Amsterdam is a city that takes its baked goods seriously. Whether you're looking for a classic Dutch treat like a stroopwafel, a flaky French-style croissant, or a really good cookie, there are plenty of great bakeries all over the city.
After living in Amsterdam, these are the bakeries I still keep going back to. Some are famous, some are more under the radar, but all of them are worth the visit.
Fort Negen
Fort Negen is one of Amsterdam's most popular bakeries, and for good reason. Their croissants are some of the best in the city, with perfectly flaky, buttery layers.
During the warmer months, Fort Negen fills their buttery croissants with soft serve ice cream, creating one of my favorite desserts in Amsterdam. The soft serve flavors rotate regularly, but they're always delicious.
Once you've finished the ice cream, you're left with what may be the best part: a perfectly flaky, buttery croissant that holds up surprisingly well despite being filled with soft serve. It can be a bit messy, but totally worth it.
Het Koekemannetje
Sometimes you just want a really good cookie, and that's exactly what Het Koekemannetje does best.
Located in Amsterdam's trendy Nine Streets neighborhood, this tiny bakery makes perfect cookies, and they have the most adorable window display!
My favorite here is the classic chocolate chip cookie. With generous dollops of chocolate, slightly crisp edges, and a chewy center, it's very close to the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Get one that's fresh out of the oven, and you'll be tempted to eat it before you even leave the shop.
Café Maha
Most people visit Café Maha for the coffee, which is great, but the sweets here also deserve some attention.
Instead of the standard coffee shop selection, Maha offers baked goods that feel a little more creative. Depending on the day, you'll find treats like pandan cookies, lime and poppy seed loaf cake, or chicken kimchi tarts.
The bright, stylish interior also makes it a lovely place to slow down for a bit before continuing your day exploring Amsterdam.
Rudi's Original Stroopwafels
If there's one sweet treat you have to try in Amsterdam, it's a stroopwafel. These are basically very thin waffles, filled with a caramel-like sauce.
The best place to try a stroopwafel is at Rudi's in the Albert Cuyp market. Here, they are made fresh, ensuring that you get a hot, gooey waffle. It's simple, it's not covered in sugar or other sweets, and it's the best. If you're looking for something to take back home from your trip, they also sell packaged waffles, which make great gifts and souvenirs.
Layers Bakery
Layers quickly became a sensation for their picture-perfect French-inspired pastries. We're talking about some of the most beautifully layered croissants and pain au chocolats, cream and fruit-filled pastry cups, and perfectly flaky pain suisses, good enough to give a Paris bakery a run for their money.
The prices here are high, but given the quality and the skill that goes into the pastries, it's definitely worth it for a special treat.
Almond Bakery
After trying their honey cake, Almond Bakery quickly became my go-to spot to order a cake for any type of special event. And, if you don't need an entire cake, their small bakery sweets are just as delicious.
If I'm passing by, I can never resist stopping in for a few skyris, small cakes, dipped in chocolate and beautifully decorated. Another surprising delight? Their waffle rolls. These look very simple and unassuming, but they are absolutely addictive. Whether you want something for a special event, or just to treat yourself to a little something extra, this is a great place to stop.
Patisserie Holtkamp
If you want to impress a Dutch person, bring them something from Holtkamp. This bakery has been baking locals' favorite treats for decades.
There are plenty of great sweets here: little chocolates, cakes, and cookies. But they also make some of the best savory Dutch snacks, croquettes and bitterballen. These little bites are a must-try if you're in Amsterdam, and if you're staying somewhere where you have the ability to heat something up, these are some of the best in the city.