Exclusive Cheese Walk & Dutch Wine Discovery

Amsterdam’s best food experiences often begin with a walk, not a table. This one follows cheese expert Michael Carlton from Spui through the Nine Streets and Jordaan, buying cheeses along the way before sitting down with them and two Dutch wines at Design & Wijn.

I like the way the tour links food with neighborhoods you might otherwise pass through too quickly. I also like the small group limit of eight people, which gives Michael room to explain how to choose, cut, store, and pair cheese. The main drawback is that this is a walking tour with a final tasting, not a full wine flight or a long restaurant meal.

Key things to know before booking

• You shop for the cheese first: The cheeses served later are selected during visits to two serious cheese shops in the Nine Streets.
• Michael Carlton leads the experience: His background as a cheese monger and professional buyer shapes the practical advice.
• The tasting takes place at Design & Wijn: Expect two glasses of Dutch wine with the cheese.
• The route covers central Amsterdam on foot: Spui, the Nine Streets, the Anne Frank House area, and Jordaan are all part of the outing.
• Dietary needs can be handled: Lactose-free choices and older pasteurized cheeses for pregnant participants can be arranged.
• The group is capped at eight: This suits anyone who prefers conversation and personal attention over a large guided group.

Starting at Spui with books and cheese

The meeting point is outside The American Book Centre at Spui 12. If you come on a Friday, arrive early enough to browse the book market in the square. You may find old and newer books, English-language titles, prints, and maps. The market is not part of the paid experience, but it gives you a pleasant way to get oriented before the tour begins.

Michael starts with a short introduction to the cheese walk. This opening takes about 10 minutes, so you are not standing around for a long lecture before moving on. I like that balance. You get the basic idea, then learn through the city and the food itself.

Spui is central and easy to reach by public transportation. Still, give yourself a few minutes to find the exact meeting point. The tour ends west of Amsterdam Central Station, so you do not finish where you started.

The Nine Streets and the art of choosing cheese

From Spui, the route continues into the Nine Streets, or Negen Straatjes. This compact shopping district is known for small boutiques, canal crossings, and attractive streets that reward slow walking. It is a good early stop because the area gives you something to look at while Michael explains what you are about to taste.

The important part here is the two cheese shops. You do not simply arrive at a prepared tasting and eat whatever has been placed in front of you. Michael buys the cheeses during the tour, then uses those selections to explain what makes each one different.

That hands-on structure gives the experience more purpose. You learn to think about texture, age, intensity, and pairing before the first bite. Several people have found Michael’s advice useful beyond the afternoon itself, especially his tips on buying, storing, cutting, and building a cheese board.

The cheese selection can include a range of styles. Past tastings have included soft cow’s milk cheese, goat cheese, strong cow’s milk cheese, hard cheese, and blue cheese. You may encounter familiar Dutch favorites, but the point is discovery rather than a simple parade of Gouda.

Do not expect every cheese to suit your taste. That is part of the fun. Michael’s approach encourages you to notice why you like or dislike something, rather than dismissing a cheese as merely too strong or too mild.

Passing the Anne Frank House and entering Jordaan

The route then passes the Anne Frank House and the North Church before turning into Jordaan. You do not enter the Anne Frank House on this experience, so this is a street-level look at the area rather than a museum visit.

That distinction matters if you are planning your Amsterdam days. You will need a separate ticket and separate time for the Anne Frank House. This tour simply uses the neighborhood as part of its route, connecting a major sight with the quieter streets beyond it.

Jordaan is one of the reasons this tour is more than a tasting session. Michael shares stories about Amsterdam and points out places you might miss while moving between major sights. The walk takes about 30 minutes through the district, continuing toward North Church and North Square.

North Square is also associated with one of Amsterdam’s best cheese markets on Saturdays. The timing and market activity are not guaranteed as part of your tour, but you pass through an area with a strong connection to local food culture.

I like this part because it lets the city set the pace. You have time to walk, ask questions, and digest what you have learned in the shops. The route also gives you a better sense of how the canal neighborhoods connect.

Finishing at Design & Wijn with Dutch wine

The final stop is Design & Wijn on Haarlemmerdijk, one of Michael’s favorite shopping streets. This shop specializes in Dutch wine, which makes the finish more distinctive than a standard cheese tasting paired with generic European bottles.

Here you sit down with the cheeses purchased earlier and taste them with two glasses of special Dutch wine. The tasting portion lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes, making it the longest part of the experience.

The wine component is worth understanding before you pay. This is not presented as a formal multi-wine seminar with a large number of pours. It is a focused pairing session built around the cheeses you selected along the way. If you want a broad survey of Dutch vineyards, this may feel limited. If you want to see how two wines work with several cheese styles, the format makes sense.

The pairing also gives Michael space to talk about balance. A soft cheese may call for a different wine than a blue or aged cheese. You can ask practical questions instead of listening to a fixed presentation, and the small group size should make it easier to join the conversation.

Some past versions of this experience have included beer, alcohol-free drinks, or a pub setting instead of the listed wine-shop format. The current description specifies Design & Wijn and two Dutch wines, so you should treat that as the expected arrangement when booking. The exact cheese selection will naturally change from one outing to the next.

What Michael adds to the afternoon

Michael Carlton is the main reason this experience feels personal rather than formulaic. His background includes owning cheese shops and buying cheese professionally in European cities. That experience comes through in the useful details: how to judge a cheese, how to prepare a board, and how to keep cheese in good condition at home.

I value that kind of advice more than a string of food adjectives. You can use it later in Amsterdam shops, at home, or when choosing a gift to take back. The aim is not to turn you into a cheese expert in three hours. It is to help you taste with more confidence.

Michael also brings Amsterdam into the conversation. During the walk, he offers restaurant suggestions and points out places worth revisiting. One smart strategy is to book this early in your stay. If you like a shop or street, you will still have time to return on your own.

The tone appears to suit mixed groups. Dedicated cheese fans can ask detailed questions, while people who usually avoid strong cheese can start with milder choices. One particularly useful theme is the idea of something old, something new, something stinky, and something blue. It gives the tasting a simple structure without turning it into a classroom.

Price, pace, and overall value

At $126.15 per person, this is not a cheap city walk. You are paying for roughly three hours, several cheese samples, two wines, a guide with specialist experience, and a small group capped at eight.

The value depends on what you want from a food tour. If you mainly want a large amount of cheese and wine, you may find better value at a market or restaurant. If you want expert guidance, neighborhood stories, and practical shopping advice in one outing, the price is easier to justify.

The walking also matters. The experience moves from Spui to the Nine Streets, then past the Anne Frank House and through Jordaan before ending on Haarlemmerdijk. Most participants can take part, and the route is near public transportation, but you should be comfortable walking for several hours with stops along the way.

The tour is generally booked well ahead of time, with an average booking point of 41 days before the date. That suggests you should not leave it to the last minute if your Amsterdam schedule is fixed.

The experience is offered in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Food needs, age limits, and group fit

Lactose intolerance does not automatically rule this out. Michael can select cheeses that are naturally lactose-free, but you should raise the issue when booking or before the tour.

If you are pregnant, older pasteurized cheeses can be chosen for you. This is a useful accommodation, though you should communicate your needs clearly in advance.

Children under 18 are not served alcohol. They receive apple juice instead. The listed experience is built around adult wine tasting, so families should decide if the format suits younger children. The walk itself passes interesting streets and landmarks, but the long seated tasting may appeal more to adults and older teenagers.

The small group is a real advantage. With no more than eight participants, you can ask about a cheese that puzzles you, request pairing advice, or talk with Michael about restaurants and food shops. A larger group would make the buying and tasting conversations less flexible.

Who should book this cheese walk?

I would recommend it to someone who likes food with a sense of place. You see central Amsterdam, but you also learn how locals shop for cheese and how a Dutch wine can change the way a cheese tastes.

It is especially suited to:

• Cheese fans who want more than a basic Gouda sample
• Couples looking for a relaxed afternoon activity
• Small groups who enjoy conversation with a guide
• Visitors who want restaurant and shopping suggestions
• Anyone planning to buy cheese in Amsterdam and wanting practical help
• People who prefer neighborhoods and local shops to a large coach tour

I would be more cautious if you dislike walking, want a formal wine course, or expect a full meal. The tasting includes cheese and snacks, but it is not described as lunch or dinner. You should also remember that the route ends about a 15-minute walk west of Amsterdam Central Station, not back at Spui.

Should you book the Exclusive Cheese Walk and Dutch Wine Discovery?

Book it if you want to understand Amsterdam through its cheese shops, canals, and neighborhood streets. The strongest part is the connection between shopping and tasting. You see the cheese selected, hear why it was chosen, then try it with Dutch wine.

Michael’s practical advice is another major plus. You leave with more than a pleasant afternoon and a full stomach. You should also leave better prepared to choose, serve, and store cheese.

Skip it if your priority is a large wine tasting, a formal meal, or a short activity with little walking. For everyone else, especially anyone who enjoys food stories and small-group tours, this is a smart early-trip booking. It gives you places to revisit and ideas for eating well during the rest of your stay.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts outside The American Book Centre at Spui 12, 1012 XA Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at Haarlemmerdijk 129, 1013 KE Amsterdam, Netherlands, about a 15-minute walk west of Amsterdam Central Station.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

What language is the tour offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is eight participants.

Are wine and cheese included?

The experience includes cheese, snacks, and two glasses of Dutch wine at Design & Wijn.

Can someone with lactose intolerance participate?

Yes. Michael can choose cheeses that are naturally lactose-free.

What happens if I am pregnant?

Michael can choose older pasteurized cheeses for you.

Can children join the wine tasting?

Children under 18 are served alcohol-free drinks, specifically apple juice, instead of wine.