There’s slow, very slow and then there’s Dutch service. There’s no point in getting mad, it’s the Dutch way. Relax and you’ll soon fit in with the philosophy of ‘hey why are you running around in such a hurry? Let’s sit down and have a beer/smoke/coffee and take it easy’. The Dutch word for this way of life is ‘gezellig’. Nonetheless you are still expected to tip the waiting staff around 5-10%, normally handed over in change when paying.

Traditional Dutch food is of the uninspiring but hearty Meat and Two Veg variety and the beers are small. However Amsterdam has countless restaurants and bars serving all kinds of international food, particularly Indonesian and Surinamese. Fast food places are everywhere and look out for ‘Vlaamse Friten’ - the best fries/chips around (yes, served with mayo but you can also choose all sorts of other sauces).

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