Cheese tastings in Amsterdam can be a smart shortcut. This one is a tight, well-run session at Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, centered on cheese and wine pairings plus the stories behind what you taste. It is a great fit when you want something food-focused without hunting around the city first.

I love the five-cheese format because it teaches your palate fast, not slowly. I also like that the pairings include a white, a red, and a port, so you get a real sense of how different wine styles react to different cheeses. If you like taking home practical flavor notes, this is exactly that kind of experience.

One possible drawback: it is not a big, multi-stop tour. You will spend your time in one shop setting, and the experience can feel more like an in-depth tasting plus shop promo than a wide-ranging city food walk.

Key highlights worth your time

• Five award-winning cheeses (2024) served with an intentional wine pairing plan
• White, red, and port wines that help you notice flavor and texture differences
• Old Amsterdam Cheese Store location on Damrak, easy to reach by transit
• Small group size (up to 26) with time for questions and guidance
• Guides with strong hosting energy, including names like Maria, Luca, and Ron Pieters in guest stories
• A good end-of-tasting shopping bonus, including reports of a 10% cheese discount

Damrak drop-off, then straight into the tasting

Old Amsterdam Cheese Store sits in central Amsterdam on Damrak, so you are not commuting across town for this. The meeting point is Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam, and the experience ends back at that same spot. That makes it easy to slot into a day that already includes Museumplein, the canal area, or a quick stroll through the historic center.

This is also one of those tours that works well even on a weather-wobbly day. Instead of planning around streets and distance, you go indoors, take a seat, and spend about 55 minutes learning through taste. It is offered in English, and it uses a mobile ticket, so there is less fuss when you arrive.

Do note the simple logistics reality: there is no private transportation included. You are expected to get there under your own steam, using the city’s strong public transit system. For me, that is a plus, because it keeps the experience focused on the tasting, not on driving time.

Inside the upstairs room, you get the lesson and the samples

The tasting experience happens right in the cheese shop setting. Many guests describe a dedicated upstairs area for the presentation, with a screen and a live host guiding the session. That setup matters because it keeps you engaged. You are not just handed a plate and waved off. You get the context while you sample, which helps the flavor comparisons actually stick.

The session runs about 55 minutes, which is long enough to do something meaningful but short enough that you will not feel trapped. You taste, you listen, you ask questions, and then you are done. For first-time cheese people, this time window is forgiving. For repeat foodies, it is just structured enough to be interesting.

Another thing I like: the format is designed for an interactive group size, with up to 26 people. That number keeps it from becoming a giant lecture. You are more likely to get personal attention, and the guide can move through the tasting at a steady pace.

If you are the type who likes to take notes, bring a pen. If you are more of a by-memory person, that is fine too. The host typically walks you through what you are tasting so you can replay it later when you see a similar cheese in a shop.

Five award-winning cheeses and three wine styles, what you sample

Here is the core of the experience: you taste five different award-winning cheeses (2024), each paired with specially selected wines. The pairing set is consistently described as white wine, red wine, and port. You also get the essentials for eating, including cutlery, so you are not stuck with finger food.

What makes this lineup useful is the structure. You are not just sampling random cheeses. The tour is built to show how changes in milk type and aging can shift flavor, aroma, and texture. Then you compare those changes against wine styles that respond differently.

Some cheese varieties show up that help anchor the lesson. Guests mention mixes such as goat and cow cheeses, and at least one review describes cheeses aged from 4 to 18 months. Another guest specifically mentioned a selection that included Gouda. You should treat the exact lineup as something the shop selects for that date, but the skill you gain from the pairing method is the same.

You may also notice small extras included in the session, such as a small booklet that helps you keep track of what you tasted. One guest also described a quiz at the end with a small prize. Even when these extras vary, the main promise stays consistent: you get guided taste comparisons that teach your palate.

Practical note for your evening plans: you are tasting wine, and the minimum drinking age is 18. If you are sensitive to alcohol or you have another stop right after, pace yourself and sip slowly.

How you actually learn the pairing, goat vs cow and aging

A good cheese and wine lesson should do two things. First, it should help you recognize what you are tasting. Second, it should show you why it works with the wine. This experience aims right at both.

One repeated theme in guest feedback is that the guide explains how to tell the difference between goat and cow cheeses and how maturation or aging changes what you experience. That is more useful than memorizing names. When you understand that aging influences sweetness, sharpness, and texture, you start recognizing patterns in any cheese shop, not just this one.

The wine pairings are part of that learning. The typical sequence includes a white wine for lighter, fresher profiles, then a red wine that can handle deeper, more intense flavors, and finally a port that pairs well with richer, more lingering notes. Even if you are not a wine hobbyist, tasting these side-by-side helps you see the logic.

If you want to get the most out of the hour, do this during the tasting:

• Try to describe the cheese first, then compare after the sip.
• Pay attention to the finish, not only the first bite.
• Ask one question when the guide pauses, not all at once later.

Also, if you are shopping afterward, this is where the lesson pays off. You stop buying based on marketing and start buying based on what you already tasted and understood.

The hosts, the Q&A, and the small group advantage

What makes this type of tour feel worth it is the person leading it. Several guest notes call out hosts by name, including Maria and Luca, and a host named Ron Pieters shows up in responses connected to the shop. The common thread is an energetic style that mixes clear guidance with humor.

You also get time for questions. That matters more than people think. If you are standing in a cheese shop later and you cannot remember what you learned, it is the answers to your own questions that bring it back. For example, understanding the difference in aging or milk type can turn a confusing purchase into a confident one.

Small group size also helps. With a maximum of 26 travelers, the guide can keep the tasting moving while still engaging people. You are not stuck watching someone lecture from the back row, and you are not in a tiny private bubble either. That balance tends to make the experience feel social without getting chaotic.

One practical tip: arrive ready to taste, not still sorting out your phone. If you are reading messages or chasing directions at the last second, you lose the first few flavor comparisons, and those set the tone for the rest of the session.

Price and value: what $32.65 buys you in Amsterdam

At $32.65 per person, you are paying for three things: the food tasting, the wine tasting, and the guided instruction. The pricing is easier to judge when you look at the format. You get five cheeses plus three wine types in a structured tasting setting, not a simple snack stop.

The value becomes even clearer if you consider time. You get about 55 minutes indoors, in a central location. That is not just about convenience. It is about learning efficiency. You are sampling several cheeses and learning how they relate to wine in one focused block, rather than trying to replicate that with random purchases on your own.

There is also a reported end-of-session shopping benefit. Multiple guest accounts mention a 10% discount on cheese at the end. Even if you only buy one item, that can turn the tasting into a direct buy-one-get-some-value situation.

Now the balanced part. Since the tasting happens in one shop, this is not the best deal if you wanted a broad “food crawl” across multiple neighborhoods. If you want a citywide sampling tour, you would likely need a different plan. But if your goal is to learn, taste widely within a short time, and then buy a few items confidently, this price often feels fair.

Who should book, and who might want a different plan

This experience is a strong match for food lovers who want an organized way to taste Dutch cheese. It is also ideal if you enjoy wine, but do not want a wine class that forgets about the food. The pairing structure is built for the cross-over crowd.

It also works well for solo travelers. One review described a great experience for a solo visitor, and the smaller group feel helps you meet the people you sit with during tastings.

You might consider a different option if:

• You dislike cheese or want a meal-style experience rather than tasting portions.
• You want a multi-stop Amsterdam tour with lots of time outside.
• You are expecting a long deep-draw lecture instead of a short, practical tasting.

One final note: some guests commented that the tasting may feel like promotion for the shop. I see why that happens. You taste cheeses from the store, then you are encouraged to buy. That said, the lesson component, the pairing logic, and the variety of wines and cheeses are what keep it from feeling like a sales pitch only.

Final decision: should you book this Amsterdam cheese and wine tasting?

If you want an easy, high-impact activity in central Amsterdam, this is a smart booking. For about an hour, you get five award-winning cheeses, three wine styles, and a guide-led pairing lesson you can use in any cheese shop back home.

Book it if you like structure, want quick flavor education, and plan to do at least a small cheese purchase afterward. Skip it if you need a multi-neighborhood itinerary or you are not interested in tastings paired with wine.

FAQ

How much does the cheese and wine tasting in Amsterdam cost?

The price is $32.65 per person.

How long is the tour?

It lasts about 55 minutes.

Where does the experience start and end?

It starts at Damrak 62HS, 1012 LM Amsterdam, Netherlands, and ends back at the same meeting point.

What is included in the tasting?

The experience includes food tasting, wine tasting, and cutlery.

Is there an age limit for drinking the wine?

Yes. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

How many people are in a group?

The group size is limited to a maximum of 26 travelers.

Can I bring a service animal, and is the meeting point near transit?

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation.