Updated July 2025
Amsterdam, with its cobbled canals and buzzing street markets, isn’t just a feast for the eyes, it’s heaven for fry lovers. What began as VayCay Couple’s casual hunt for the city’s tastiest patat (Dutch fries) quickly turned into a love affair with Amsterdam’s cone culture. After sampling cones at dawn, post‑museum lunches, and late‑night stands, we ranked the city’s crunchiest, fluffiest, sauce‑loaded fries so you can taste the very best on your own adventure.
History of Patat – From 17ᵗʰ‑Century Snack to National Icon
Dutch street vendors first dropped sliced potatoes into bubbling fat in the 1600s when winter fish supplies ran low. By the early 1900s, mobile patat kramen lined every market square, handing locals paper cones for a few cents. Today Amsterdam devours an estimated 41 kg of fries per person per year, and most top stands now triple‑fry Dutch Agria potatoes for a glass‑shatter crunch and fluffy centre. Every crispy bite tells a century‑old story of trade, adaptation, and Dutch ingenuity.
How to Order Fries Like an Amsterdammer
- Pick your size: klein (small), middel, or groot.
- Choose a sauce: mayo is default, but curry‑ketchup and satay (pindasaus) are classics.
- Say “patat oorlog” for the messy trinity: mayo, satay, raw onions.
- Ask for “extra krokant” if you crave extra‑crispy edges.
- Use the tiny fork provided—locals rarely eat straight from the cone.
VayCay Tip: Fries stay hottest when you nibble from the top down rather than mixing sauces immediately.
Sauces & Toppings Guide (Our Five Favourites)
| Sauce | Flavour | Best stand |
| Zaanse Mayo | Rich, eggy, tangy | Vleminckx |
| Pindasaus (Satay) | Peanut, soy, mild heat | Manneken Pis |
| Curry‑Ketchup | Tomato, gentle curry spice | Chipsy King |
| Samurai | Mayo + sambal kick | Frites Atelier |
| Truffle Mayo (+€1) | Earthy, luxe | Frietboutique |
Best Fries in Amsterdam – Our 2025 Top Pick
In our journey to find the best chips in Amsterdam, we visited some of the city’s top fry establishments. Each spot offered a different take on the classic dish, from traditional flavors to gourmet experiences.
Vleminckx Sausmeesters – 25 Sauces, 65 Years of Crunch
Since 1957, this shoebox‑sized kiosk off Spui has set the benchmark: twice‑fried sunflower‑oil fries sprinkled with sea salt and topped with one of 25 sauces.
- 2025 price: €3.40 small cone; sauces +€0.70.
- Address: Voetboogstraat 31.
- Arrive pre‑noon to beat the queue.
Manneken Pis Fries — Belgian‑Style Cones on Damrak
Thick, golden fries inspired by Brussels’ street stalls. Homemade sauces—try Andalouse or Samurai—served in giant paper cones.
- 2025 price: €3.50 medium.
- Address: Damrak 41.
- Open late on weekends.
Par Hasard — Bistro Fries with Truffle Mayo
Locally sourced Agria potatoes, double‑fried in beef fat for serious depth. Pair your cone with truffle or classic mayo and a Belgian beer.
- 2025 price: €3.80 small cone.
- Address: Ceintuurbaan 113.
The Frites Atelier — Chef‑Driven Gourmet Fries
Michelin‑star chef Sergio Herman elevates the cone: herb‑salted fries with upscale dips like yuzu mayo or Parmesan‑basil.
- 2025 price: €4.50 small; sauces +€1.
- Address: Stadhouderskade 11.
5 Chipsy King — Late‑Night Lifesaver
Open till 2 a.m. on weekends; perfect after clubs. Thick‑cut fries with punchy curry‑ketchup or garlic mayo.
- 2025 price: €3.20 medium.
- Addresses: Damrak & Leidseplein.
Frietboutique — Farm‑to‑Cone Artistry
Triple‑fried in beef fat, sprinkled with flaky sea salt. Seasonal sauce specials (pumpkin ketchup, smoked‑paprika mayo).
- 2025 price: €3.90 small; truffle mayo +€1.
- Address: Johannes Verhulststraat 107.
Piet de Leeuw Snackbar — Cast‑Iron Classic
Fries cooked in a decades‑old cast‑iron pan deliver deep, nutty flavour. Locals swear by the piccalilli topping.
- 2025 price: €3.50 small.
- Address: Noorderstraat 11.
The Fry Brothers — Vegan‑Friendly Crunch
100 % sunflower‑oil fries plus vegan truffle mayo and beet‑ketchup.
- 2025 price: €3.60 medium.
- Address: Haarlemmerdijk 50.
Foodhallen “De BallenBar” — Fries & Bitterballen Combo
Pair a cone with Michelin‑inspired bitterballen in Amsterdam’s indoor food hall.
- 2025 price: €4 small cone.
- Address: Bellamyplein 51.
Van Wonderen Frieten — Instagram‑Ready Towers of Toppings
Known for piled‑high cones (pulled pork, cheddar sauce). Expect a crunchy exterior and a viral photo op.
- 2025 price: €5 gourmet cone.
- Address: Kalverstraat 190.
Amsterdam’s Fries: A Culinary Adventure
Fries here are more than a snack—they’re a cultural rite of passage. While our Top 10 lists the heavyweights, we urge you to wander the city’s canals and discover your own local favourite. Every vendor tweaks cut size, frying fat, and sauce combos, proving Amsterdam’s culinary spirit thrives in paper cones as much as in Michelin dining rooms.
Beyond the Big Names
• Try Harry’s Snackbar in De Pijp for currywursts and fries.
• Visit Vegan Junk Food Bar for loaded “faux beef” fries.
• Hunt farmers’ markets on Saturdays for pop‑up fry stands.
Plan Your Fry‑Fuelled City Break
Pair this list with our Free Things to Do in Amsterdam for a seamless blend of sights and bites. And if Paris is part of your Euro‑food circuit, check out our budget Michelin dining in Paris—proof gourmet can be affordable. Happy snacking!
FAQs
Vleminckx, offering 25.
Many stands fry in vegetable oil, but some (Par Hasard, Frietboutique) use beef fat—ask before ordering.
Fries topped with mayo, satay sauce, and raw onions—the Dutch “fry war.”
Chipsy King’s small cone at €2.90 before sauces.
