Okay, so I found myself needing to track down some proper gluten-free bakery options here in Amsterdam recently. Wasn’t for me, personally, this time, but had a friend visiting who really can’t handle gluten, and I wanted them to have some decent treats, you know? Not just the sad pre-packaged stuff from the supermarket.
First thing I did, obviously, was pull out my phone. Typed in the usual things, “gluten free bakery amsterdam”, “celiac friendly cakes amsterdam”, that sort of stuff. Got a bunch of hits, naturally. Some looked like regular cafes that just happened to have one or two options, others looked more dedicated. It’s always hard to tell from just a few pictures and descriptions online, isn’t it? You never know if it’s genuinely good or just good marketing.
So, I figured the best way was just to go check some places out myself beforehand. Made a little list based on what looked promising online, places that kept popping up. Decided to dedicate an afternoon to it. Hopped on the tram, heading towards a couple of areas that seemed to have clusters of potential spots. Didn’t really have a strict plan, more like wander and see.
Walked quite a bit. Amsterdam’s great for walking, but my feet were definitely feeling it by the end. Found the first place on my mental list. Looked alright from the outside. Went in. It was busy, which I guess is a good sign? Asked about the gluten-free things. They pointed to a small section. Looked okay, standard brownies, maybe a muffin. Picked up a brownie to test later. Felt a bit… clinical, maybe? Efficient, but not super cozy.
Carried on walking. Found another spot, this one tucked away down a side street near one of the canals. Completely different vibe. Smaller, felt more like someone’s passion project. Had a good chat with the person behind the counter. They explained everything was made right there, totally gluten-free kitchen. That felt reassuring. Their selection seemed more interesting too, different types of bread, some pastries I hadn’t seen offered gluten-free before.
My Findings on the Ground
So, after hitting up a few different places, here’s what I sort of figured out:
- Dedicated is Different: The places that were 100% gluten-free definitely felt safer, especially for someone really sensitive. Less chance of cross-contamination, and often, the staff seemed more knowledgeable.
- Variety Varies Wildly: Some places just had the token brownie. Others had a whole range, bread, croissants (or attempts at them!), cakes, savoury things. You really have to look specifically for the dedicated spots if you want proper variety.
- Taste Test is Key: That first brownie I got? It was… fine. Edible. A bit dry. The stuff from the second, dedicated place? Much better. You could tell they’d worked on the recipes. Still, gluten-free baking is tricky, results can be hit or miss even in good places.
Overall thoughts? Well, finding something gluten-free isn’t that hard in Amsterdam these days. Lots of cafes are aware and offer an option or two. But finding really good, interesting, bakery-style gluten-free treats? That takes a bit more legwork. You can’t just stumble into any random bakery and expect a great selection. You need to do a little research, maybe walk a bit further than you expected.
It’s definitely better than it used to be, I remember years ago it was nearly impossible. Now, you have actual choices. You just need to put in a bit of effort to find the really good stuff. Worth it though, when my friend arrived, they were thrilled with the bits I brought back from that little dedicated spot. Made the sore feet feel worthwhile.