Amsterdam: Dutch Bitterballen and Croquette Tasting

Amsterdam’s best snack stop may be hiding above the train platforms. At Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas, you sit in a restored first-class waiting room from the late 19th century and sample six versions of the Dutch fried snack known as bitterballen and croquettes.

I like two things right away: the setting gives you a slice of Amsterdam railway history, and the tasting moves well beyond the usual meat-filled bitterbal. Veal, Peking duck, Thai green curry, shrimp, cheese and arugula, and chicken satay make this a useful introduction to the snack.

The main drawback is value. The $15 price covers six snacks and table water, but not your beer, wine, or soft drink. The service can also be slow or uneven at busy times, so this works best as an easygoing one-hour stop rather than a tightly timed meal.

Key points to know before you go

• The restaurant sits inside Amsterdam Centraal: Use the staircase in the Cuyper Hall to reach Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas at platform 2B.
• You taste six different snacks: The selection includes veal bitterbal, Peking duck bitterbal, Thai green curry bitterbal, cheese and arugula croquette, chicken satay croquette, and shrimp croquette.
• The setting is the main event: You eat in former first-class waiting rooms in a monumental station designed by Pierre Cuypers between 1881 and 1889.
• A drink costs extra: Beer, wine, and soft drinks are available, but only table water is included.
• The format is short and simple: Plan on about one hour, with staff explanations and a printed sheet of food information.
• The experience suits station architecture fans: The Guardian has placed the restaurant among Europe’s top ten station restaurants.

Finding Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas inside Amsterdam Centraal

The meeting point is Stationsplein 15, inside Amsterdam Central Station. That address sounds simple, but the station is a large, busy building, so give yourself a few extra minutes to find the correct staircase.

Look for the Cuyper Hall and take the staircase to Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas. The restaurant is on platform 2B, in the former first-class waiting rooms. On arrival, ask for the floor manager and arrive on time.

This is not a street-side café that happens to be near the station. It is part of the station itself, which gives the experience a slightly theatrical start. You move from the practical world of ticket machines and train boards into a formal dining room with old railway details.

The restaurant’s location also makes it convenient if Amsterdam Centraal is already part of your day. You can pair it with a walk through the old city center, a train arrival or departure, or a break before continuing to another sight. Just remember that the activity ends where it begins, so you are not being escorted elsewhere in the city.

A first-class waiting room designed by Pierre Cuypers

The room is the strongest reason to book this tasting. Amsterdam Centraal was designed by Pierre Cuypers, the architect also associated with the Rijksmuseum. Construction and design work took place between 1881 and 1889, and the station remains one of Amsterdam’s most recognizable buildings.

The former waiting rooms have been renovated while keeping their period character. One especially appealing detail is the preserved sign showing waiting times, a small reminder of the days when railway travel was divided clearly by class and passengers waited in designated rooms.

I like the way the setting changes the snack from a quick bar bite into a small cultural experience. You are not simply eating six fried items at a modern table. You are sitting in a room built for rail passengers in a grand age of train travel.

The decor is formal and old-fashioned, with a style some diners describe as colonial. It may feel slightly theatrical, but that is part of its charm. The room also gives you a good place to watch people coming and going through one of Europe’s major railway stations.

The Guardian has included the restaurant among the top ten station restaurants in Europe. That does not mean you should expect a full fine-dining meal, but it does explain why the setting receives so much attention. The building carries much of the experience.

Six Dutch snacks, from veal to Thai green curry

The tasting includes six different bitterballen and croquettes. Each is served as part of the same one-hour experience, and staff explain the varieties while providing a sheet with further gastronomic information.

Here is what you can expect:

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

A bitterbal is a small, round fried snack, usually filled with a thick ragout. A croquette is generally longer and cylindrical, though fillings and shapes can vary. Both are usually crisp outside and soft inside, so the tasting gives you a chance to compare the styles as well as the fillings.

The traditional veal version is the useful starting point. It shows you the savory, creamy center that makes bitterballen such a familiar Dutch bar snack. The Peking duck and Thai green curry versions move the tasting in a more international direction.

The cheese and arugula croquette offers a meat-free option within the tasting. Chicken satay brings a flavor linked to the Netherlands’ long culinary connection with Indonesia, while the shrimp croquette provides a seafood choice.

I would not treat these six pieces as six entirely separate courses. The portion is a tasting, not a large lunch. You receive enough to compare fillings and find your favorite, but you may want to order another dish from the restaurant if you arrive hungry.

What the staff add to the hour

The tasting is designed to be more than a plate placed on the table. Staff explain the snacks and give you written information to read as you eat. That is useful because the fillings can otherwise blur together: each item has a crisp coating and a warm center, and the differences become clearer when someone identifies them.

The level of interaction can vary. Some descriptions point to very friendly, engaging service, while others note a less welcoming arrival or limited conversation with the waitstaff. The floor manager is the person to ask for when you arrive, but no specific guide is named for this experience.

That makes this different from a walking tour with a single guide leading a group. Your explanation happens at the table, and the quality of the hour depends partly on the staff member serving you. I would expect a pleasant introduction to the snacks rather than a formal food lecture.

Service has also been described as slow at times. This matters because the tasting lasts only an hour. If you have a train to catch immediately afterward, leave a generous buffer. If you are simply sightseeing around the station, the slower pace is less of a problem.

A small extra detail adds character: descriptions of the restaurant mention Elvis, a resident bird who may provide unexpected entertainment. Do not book solely for that, since the bird is not the main part of the activity, but it adds to the unusual atmosphere.

Choosing a drink with your tasting

Table water is included. Beer, wine, and soft drinks are not, so the advertised $15 is not your final bill if you want something more festive.

The listed drink choices include Heineken draft beer, house wine, or a soft drink. A glass of beer is the most natural match for bitterballen, particularly if you want the classic Dutch café experience. Wine works well if you prefer a slower meal, and a soft drink keeps the cost down.

This is where the price needs a fair reading. Six small snacks for $15 is not the cheapest way to eat in Amsterdam, especially once you add a drink. You are paying partly for the food, but also for access to a historic dining room in a major monument.

If you are interested only in sampling bitterballen, you may be able to visit the restaurant independently and order food without booking the packaged tasting. That can offer more freedom, though the set tasting gives you a defined selection and written information.

The experience offers good value for people who care about the setting and want to try several unusual fillings. It offers weaker value if you want a substantial meal or are focused only on the lowest possible food price.

How long the experience takes

The tasting lasts one hour. That is enough time for the six pieces, the staff’s explanations, and a drink if service moves at a normal pace.

I like the short format because it fits neatly into a day of sightseeing. You can schedule it between major sights without giving up half a day. The central location also makes it easy to use as a pause before or after exploring the old city center.

The one-hour estimate should not be treated as a guarantee of a fast exit. Slow service has been noted, and the restaurant is still a working café rather than a private tasting room. Avoid booking it immediately before a train departure.

The activity ends back at Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas. There is no additional city walk or transfer, so you are free to continue exploring from the station once the tasting is finished.

Accessibility and booking flexibility

The activity is wheelchair accessible. The meeting point uses the staircase in the Cuyper Hall, so if you need specific assistance with the route inside the station, ask the staff when you arrive.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying on the day of booking. Starting times depend on availability.

The restaurant can also accommodate a changed time, based on its ability to reschedule a booking. Still, arrive on time and allow extra minutes for finding the room inside the station.

Who will enjoy this tasting most

I would recommend this experience to you if you like food tastings with a strong sense of place. The six snacks give you a quick introduction to a Dutch favorite, while the room supplies the architectural and historical interest.

It also suits first-time visitors who want a low-effort activity near Amsterdam Centraal. You do not need to cross the city, find a specialist food market, or commit to a long tour. Once you locate the Cuyper Hall staircase, the experience is straightforward.

Architecture fans will get more from the hour than diners who care only about flavor. Pierre Cuypers’s connection to both Amsterdam Centraal and the Rijksmuseum gives the meal a useful link between two major Amsterdam buildings.

This is less suitable if you need a full lunch. Six bitterballen and croquettes are a tasting portion, and drinks are extra. It is also not ideal for a strict schedule because service may be slow.

Should you book the Amsterdam bitterballen tasting?

Book it if you want unusual Dutch snacks in an exceptional railway setting. The food selection is broad enough to make the tasting worthwhile, and the former first-class waiting room gives you something you cannot reproduce at an ordinary café.

Think of the $15 as payment for a small food-and-architecture experience, not simply six fried snacks. Add the cost of your drink, allow more than an hour if you have a train connection, and keep your expectations focused on tasting rather than a large meal.

If you are already at Amsterdam Centraal and prefer complete flexibility, you can consider visiting the restaurant on your own. If you want the six-item selection and the basic explanation arranged for you, reserve the tasting.

FAQ

Where does the bitterballen tasting take place?

It takes place at Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas inside Amsterdam Centraal 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 for the floor manager.

How long does the activity last?

The tasting lasts one hour. Starting times depend on availability.

Which snacks are included?

You receive six varieties: veal bitterbal, Peking duck bitterbal, Thai green curry bitterbal, cheese and arugula croquette, chicken satay croquette, and shrimp croquette.

Are drinks included?

Table water is included. Beer, wine, and soft drinks are not included and must be paid for separately.

Is the restaurant connected to Pierre Cuypers?

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

Is the activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel the booking?

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

Can I reserve now and pay later?

Yes. The reserve-now, pay-later option allows you to book without paying at the time of reservation.