Cheese Museum Amsterdam
Cheese in Amsterdam
The Cheese Museum Amsterdam sits along the Prinsengracht canal, very close to Anne Frank House and to all intents and purposes looks like a small cheese shop.
Its big Cheese Museum Amsterdam logo, a plastic cow outside and rolls of cheese in the window will attract you in, and once in you will be assailed with every smell of cheese you can imagine. As this was so close to the Tulip Museum, we came here afterwards. In retrospect we should have done it in reverse, for the smell of cheese is very intense and the tulips were for me at least a prettier smell to enjoy, but horses for courses I suppose.
It’s still great to get a look at authentic Dutch cheese, how its made, it’s history and of course its taste.
If you are at all interested in cheese or cheese making, it is a nice little break from the big museums and its completely free. Unless you decide to buy the cheese of course, but when in Holland it is quite likely you will buy cheese anyway.
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Cheese Museum Amsterdam Price
It’s always great to find free things to do in Amsterdam and this is one of them. Entry to Amsterdam Cheese museum is completely free. Probably because it is a cross-breed museum come shop and once inside you’ll learn so much about cheese that inevitably you will want to buy some.
You can though just enjoy wandering around and learning about the cheeses and tasting them for nothing at all.
Amsterdam Cheese Museum Opening times
Amsterdam Cheese Museum opens at 9am and stays open right through until 7pm.
We are not sure if this is to capitalise on the evening munchies, but either way its a nice long opening time and means you can visit almost anytime you find yourself passing by.
Cheese Museum in Amsterdam Experience
Firstly this is not the bigger and well-known Dutch Cheese Museum, which is located in nearby Alkmaar and has been around since 1983, along with its famous cheese market.
The Amsterdam Cheese Museum is a small niche museum located in the heart of Amsterdam, close by to Anne Frank House, along the Prinsengracht canal.
Amsterdam cheese tasting
This cheese museum is soley focussed on Dutch cheese so you will find varieties of Gouda, Edam, Old Amsterdam, Leerdammer and more. Upon entering you can see and smell the varieties of cheeses on offer and you’ll find tasting available of all the different types. This is great if you are not sure which cheese you will like and want to have a proper taste test.
Inside the cheese museum
It is a small museum and shop that caters really to passers by, so it is unlikely you will find a huge queue outside just to get in.
Going down the stairs you will find the museum part. It is small but focussed on Dutch cheese and illustrates the history of cheese in Holland through the use of videos, pictures and descriptive texts.
There are also cheese making tools on show including the most expensive cheese slicer in the world. Happily there are also cheese guides should you wish to ask anything, usually they are dressed in traditional attire.
For that one of a kind picture you can also dress up as a traditional Dutch cheese farmer and get some insta-cheese-cred – if thats a thing.
Can you buy cheese?
The cheese museum in Amsterdam has a shop included with the history of cheese as part of the experience. Tasting the different cheeses is all part of the appeal and you can find your favourite and then purchase it. If you are a visitor who wants to take it home, the cheese is fully sealed and vacuum packed for travel.
Where is the Amsterdam Cheese Museum
Located along the Prinsengracht Canal and close by to Anne Frank House. and pretty much next to the Tulip Museum. It is hard to miss with big rolls of cheese filling the window and a friendly cow sculpture outside.
Cheese Museum, Prinsengracht 112, 1015 EA Amsterdam
Right next door is a lovely patisserie so if you fancy some cakes and artisan chocolate creations you are in luck.
Other cheese attractions in Amsterdam
You will find a plentiful supply of shops selling cheese when out and about in Amsterdam.
For a different cheese experience you could visit Zannse Schans and see the beautiful working windmills. You’ll find an authentic clog making attraction here and the Catherine Hoeve Cheese Farm. You can tour the farm, see cheesemakers dressed in traditional costumes, learn how different cheeses are made and get some samples. Zannse Schans is a beautiful iconic landscape to explore and photograph and a perfect half-day trip from Amsterdam.
