Dutch pancakes are a proper meal, not a breakfast side. A pannenkoek is a plate-sized, thin pancake that Dutch families eat for lunch or dinner, topped with bacon, cheese, apple or syrup. Poffertjes are their tiny, puffy cousins, and you will smell them at every market and fair. This guide explains both, shows you how to order them, and points you to a few places that do them well.
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What Makes Dutch Pancakes Different
A pannenkoek sits between an American pancake and a French crêpe. It is thinner than the first, thicker than the second, and it covers the whole plate. Cooks pour the batter into a hot, buttered pan, spread it wide, and cook it until the edges turn crisp and golden. The result is soft in the middle and slightly crunchy at the rim.
The Dutch plural is pannenkoeken. You will see that word on café signs and on pannenkoekenhuizen, the dedicated pancake restaurants found in towns, forests and parks across the country. Many of these places welcome families and serve a long menu of toppings, so the whole table can choose something different.
Savoury or sweet?
Both, and the Dutch do not argue about it. Savoury pancakes often carry spek (streaky bacon) or cheese, sometimes with ham, mushrooms or onion. Sweet ones arrive dusted with poedersuiker (powdered sugar) or covered with stroop, a thick dark syrup. Many people ask for a spoonful of apple, ginger or both.
A classic order is a bacon pancake with a jug of syrup on the side. It sounds odd, yet the salty and sweet flavours work well together. If you want to explore more Dutch dishes before you sit down, read our Dutch food guide.
Poffertjes: The Small Ones
Poffertjes are small, round, fluffy pancakes about the size of a large coin. Cooks make them from a yeast batter that often includes buckwheat flour. They pour it into a special pan with rows of shallow dimples, and flip each one with a fork. A portion usually comes with a square of butter that melts on top and a thick snow of powdered sugar.
You will find them at street stalls, funfairs, winter markets and in pancake restaurants. Eat them hot, straight from the pan, with a small wooden fork. Some cafés now add ice cream, chocolate sauce or fruit, as in the photo above. If you plan a winter trip, our guide to the best Christmas markets in the Netherlands will help you find a stall.
For another Dutch winter classic, try the syrup waffle in our stroopwafel recipe and history.
Where to Eat Dutch Pancakes
You can find a decent pancake in almost every Dutch town. These two places are easy to reach and have a clear story.
The Pancake Bakery, Amsterdam
The Pancake Bakery serves pannenkoeken in a 17th-century warehouse on the Prinsengracht, in the middle of Amsterdam’s canal belt. Its website says it has been open since 1973. The menu runs from savoury to sweet, so it works for a first-time visitor who wants to see a classic pancake in a historic room. Check the official Pancake Bakery website for the current menu and opening times before you go.
‘t Hoogstraatje and De Duivelsberg, Nijmegen and Berg en Dal
In the east of the country, the pancake restaurants ‘t Hoogstraatje and De Duivelsberg serve guests in Nijmegen and in nearby Berg en Dal. Pair a pancake lunch with a walk around Nijmegen, which has a long history on the River Waal. Our guide to Nijmegen’s two thousand year story explains what to see. See the official restaurant website for menus and booking details.
Planning a longer food trip? Our Amsterdam food guide and Rotterdam food guide cover what else to eat in each city.
Tips for Ordering Pancakes Like a Local
- Come hungry. A single pannenkoek can cover a dinner plate. Most people finish one, and many share a plate of poffertjes for dessert.
- Ask for syrup on the side. Staff usually bring a jug of stroop or a bowl of powdered sugar to the table, so you can add as much as you like.
- Try one savoury and one sweet. If you travel as a pair, order one of each and swap halfway.
- Eat early for lunch. Pancake restaurants fill up with families at midday, especially at weekends and in school holidays.
- Look for the pannenkoekenhuis sign. Villages and nature parks often hide a good one near a walking or cycling route.
Make Pancakes Part of Your Trip
A pancake stop fits neatly into most itineraries. Eat one after a morning on the canals, after a long bike ride, or before a train home. Pair it with a coffee, and you have a cheap, cheerful way to taste Dutch daily life. Our Start Here page links to every region we cover, so you can plan where to go next.
Pancakes for Families, Groups and Vegetarians
Pancake restaurants suit mixed groups better than most places. The menu is long, the portions are easy to share, and a plain pancake with sugar works for fussy eaters. Many pannenkoekenhuizen also run a children’s menu, and some sit beside a playground or a forest path, so children can burn off energy before or after the meal.
Vegetarians have plenty to choose from. Cheese, apple, mushroom and plain sugar pancakes appear on most menus. Ask the staff whether the batter or the cooking fat suits your diet, because kitchens differ. If you avoid gluten or dairy, check before you order, and treat poffertjes with care, since the batter includes wheat and often milk or butter.
Plan Your Netherlands Trip
Ready to build your route? Visit our Start Here page for itineraries, city guides and practical tips to help you plan your Netherlands trip.
You Might Also Enjoy
- Dutch Food Guide: What to Eat (and Drink) in the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Food Guide: What to Eat, Where to Eat, and Dutch Dishes You’ll Love
- Why Every Dutch Winter Smells Like Icing Sugar and Hot Frying Oil
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Dutch pancakes and poffertjes?
Dutch pancakes (pannenkoeken) are large, thin and plate-sized, and people eat them as a main meal. Poffertjes are small, puffy and made in a dimpled pan, and people usually eat them as a snack or dessert.
Where can I eat Dutch pancakes in Amsterdam?
The Pancake Bakery on the Prinsengracht serves pannenkoeken in a 17th-century warehouse. Many other cafés and pancake restaurants in the city offer them too, so look for the word pannenkoeken on the menu.
What do you put on a Dutch pancake?
The most common savoury toppings are bacon and cheese. For a sweet pancake, the Dutch add powdered sugar or stroop, a thick dark syrup, and often apple or ginger.
Are Dutch pancakes served for breakfast?
Not usually. Dutch families eat pannenkoeken for lunch or dinner, and pancake restaurants are busiest from midday onwards. Hotels may offer pancakes at breakfast, but the tradition is a hot main meal.
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