I spent last week in Amsterdam with my friend, Teesa.

We adored the historic homes on the canals, the museums, and the tulips…and we really enjoyed the food.

One of the best Amsterdam treats we tried?

The famous stroopwafels!

What is a stroopwafel?

A stroopwafel is a a Dutch cookie that’s made from a thin waffle, fresh and hot, sliced down the middle and layered with a sweet, thick caramel sauce. Sometimes they are dipped in chocolate or Nutella and sprinkled with candy toppings.

In most of the shops, these treats are made to order. You can see the dough behind the counter and the hot caramel syrup in silver tubs. The waffle is pressed, sliced, and filled with syrup right in front of you.

The stroopwafel taste test

Teesa and I didn’t just try a few stroopwafels…we were on a mission to find the best stroopwafel in Amsterdam with just one week in the city.

We tasted five stroopwafels from five different shops in Amsterdam and judged them on the taste and consistency of their waffle and caramel, while also evaluating the vibe of the shop and value of the stoopwafel.

Here are the results.

5. Firma Stroop

Coming in at number five, we have the chocolate covered stroopwafel from Firma Stroop.

I just wasn’t overly impressed with Firma Stroop. Honestly, I’m not sure if it was the chocolate on the waffle that took away from the flavors of the waffle and caramel, but it wasn’t my favorite. The waffle was a little bit dry and there could have been more caramel.

The building was cute and quaint with a small inside space and a neat and aesthetic presentation.

As for the value, the chocolate covered treat was 9.50 euros which I think was average for a stroopwafel with a topping, but that price was too expensive for how much I liked the cookie.

4. Van Wonderen Stroopwafels

If you’ve done any research on Amsterdam, you’ve probably seen photos of this place.

I have to say – the bakery is adorable with hot air balloon decorations, hanging stroopwafels in the window, and a very elegant vibe in this old shop. It was pretty busy, not just when we went, but every time we walked past the bakery.

However, for 13.50 euros, I did not think the value of this stroopwafel was worth it. And the toppings were not necessary. They made the waffle too sweet (we got ours dipped in chocolate and topped with the caramel fudge). I liked the amount of caramel in the middle and the aesthetically pleasing photo op, though, but this was not my #1.

3. The “Street Market Stroop”

I thought it was important to try a stroopwafel from one of the street markets for a more authentic experience.

We tried a stroopwafel from the Albert Cuyp market where there are a bunch of stands for traditional Dutch snacks. I loved the vibe of this street market. I also could tell that pricing here was much more reasonable than the touristy parts of the city.

I really enjoyed the caramel flavor, which had a hint of cinnamon, and the fresh tasting waffle. This stroopwafel was also bigger than the other ones we purchased and came out hotter than the rest. The caramel didn’t quite make it all the way to the edges, though.

For 4 euros, this was the best deal we got.

2. Stroopperie

This was the first stroopwafel we had, and it set the bar high.

The waffle was hot and flavorful, the caramel was delicious and super gooey in the middle, but there could have been a little more around the edges.

The place itself is adorable with several tins of stroopwafels for sale and cute decor all around. It’s in a great location, too – on a busy street right near the central station. Overall, it had a delightful ambiance that I really enjoyed. And the price was reasonable – 7 euros for a plain stroopwafel.

1. Hans Egstorf

It was so good we went back for more the next day.

Before you even walk into this place, the sweet caramel and waffle aroma is wildly inviting.

The Hans Egstorf stroopwafel was the perfect ratio of waffle to caramel syrup, and they were very generous with the caramel. In fact, they twist the waffle halves together so the syrup spreads out to the edges and you get caramel in every bite, which is very important to me.

The bakery is located in a corner building with beautiful decor that transports you back in time. Hans Egstorf brags to be the oldest bakery in Amsterdam.

And at a price of 7.50 euros, we felt that this was a fair price for an amazing stroop.

I hope I made it easy for you to find an incredible stroopwafel during your next trip to Amsterdam.

Hans Egstorf is my recommendation for the best stroopwafel experience!