Five cheeses in Amsterdam, taught like a craft. At Old Amsterdam Cheese Store on Damrak, this 55-minute session takes you through the character of each cheese and how the pairings are supposed to work. I love the pace and teaching style, and I also love learning the practical stuff like how to tell goat versus cow cheeses and what aging changes. The one possible drawback: you’re sampling a fixed set, so if you want total variety or lots of custom options, you may feel a bit boxed in.

This is a great food-and-wine stop that mixes tasting with explanation, in English, with a small group size (up to 26). Expect a mobile ticket, cutlery included, and a venue that’s easy to reach near public transport. Also, since wine is part of the experience, there’s a minimum drinking age of 18+.

Key highlights to know before you go

• Five cheeses in one guided flight with multiple wines chosen to match them
• White, red, and port style pairings that help you connect taste to technique
• Small-group feel (max 26) for Q&A and better interaction
• Practical palate training: goat vs cow, young vs aged, and why certain wines work
• Shop perks: you can shop right after, and some tastings include a 10% cheese discount

Old Amsterdam Cheese Store: a cozy setup for serious tasting

If you like your food tours to be more than just walking and snack-hunting, this one is built around tasting and learning. You’ll meet at Damrak 62HS, right in the center of Amsterdam, then settle into Old Amsterdam Cheese Store for a structured tasting session that stays focused on flavor, not filler.

The vibe is pretty straightforward: you start with an intro, then move through the cheeses and wines in a planned sequence, with a guide on hand to answer questions and give pairing recommendations. Several reviews mention an upstairs learning room with a screen and a presenter who explains the why behind each combo—not just what you’re eating.

One thing I appreciate is that this isn’t only for cheese nerds. If you’ve only had a mild supermarket wedge, you’ll still get something. The guide teaches you how to notice things you can actually use later—like how the milk source (goat vs cow) and aging time change texture and taste.

Price and what $32.65 buys you in real value

At $32.65 per person for about 55 minutes, you’re paying for three things: the product (cheese and wine), the pairing guidance, and a hosted experience inside a real cheese shop.

You’re not just sampling one cheese with one wine. You’re tasting five cheeses and pairing them with selected wines, plus getting cutlery and a guided walkthrough. For an hour in one of Europe’s most famous cheese countries, it’s a reasonable way to taste more than you’d normally buy at full price—especially if you’re the type who likes to compare.

There’s also a practical bonus: if you like what you taste, you can buy it right afterward. One review specifically notes a 10% discount on cheese at the end, which can turn the tasting into a smart first purchase instead of a one-and-done activity.

The Damrak meeting point and how the 55 minutes plays out

You’ll start at Damrak 62HS (1012 LM). The activity ends back at the meeting point, so you’re not dropped into another part of town after the tasting. That makes it easy to fit into a day that’s already packed with canal walks, museums, and long meals.

Plan to arrive a few minutes early. This kind of tasting works best when the group starts together, because the guide’s sequence matters—if you show up late, you miss the framing for why each cheese is paired a certain way.

In terms of timing, one of the most common themes in feedback is that it feels like a full hour of learning without dragging. If you’re doing Amsterdam on a tight schedule, that’s a win. If you’re hoping for a long, slow, wandering-style tasting where you can linger over every bite, you may want something longer. This is designed to be efficient.

Group size is also part of the experience. With a maximum of 26, it’s usually small enough for you to ask questions and get answers. Reviews mention people doing it with friends or even meeting other folks; one review describes an especially personal session for a small group, which is exactly what you want when you’re trying to learn pairing logic.

The tasting flight: five Dutch cheeses with wine pairings

The core promise here is simple: five different types of cheese, paired with specially selected wines. The cheese lineup is described as award-winning cheeses of 2024, and the goal is to help you understand what makes each cheese taste the way it does.

From the feedback, the pairing set commonly includes a white, a red, and a port. Expect the guide to explain how the wine choice changes the cheese experience—things like how acidity can refresh your palate after a richer bite, or how a sweeter wine can play nicely with certain aged notes.

You’ll also likely cover the “Dutch essentials” in a structured way. Reviews mention a mix of goat and cow cheeses, plus a range in age (from younger to more aged styles). One review calls out goat and cow cheeses around the 4–18 month range, and another mentions learning about aging and production history.

What’s valuable for you isn’t just the list of cheeses. It’s the tasting order and the way the guide teaches you to compare:

• Start with milder flavors, then notice how intensity builds.
• Pay attention to texture changes (creaminess, firmness, crumble).
• Match those sensations to the wine type—white for freshness, red for structure, port for a sweeter finish.

Also note a small “extra” detail that shows up in reviews: at least one person mentions a dessert-style chocolate cheese being included. Since it’s not confirmed in the core tour details, treat that as a bonus you might see rather than a guaranteed part of every session.

How the guide turns cheese into a skill you can use later

This is where the experience earns its high rating. A good tasting is mostly about tasting technique: what you should notice first, second, and third—so you can recreate good choices outside the shop.

Guides vary by session, but reviews name presenters such as Maria and Luca, and the shop owner staff includes Ron Pieters. Whoever you get, the format seems to stay the same: explanation first, then tasting, then a clear pairing rationale.

Here are the exact kinds of lessons you’ll get from the way these tastings are run:

• Goat vs cow: you learn what to expect from the milk source and why it tastes different.
• Aging: younger cheeses often feel softer and milder, while aged cheeses bring deeper, stronger notes.
• Pairing logic: the guide points out what makes a white wine work better with one style, and when a red or port makes more sense.

Some reviews also mention extra touches like small quizzes and handouts/booklets. Even if you don’t care about quizzes, those materials are useful because they help you remember the tasting set after you’ve left the shop.

One practical tip: if you want the best “take-home” value, take a small note on each cheese. Not a full journal—just jot whether it felt fruity, nutty, sharp, creamy, or salty. Then later, when you’re buying cheese for dinner, you can match your memory to the right style.

Cheese shop shopping: what happens after the tasting

The best part of a tasting in a real store is that your favorites become real purchases. Old Amsterdam Cheese Store is set up so you can buy cheeses right after you taste them, which is the difference between a fun hour and a useful food upgrade.

Reviews also highlight that the store has a welcoming learning space with a presenter and a screen, so you’re not just standing around a counter. You get a “lesson” feel, followed by product testing, then shopping.

Some people note this experience also functions as a promotion for the business. That’s not necessarily a bad thing—this is a cheese store, after all. But it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re looking for a tasting that feels like a purely neutral, third-party comparison.

Also, one review mentions they would have liked a handout listing the actual cheese and wine names used during the tasting. If you’re the type who wants specifics for later grocery shopping, bring a pen or be ready to ask the guide for the names. The guide will be able to help with questions, since they’re there to answer and recommend.

Who should book this cheese and wine tasting (and who might skip it)

Book it if you want:

• A one-hour Amsterdam activity that’s easy to schedule
• A structured introduction to Dutch cheese with pairing guidance
• A chance to taste more cheeses than you’d buy individually at first

It’s also a good fit for couples and small groups. Reviews mention people doing it with friends, and solo travelers using it as a social break. Since you’re not stuck listening to a monologue for the whole hour, it works well if you like to ask questions.

You might consider skipping—or at least tempering expectations—if:

• You only want highly unusual or flavored cheeses. One review says the selection leaned toward classic styles.
• You’re hoping for a huge variety beyond the fixed five-cheese set.
• You prefer long tasting marathons rather than a tight, guided hour.

Should you book the Old Amsterdam Cheese and Wine tasting?

Yes, if your goal is to learn fast and taste well in the middle of Amsterdam. For $32.65 and about 55 minutes, you get a focused flight of five cheeses with wine pairings, plus a guide who helps you connect what you taste to why it works.

If you’re even mildly curious about goat vs cow differences, aging, or simple pairing rules you can use later, this is a strong bet. Just go in expecting a curated set, not an unlimited buffet of options.

FAQ

How long is the cheese and wine tasting?

It lasts about 55 minutes.

What’s included in the experience?

You get food tasting and wine tasting, plus cutlery.

Is there an age limit?

Yes. The minimum drinking age is 18 years.

What language is the tour in, and do I get a ticket?

The experience is offered in English, and you’ll receive a mobile ticket.

Where do I meet, and does it end nearby?

Meet at Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts.

If you want, tell me what else you’re planning that day in Amsterdam (canals, museums, Jordaan, beer, etc.), and I’ll help you slot this tasting into a tight itinerary.