Cheese lessons should come with a discount. This Henri Willig Cheese Tasting turns old Amsterdam into a mini classroom, where you sample multiple Gouda styles with mustard and dips, then watch a short cheesemaking film.

I love the hands-on format, 10 tasting pieces that build from mild to stronger flavors, so you can actually tell what changes when milk type and pairing change. I also love the human side, the way hosts like Suzanne, Quinten, Heloise, Martin, and Sjors make the story funny, personal, and easy to follow.

One consideration: the shop setup can include stairs, and the experience is not suitable for mobility impairments, so plan accordingly if walking is hard for you.

Key highlights worth planning around

• 10 Gouda tasting pieces, served in a deliberate progression of flavors
• Mustard plus 3 dip sauces, so you learn what each pairing does
• A short film and family story about how Henri Willig cheese gets made
• 2 included drinks, often paired along the way (wine, beer, and port show up in the experience)
• 10% off your shop purchase right at the end
• Small-group feel is common, with some sessions reported as very intimate

Old Amsterdam, but make it a hands-on cheese lesson

If you want Amsterdam that feels real, not just postcard real, go where locals shop and linger. This tasting happens in the Henri Willig shop area in old Amsterdam, where you are not just eating cheese, you are learning how to taste it.

The clock is tight on purpose, about 40 minutes to 1 hour, which means you get focus without a long, slow lecture. And the format is friendly: you taste, you compare, you ask questions, then you’re done, happily carrying cheese supplies afterward if you want.

Your tasting order: 10 Gouda pieces with mustard and dips

Here is the core of what you eat. You get 10 pieces of different Gouda cheeses. Even though you might hear “five kinds” in the way the experience is described, the reality is that you’re building flavor recognition through multiple Gouda styles and strengths over the session.

Each cheese comes with a pairing system:

• Traditional mustard
• 3 dip sauces (so you can compare a cheese in multiple moods)
• Cheese crackers to help you reset your palate

What I like about this is that it trains your senses fast. Instead of just saying the cheese is nutty or tangy, the tasting pushes you to notice what changes when you switch the add-on. That is exactly why people leave able to make better choices in the store.

A small practical note: you will be given multiple samples, so pace yourself. Take small bites, drink water between cheese styles, and don’t commit to a favorite too early. The later cheeses can surprise you.

The film and the Henri Willig family story

You’re not stuck only with tasting notes. The experience also gives you the story of Henri Willig and his family, and you’ll watch a short film about the cheesemaking process.

From the way the film has been described, it may be in Dutch with English subtitles, so language is usually not a problem even if you do not speak Dutch. If you’re the type who likes to understand what you’re eating, this part adds context quickly, not with a long museum-style timeline.

What makes this story portion valuable for you is that it connects the cheese to a craft. You start to understand why Gouda tastes the way it does, and why the pairing matters. It also helps you shop smarter afterward, because you’re no longer buying randomly. You’re buying based on what you noticed in the tasting room.

Drinks included: how to use them without ruining your palate

Two drinks are included. Reviews mention choices like wine, beer, and port showing up in pairings, with some guides serving them in a sequence that keeps your palate in motion.

Here is how to make the drinks work for you:

• Treat the first drink like a warm-up, not a reset button
• Sip between cheese styles, then pay attention after you taste, not during the sip
• If you like port or beer flavors, you can use that preference as a clue for which cheeses to buy at the end

Also, one fun detail: some hosts guide you with humor and talk you through pairings in a way that makes the drinks feel integrated, not random. People have specifically praised guides for matching cheeses to drinks and for explaining why those combinations work.

The guide matters more than you think

This tasting succeeds because the host talks like a person, not a brochure. Across different sessions, people have highlighted guides by name, including Suzanne and Ado, Quinten, Heloise, Martin, Alexa, Sergei, and Sjors.

The best guide traits to look for in your own experience:

• Clear explanations of why cheeses taste different
• Quick answers when you ask what you should try next
• A light touch, enough humor to make you feel comfortable tasting thoughtfully

If you end up in a smaller group, you tend to get more back-and-forth. Some reviews mention sitting with only two or three people, which makes questions easier and the whole experience feel more personal.

The shop stop and the 10% discount, how to spend smart

You end with a 10% discount on purchases in the store. That matters because cheese is one of those travel foods that can be a little expensive at home, but less expensive in Amsterdam if you shop with intent.

The discount is also a nudge toward a better souvenir:

• Buy what you actually enjoyed during the tasting
• Ask the staff to recommend based on the flavors you liked
• Use the pairing logic you practiced in the tasting

One practical tip: consider bringing a plan for packaging. Cheese can be firm, but it can also be smelly, and you’re in a walking city. If you’re flying, think about whether you want to take a smaller, safer selection now, then ship later if needed. (At least one review mentions international shipping options, so you might have that as a backup.)

Time, pace, and what 40 to 60 minutes feels like

At 40 minutes to 1 hour, the tasting is designed to fit between sightseeing blocks. It is long enough to taste widely and learn the pairing method, but not so long that you lose steam.

Expect a structured flow:

1. Welcome and introduction to Henri Willig
2. Short film on cheesemaking
3. Cheese sampling across multiple Gouda styles
4. Mustard and dips as part of each tasting
5. Included drinks along the way
6. Time to shop with your 10% discount

The pace is important. A common complaint in food tours is that you eat too fast and forget what you liked. Here, the tasting is broken into enough pieces that you can pay attention and actually remember your favorites.

If you want to linger, you probably can, because the store is where the experience naturally continues. But the core tour itself is intentionally tight.

Who should book this tasting, and who should think twice

This is ideal if you:

• Love Dutch food culture and want something more hands-on than a generic tasting flight
• Want to understand Gouda beyond just flavor labels
• Like guided tastings where pairing and explanations are part of the experience
• Plan to buy cheese and want confidence in what you choose

You might want to think twice if:

• You need accessibility support, since it is not suitable for mobility impairments
• You only want a huge variety of cheese types beyond Gouda, because the tasting focuses on Gouda cheeses
• You hate structured sessions and prefer purely free-form wandering

One helpful note for dietary needs: a review mentioned the staff making a separate setup for a child with celiac so cheese did not touch crackers. That doesn’t mean every situation is guaranteed, but it does suggest the team can be flexible if you ask clearly in advance.

Should you book this Henri Willig Cheese Tasting in Amsterdam?

Yes, if you want a high-value, focused activity that teaches you how to taste. At about $21 per person, you’re getting 10 tasting pieces, mustard and dips, water and crackers, 2 included drinks, a story and film, and a 10% discount for the shop afterward. That is a lot of “learn while you eat” per hour.

Book it especially if you:

• Are short on time in Amsterdam but still want a memorable food moment
• Want a souvenir you can buy confidently, not randomly
• Like small-group energy where guides like Martin or Quinten can actually answer questions

Skip it if stairs are a problem for you, or if you’re strictly looking for a broad cheese board with zero instruction. Otherwise, this is one of the easiest “food education” stops to fit into an Amsterdam day, and it leaves you with both new taste skills and something tasty to take home.

FAQ

How long is the Henri Willig cheese tasting?

The experience runs about 40 minutes to 1 hour.

What is the price per person?

It costs $21 per person.

What is included in the tasting?

You’ll get 10 pieces of different Gouda cheeses, dips and mustard (including 3 dip sauces), cheese crackers, water, storytelling with a professional cheese host, a short film about cheesemaking, and 2 drinks. You also receive a 10% discount in the store.

Is the host available in English?

Yes, the host or greeter provides the experience in English.

What discount do I get at the end?

You get 10% off purchases in the store after the tasting.

Can I cancel for free?

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

Is this suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No, it is listed as not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Where do I meet for the tasting?

The meeting point can vary depending on the option you book.