Andy Montoya
The Netherlands is known for its cheese, with Dutch cheese dating back to 400 A.D. and the country now being the largest exporter of cheese in the world. While the country does not have an extensive variety of soft cheeses, there are many types of Dutch cheese, including Beemster, Boerenkaas, Edam, Graskaas, Gouda, Kanterkaas, Leerdammer, Leyden, and Limburger. While there are many types of Dutch cheese, some may wonder what cheese is similar to cheddar in the Netherlands. Cheddar cheese can be found in some cheese shops in the Netherlands, but it is expensive and hard to find. However, there are some Dutch cheeses that can be used as substitutes for cheddar, such as extra belegen Gouda.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Substitutes for Cheddar Cheese in the Netherlands | Gouda, Extra belegen, Maaslander, Maasdam, Nagelkaas, Parrano, Prima Donna, Roomano, Rotterdamsche Oude, Edam, Leerdammer, Leyden, Limburger, Beemster, Graskaas, Kanterkaas, Boerenkaas, Vlaskaas |
| Availability in the Netherlands | Kelly's Expat Shopping, Ferdinand Bolstraat, Jumbo, Albert Heijn, Beer Temple, Tromp, Noordermarkt, Rundstraat |
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What You'll Learn
Gouda is a Dutch-style cheese
Gouda is a semi-hard cheese with a milk fat content of 48% and a mild, nutty, and tangy flavour. It is named after the city of Gouda in South Holland, where it was traditionally traded. Today, the name "Gouda" is often used as a generic term for Dutch-style cheese.
Gouda is made from cow's milk and typically comes in cheese wheels weighing 12 kilos (26.5 pounds). "Baby Gouda" is a smaller version, weighing between 250 grams and one kilo (half a pound to one pound). The cheese has a typical round shape, and many export versions are coated in red paraffin. Aging intensifies the flavour and hardness of Gouda, with the oldest varieties being excellent for eating in crumbly shards.
Gouda is a versatile cheese that can be used in a variety of dishes. Younger varieties like jonge kaas (aged for 4 weeks) and jong belegen kaas (aged for 2 months) are well-suited for sandwiches, especially with Dutch grain mustard. Older varieties like extra belegen (aged for 7 to 8 months) can be used as a substitute for Jack or Cheddar cheeses in recipes. The oldest Goudas, such as oude kaas (aged for at least 10 months) and overjarig (aged for 1 to 2 years), are excellent for crumbling over dishes like beer and bacon bread, or simply enjoying with a drizzle of Dutch apple syrup.
Gouda is just one of many famous and delicious Dutch cheeses. Some other well-known varieties include Edam, a semi-hard cheese with a red wax coating and a mellow, salty taste; Boerenkaas, a handcrafted "farmhouse cheese" made with raw milk; and Limburger, a soft cheese with a distinctive smell. While Cheddar cheese may be harder to come by in the Netherlands, with some sources noting that it can be expensive and hard to find, Dutch cheeses like Gouda offer a delicious alternative with a range of flavours and textures to explore.
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Boerenkaas is a classic Dutch cheese
Boerenkaas, or ""farmer's cheese" in Dutch, is a classic Dutch cheese. It is a traditional farmhouse cheese made from raw cow's milk. It is produced throughout the Netherlands using milk from the farmer's own animals, including cows, goats, sheep, or even buffalos. The use of unpasteurized milk from the farm's own animals is what distinguishes Boerenkaas from other Dutch cheeses, as only a small percentage of them are made this way.
Boerenkaas is known for its rich, creamy texture and distinct flavor, which can vary depending on the aging process. Younger Boerenkaas is typically smooth and mild, while older varieties have a firmer texture and a more complex, pronounced flavor. The aging time for Boerenkaas can range from a few weeks to over a year, or even up to seven years in some cases.
The flavor of Boerenkaas can range from grassy and nutty notes to butterscotch sweetness and crunchiness from milk proteins. Some versions of Boerenkaas also include spices like cumin or other seeds, herbs, and spices grown on the farm. This cheese pairs well with full-bodied red wines or classic Dutch beer, as well as fresh bread, fruits, and nuts.
Boerenkaas has been a protected name since 2007, recognized as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed by the European Union. This recognition ensures that only cheese produced using traditional methods and meeting specific standards can be labeled as Boerenkaas.
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Edam is the second most important Dutch cheese
The Netherlands is famous for its cheese, and for good reason. Dutch cheese is delicious and ranges from hard cow's milk cheese to soft cheeses like Le Petit Doruvael. While Gouda is the most important and well-known Dutch cheese, making up almost half of the country's cheese production, Edam is a close second. In fact, Edam makes up 27% of the country's total cheese production.
Named after the town of Edam, this semi-hard cow's milk cheese is easily recognisable by its red wax coating. A typical Edam cheese weighs 4 pounds (1.7 kg), while a baby Edammer weighs half a pound (1 kg). When it comes to taste, Edam has a very mellow, salty flavour and a fat content of 40%.
Like other Dutch cheeses, Edam pairs well with full-bodied red wines or a classic Dutch beer. If you're looking to buy Edam, make sure it's from the Netherlands, as many imitations taste nothing like the real thing. For the most authentic experience, try to find raw milk Boeren Edam from De Weere.
While Edam is the second most important Dutch cheese in terms of production, other Dutch cheeses, like Limburger, are considered quintessentially Dutch due to their unique characteristics. Limburger cheese, for example, is known for its distinctive smell, which comes from the particular bacterium used in its production.
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Limburger is a Dutch cheese with a distinctive smell
Limburger is a soft cheese with a distinctive smell, traditionally from the area of the former Duchy of Limburg. It is considered a quintessentially Dutch cheese, although Germans and Belgians also make their own versions. Limburger gets its unique scent from a particular bacterium. Once the cheese is removed from its rind, the flavour becomes quite mild, with a spicy-sweet flavour combination. It goes well with fish and crackers and is usually available at cheese shops, some Dutch supermarkets, and farmers' markets.
While Limburger cheese is a Dutch speciality, it is not similar to Cheddar cheese. Cheddar cheese is not a Dutch product and is not easily available in the Netherlands. It can be found at some speciality cheese shops, such as the one on Rundstraat, or at expat shops like Kelly's Expat Shopping in Den Haag and Amsterdam. However, these imported cheddars tend to be expensive and may not be easily accessible to everyone.
Cheddar cheese is more commonly available in other countries, such as the UK and the US. In the Netherlands, there are some alternatives to cheddar cheese that can be used in recipes or as substitutes. One option is to use a Dutch cheese called "Gouda," which is a semi-hard cheese with a mild, nutty, and tangy flavour. Gouda has a higher milk fat content than cheddar and ages differently, developing a more intense flavour and hardness over time.
Another possible substitute for cheddar cheese in the Netherlands is "Edam," which is the second most important cheese in the country, making up 27% of its total cheese production. Edam is a semi-hard cheese with a fat content of 40% and a mellow, salty taste. It pairs well with full-bodied red wines or classic Dutch beer, similar to how cheddar is often enjoyed.
In conclusion, while Limburger is a Dutch cheese with a distinctive smell, it is not similar to cheddar cheese. Cheddar cheese is not commonly available in the Netherlands, but alternatives such as Gouda and Edam can be used as substitutes in recipes or for enjoyment.
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Nagelkaas is a rare Dutch cheese
Nagelkaas, also known as Frisian Clove cheese, is a rare Dutch cheese. It is a variant of kanterkaas, another Dutch cheese. Nagelkaas is made from cow's milk, with the addition of cloves and cumin, which lend it a spicy taste. The cheese gets its name from the Dutch word for clove, kruidnagel, which translates literally to "spice nail", owing to the clove's nail-like shape. It is also referred to as "nail cheese" in English, or Nagelkaas in Dutch.
Nagelkaas is a firm-textured, gouda-style cheese, made with skimmed pasteurized milk, which gives it a mild flavour. It is produced in the Frisian Islands of the Netherlands, and has a unique flavour and appearance. The clove and cumin spices in the cheese resemble construction nails, giving it a distinctive look and taste.
The cheese is considered a delicacy and is quite spicy, with a mild flavour and a firm texture similar to Goudse kaas. Gouda, or Goudse kaas, is a well-known Dutch cheese that is semi-hard and has a nutty, tangy flavour. It is often paired with full-bodied red wines or Dutch beer. Dutch cheese, in general, is famous and ranges from classic, well-known varieties to rarer types like Nagelkaas.
Nagelkaas can be purchased at cheese shops, farmer's markets, and some Dutch supermarkets, such as Albert Heijn and Jumbo. It is also available online from local stores. The cheese typically ages for around six months and has a butterfat content of about 23%.
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Frequently asked questions
Extra belegen Gouda, which is aged for 7 to 8 months, can be used as a substitute for cheddar cheese.
Some shops in the Netherlands sell cheddar cheese, including Kelly's Expat Shopping in Amsterdam, a cheese shop on Rundstraat, and a booth on the Noordermarkt.
Some Dutch cheeses that are similar to cheddar include extra belegen Gouda, Leerdammer, Maasdam, and Nagelkaas.
Dutch cheese is famous and delicious, and ranges from hard to semi-soft cheeses. The Netherlands is the largest exporter of cheese in the world, with a dairy industry valued at over 7.7 billion euros.
