 1st floor and is only accessible by stairs, and it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Do I have to pay right away?

No. There is a reserve now & pay later option.

Can I get a refund if plans change?

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