I seem to be Dutch. This was the most important lesson from my Amsterdam chocolate excursion, which brought me to a dozen chocolate shops across the city. Most chocolate stores in Amsterdam are fairly tiny, focusing on simply chocolate and offering no seats or other delicacies. It’s grab and run. However there were a few gems among them, which I’ve included here.
Since Belgium is just next door, the effect of that neighborly trade may be seen in both their love of French fries and their chocolate culture. Most chocolate shops in Amsterdam sold their goods by weight, with an average-sized bonbon costing roughly 1. Most establishments, like the vegan eateries in Amsterdam, are easily accessible by foot. Few stores serve coffee or other drinks, and virtually all take cash or credit cards.
The trademark of chocolate stores in the Netherlands is piles of bonbons in each window, and although this is an obvious identifier, it is regrettably no indicator of quality. Even the most beautiful bonbons were often flavorless, so select wisely. Even if you get a dud the first time, there’s always another chocolate store in Amsterdam. With all of the canals crisscrossing the streets, the whole city is relatively walkable and rather attractive.
There are a LOT of bikes around the city, and you can simply borrow one to explore for the day, maybe even conduct your own chocolate tour. Since van means “of or from” in Dutch, the numerous establishments beginning with the word Van are simply named after a location or person.
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Amsterdam Online Chocolate Stores
These are some of the online chocolate stores in Amsterdam, led by bean to bar chocolate sellers ClearChox and Chocoladeverkopers, the majority of which also deliver across the Netherlands (some have international shipping at a high markup). Although their offerings may differ, each of them ensures a taste of the Amsterdam chocolate scene. To view their websites, click on their names.
Choco & Things: Based in Amsterdam’s raw and vegan chocolate market, C&T now produces four dark chocolate tastes. Coffee Crunch, Almond & Fig, Beetroot Sea Salt, and Date & Chili are among the 35g bars available. They are wrapped in simple paper and are either delivered by bike or sold at a merchant near you (if you happen to currently be in Amsterdam).
Rokbar Chocolate’s tagline, “Made and owned by women,” is also its business approach. Rokbar is a bean-to-bar chocolate firm devoted to redistributing more of the value chain’s revenues to the women who create it. Their chocolate line, which presently has one origin available and two more on the coming, is centered on dark chocolate bars, but other varieties are on the way. The Peru bar is made in Peru, although the firm is situated in Amsterdam.
Pure Kakaw: From their headquarters in Amsterdam, this couple’s mission is to share tasty, healthful cacao beverages with the world. They’re bringing classic tastes from Central and South America to a pop-up store or a kitchen near you with their mobile cacao bar. Its cacao is sourced personally by the co-founder and processed in the Netherlands into either 100% chocolate flakes or blocks, suitable for preparing cacao beverages at home. A physical store is in the plans, but for the time being, you may purchase online and find a recipe on their website.
Sweet Carambole: They are the kind of bonbons you sit down with, a glass of water in hand, and taste individually and deliberately. The assortment of eight truffles I purchased was pleasantly unique, with each truffle including a minimum of three separate components, which were meticulously detailed in the provided tasting guide. Rita, the owner and creative master, combines extremely fresh ingredients with some of the world’s greatest bean to bar chocolates. I just wish I was closer. Purchase at The Chocolate Store in The Hague for pickup or very local delivery.
Chocolate Amsterdam Bean To Bar
Amsterdam’s Cacao Museum
This museum specializes on bean-to-bar chocolate and chocolate education, especially chocolate history. I didn’t make it on my most recent trip since the museum is somewhat distant from downtown and only open on days that were inconvenient for my visit, but I truly wish I had. Apart from the museum, this is one of the most frequent venues in Amsterdam for chocolate workshops.
Their services range from praline manufacture to bean-to-bar chocolate making, as well as chocolate painting and matching. You may come any time between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. for free admission to the museum and shopping at the bean to bar gift store. To reserve a class or workshop, please contact ahead of time.
Amsterdam, Czaar Peterstraat 175,
Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
The Macao Movement
View this post on InstagramMax Gandy published a PSTA post on Chocolate Travel (@damecacao) on February 21, 2020 at 6:57am.
The Macao Movement physical store is a relatively recent addition to the Amsterdam Chocolate scene, but it is making an adequately tasty impression. Macao Movement, based just over the river in Chocolala Land, is an artisan chocolate firm led by Malou Dronkers, a woman on a mission best renowned for her crispy caramelized entire cacao beans.
You may also taste some of her excellent single origin chocolate bars and hot chocolates, some of which are vegan-friendly, if you visit her café or purchase online. Malou and her firm were also included in my piece on Chocolate Millennials.
Spreeuwenpark 4HS, 1021 GW Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hours: 12 p.m.-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Chocoltl
Chocoltl is one of Amsterdam’s first bean-to-bar chocolate stores, with a vast assortment of bean-to-bar chocolate bars and a modest in-house drink menu. The current collection includes around 60 makers, give or take a couple, all hand-selected by the owner, Adil.
After perusing the shop’s hundreds of chocolate bars, you may choose from one of three sources of Michel Cluizel chocolate shots or a limited selection of espresso drinks. There is space for up to six people, so it’s a good place to take a break and chat chocolate. I suggest trying one of the half-dozen kinds of bonbons available at the counter.
Hazenstraat 25-A, 1016 SM Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hours: 12pm-6:30pm, Tuesday-Saturday; 1pm-5pm, Sunday.
Chocolatemakers
Although I was unable to visit their real retail store in Amsterdam, I have sampled numerous of Chocolatemakers bars over the years and they are very tasty. They are committed to establishing a 100% transparent and sustainable supply chain via direct trading with cocoa producers. Their chocolate bars vary from 37% milk to 92% dark. Each component in these bars relates to one of the conservation initiatives they support with their cacao and sugar purchases. While their chocolate factory is not yet completely available to the public, they are now offering weekly chocolate manufacturing sessions for $25 per person.
Radarweg 32A, 1042 AA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Fridays, 2:30pm-4:30pm (by reservation only)
Metropolitan Restaurant
Although I didn’t anticipate much when I stepped inside Metropolitan, this chocolate shop is well-known for its exquisite chocolate. They seem to specialize on coffee and chocolate beverages, but they also offer 15 types of gelato, 10 flavors of chocolate bonbons and bars, and a large selection of cakes and pastries. Their waffles with all the trimmings seem like they’d be perfect on a chilly day, and with seating for a dozen, you could squeeze quite a few people in.
The chocolates themselves are excellent, particularly given their low price (less than 1 each, as with most Amsterdam chocolate shops). The lemon bonbon, in particular, has a delicious dark chocolate undertone and a vibrant lemon undertone.
Warmmoesstraat 135A, 1012 JB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Daily hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Chocolatiers in Amsterdam’s CBD
Cacao & Spice Chocolate and Ganache Amsterdam are two additional Downtown Amsterdam chocolatiers I didn’t get to visit because of a foot issue, but they’re worth a look if you’re planning a self-guided chocolate tour in Amsterdam.
Tony’s Chocoloney Supermarket
Tonys Chocoloney is perhaps one of the most well-known Dutch chocolate companies, owing to their advertising that promotes their chocolate as slave-free. This location sells the whole range of plain and flavored chocolate bars, as well as a variety of smaller, amusing presents such as chocolate milk and chocolate eggs. They also sell their coffee table book, and the store is always manned by two individuals to answer all of your queries. There will be a long queue at the bar dispenser. It should be noted that this business is situated inside the Beurs van Berlage mall.
Oudebrugsteeg 15, 1012 JN Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Daily hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Chocolate Manufacturing Company
If you’re craving chocolate and just have a few minutes before your train, this is a good place to stop. The Chocolate Company may be found within Amsterdam Centraal Station. Hot chocolate spoons line the rear wall, while display cases behind the counter have a few dozen different varieties of bonbons and miniature cakes.
During our visit, the café was quite full (around a dozen people), largely with customers sipping drinks from their extensive coffee and chocolate drink menu. The chocolate bonbons we purchased were a little too sugary, but the flavors are good for the price.
Stationsplein 17B, 1012 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Friday and Saturday 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Friday; closes at 9 p.m. on Thursday.
Hop and Stork
When you first glance up at this establishment, you could think it’s a posh grocery or organic goods store. Yet, upon entering, you will go up the steps to the chocolate display counter, which is stocked with chocolate bars, bonbons, and flavored barks.
There is plenty of seats and a bar upstairs to your left, but when I came, they were hosting a huge chocolate workshop that seemed extremely engaging. The chocolates we tasted weren’t horrible; they had a basic flavor, but they all fell a little flat once you started delving into a box of them.
139 Spuistraat, 1012 SV Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mon-Sat: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
t Goede Soet
T Goede Soet, an unpretentious corner chocolate store, provides a variety of chocolate-covered and -shaped delicacies, a few dozen types of bonbons, and a tiny selection of macarons and pastries. On the day I arrived, chocolate-coated marshmallows, mediants, and biscuits were available for purchase. There is no seating; just take-out is provided. The chocolates were also very tasty and well worth picking up if you’re already in the neighborhood.
Keizersgracht 95, 1015 CH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Leonidas
Leonidas provides a large range of several dozen chocolate pralines in almost every flavor you can think of. They’re offered by weight as one of Amsterdam’s cheapest chocolates, and they taste like it. Despite being a premium Belgian chocolate brand, Leonidas is one of the lower-quality chocolate alternatives in Amsterdam, as the Dutch embrace the fine chocolate trend. In Amsterdam, I’d recommend looking elsewhere for good chocolate.
Nieuwendijk 85, 1012 MC Amsterdam, The Netherlands (multiple locations)
Daily hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Chocolatiers in Central Amsterdam
Chocstar, Candela Chocolaterie, and Van Velzes Chocolaterie are some additional chocolatiers in Central Amsterdam that we were unable to visit (which appeared to be online-only when we visited their physical shop).
Amsterdam Lindt Chocolate
Lindt’s modest Amsterdam store has every bar and ball of chocolate ever produced by the Swiss business. There are no frills or bother, and there are no chocolate or coffee beverages to be found. You look about the room, choose some chocolate balls, and carry them up to the cashier. Unless you are really committed to purchasing Lindt in Amsterdam, I suggest visiting a local chocolatier for better chocolate items.
Heiligeweg 22, 1012 XR Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mon. & 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Thu.Sat. & 12 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Sun.Fri.Wed.Hours:10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Tue.
Bomboni by Puccini
This no-frills chocolatier makes huge pralines and chocolate bars using Valrhona couverture. Although the bars come in a variety of flavors, the bonbons have many more, with roughly thirty varieties. The two enormous bonbons I ordered were okay but not spectacular, and I’d go back for a nut-based bonbon if I were local.
Staalstraat 17, 1011 JK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday-Monday.
Chocolade Waldo
On a cold winter day, I went in for a pie and a coffee and departed with a pleased wallet and belly. A prominent display case with chocolate barks, eight types of tarts, three flavors of brownies, and a few scones stacked along the top enticed me in from the street. Their coffee menu is located along the left wall, and a few small dishes are available directly below.
Unfortunately, their bonbons are only available during the holidays, so I didn’t get to test them this time, but the tarts are delicious (though I wouldnt order a coffee again). Waldos has two tables with a total seating capacity of eight, so bring a buddy and pre-order your chocolates.
Address: 14 Eerste Sweelinckstraat, 1073 CM Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Chocolate Polaberry
Polaberry seems to be well-known among Instagram users for its vibrant chocolate-covered strawberries. Nevertheless, when you go further into the store, you will find sophisticated chocolate bars, mediants, mini-cakes, and 4 or 5 varieties of bonbons, as well as coffee beverages. Except for a bench along one side, there is no sitting, thus all orders are to-go. The chocolates are rather delicious, with strong and distinct tastes; I’d purchase a couple more.
Prinsengracht 232 H, 1016 HE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mon-Thu: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri-Sun: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Hartig & Zoet Haarlemmerdijk
This business is a pleasure to visit. They offer pre-packaged chocolates, large cakes, bags of coffee, and a range of drinks. There is a café section at the rear of the business with some seats for individuals bringing a cake or drink. But I came for the wonderfully painted bonbons, which are rather sweet, but have nice tastes. Each component is tasted individually. I’d take a box of them (with a nice coffee)!
Haarlemmerdijk 158, 1013 JK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hours: 11am-5pm, Sunday-Tuesday; 9:30am-6pm, Wednesday-Saturday; closes at 5:30pm on Saturdays.
Jordino Chocolaterie
This was my first visit to an Amsterdam chocolate store. As you go in, you’ll discover a half-dozen cannoli kinds, a few dozen huge bonbons, and over a dozen types of macarons and other little sweets. The business is exclusively for takeout, with a few little premade boxes for a fast grab and go, but I like to choose my own tastes.
My dark chocolate bonbon was virtually flavorless, but the salted caramel reminded me of a Milkyway (Mars) bar. The macaron I had was adequate. I won’t be returning, but maybe the cannolis are better?
Haarlemmerdijk 25-A, 1013 KA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday; 1 p.m.-7 p.m., Sunday.
The Chocolaterie Pompadour
Pompadour is a downtown Amsterdam French-style chocolate store with a café portion. The first thing you notice when you come in is their display case, which is packed with a few dozen types of bonbons with bars of Valrhona chocolate layered on top.
Pastries and cakes from the window may be eaten with tea or coffee in their upstairs dining area. The four bonbons I tested were not excessively sweet and extremely tasty, with distinct tastes and textures and a thin outer shell. I would have gone back for seconds if we hadn’t arrived at closing time.
Huidenstraat 12, 1016 ES Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mon-Sat: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Cacao Urbano
Both Urban Cacao locations provide a coffee menu and some hot chocolate choices, as well as a vast selection of flavored chocolate bars adorning the walls. You’ll notice sixteen types of bonbons and truffles in both traditional and unique tastes in the display case on the counter. There are a few cookies and other snacks at the top of the display to enjoy with your coffee or munch on with friends, since there is seating for roughly 10 people. Their bonbons were adequate, not excessively sweet but with fairly strong, basic tastes.
Huidenstraat 30HS, 1016 ET Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat-Sun: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Chocolatiers in South Amsterdam
A local reader also informed me about two additional chocolate stores in south Amsterdam, one of which is Dave Coffee Roaster. On Saturdays, David offers vegan chocolate milk and a range of bean-to-bar chocolates at The Zuidermarkt. Another option is Simon Levelt, a coffee shop in Centraal Station that specializes in bean-to-bar chocolates.
Tout Patisserie
This is one of my favorite chocolate stores in Amsterdam! They specialize in macarons, cakes, and bonbons, and they are excellent at all of them. As you go inside the store, you’ll find a big display case with cakes set up for your selection, followed by roughly twenty types of bonbons along the right wall. On your left are two dozen macaron kinds, as well as racks of chocolate bars and chocolate-covered delicacies.
Samples of macarons, cakes, and chocolates are provided at the entrance; please keep in mind that their macarons are fantastic, and you will undoubtedly want to take home a box (especially salted caramel). The bonbons are excellent, with plain and distinct tastes and a crisp finish that leaves the chocolate flavor lasting. I suggest the Yuzu and Lime Leaf bonbons, and I’d cheerfully travel another hour to get a box.
Maasstraat 77, 1078 HE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sat: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
The Holtkamp Patisserie
This is a little bakery with a vast range of cookies, cakes, pastries, and meringues, which seem to be what most people come in for. But it’s their collection of around a dozen bonbons, each named after a lady, that I’m chasing.
Each bonbon has a flavor description underneath it, and there’s no surprise there was a line; their chocolates are delicious. Each bonbon has a variety of texture and flavor components, the insides aren’t excessively sweet, and the overall taste is excellent. I just wish I had purchased more.
Vijzelgracht 15, 1017 HM Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Amsterdam Van Soest
The adorable neon sign over the chocolates at the entry surely catches your attention and attracts you in. Along the right wall, they store a lot of pre-bagged chocolate delicacies for fast pick-ups, as well as takeout coffees and a few dozen different types of bonbons.
Their most renowned bonbon, which has nuts, cashews, and butterscotch, is in a display case to the right. The Passion Fruit bonbon was delicious, but the milk chocolate bonbons I purchased were too sweet and intensely flavored, so I wouldn’t go out of my way to return back.
Frederiksplein 1a, 1017 XK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hours: 8:30am-6pm, Tuesday-Saturday; 9:30am-6pm, Sunday-Monday.
Vanroselen
Vanroselen, one of the few alternatives for handmade chocolate in Amsterdam, provides a rather extensive range of bean to bar chocolates from across the globe, with one rack devoted only to Dutch chocolates. A few dozen types of miniature bonbons in different flavors are available towards the rear of the small business, with seating for four along the right wall. I like the compact size of the bonbons, as well as the rich and distinct tastes, especially in the fruit and floral varieties. If I lived in Amsterdam, I’d be back in a hurry.
New Spiegelstraat 72, 1017 DH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., everyday (open until 7 p.m. on Thursdays)
Priscilla Bonbons Chocolaterie is a chocolaterie owned by Priscilla Bonbons
This seems to be a warehouse rather than a chocolate business. By the entryway, there are large hunks of chocolate bark and a display case with three sorts of fresh truffles, each filled with a different flavor of whipped cream. When you go farther in, the right side contains a lot of pre-made chocolate balls and pieces, while the left has a lot of cheap bonbons. I sampled a few of the fresh truffles and was terribly disappointed; I will not return.
Albert Cuypstraat 173, 1073 BD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Monday: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Avezaath-Beune, Van
Although the majority of customers seem to come here for the baked goods, they do offer a decent selection of chocolates for sale, none of which have labels. The chocolates are made in their own kitchen as well as that of other chocolatiers such as Zoet & Hartig (an earlier entry in this guide). Since there is no sitting, I made my decision and enjoyed my bonbons right outside the store after receiving an explanation of the tastes from a kind staffer. I loved the extremely sweet and somewhat nutty caramel bonbon cone, but none of the five chocolates I sampled were too sweet or very memorable.
98 Johannes Verhulststraat, 1071 NK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hours: Mon-Sat, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturdays, 5 p.m.
Huize van Wely is a Dutchman.
I was truly nervous when I walked in here. The store looks formal and sophisticated, with enormous French chocolates in the shapes of bonbons, truffles, and extremely thin disks. They also offer takeout cakes, macarons, and a few chocolate goodies; there is no seating. I sampled each chocolate as I walked a few steps down the road.
The passion fruit and mocha bonbons were both incredibly earthy and bitter, while the caramel was the sweetest and chewiest caramel I’d ever experienced. I wouldn’t go back since they were also more costly than practically all of the chocolates in Amsterdam.
Beethovenstraat 72, 1077 JM Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
ArtiChoc’s Chocolaterie
Although I wasn’t anticipating much from this business, I was pleasantly pleased by their wonderful taste combinations for reasons I can’t quite put my finger on. As you come in, you’ll discover a few dozen bonbons and stacks of French truffles, with shaped and flavored chocolate discs to the left. The wall across from the display case is covered with chocolate delights, but that’s all there is to it.
Except for a seat outside, there is nowhere to sit. Yet, after you’ve chosen your chocolates and set out, the sensation of eating them is precisely what you were hoping for. The caramel chocolate, in particular, is delicious, whilst the fruity notes, such as cassis, are simple and powerful. You can taste the chocolate as well as the flavors inside the bonbons, which is a win in my eyes.
Koninginneweg 141, 1075 CM Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hours: 9:30am-6pm, Tuesday-Saturday; Saturdays shut at 5pm.
Banketbakkerij Kwekkeboom
This huge bakery has many outlets, each serving pastries, chocolates, small meals, and caffeinated drinks. The chocolates are really sweet, but the tastes are robust and distinct, so they mix nicely with a coffee, but I’d get a headache if I ate more than one by themselves. There is seating for around 20 people, but it was vacant while I was there relaxing.
119 Ferdinand Bolstraat, 1072 LG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Map of Amsterdam Chocolate Shops
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