As an expat, I don’t always get to spend the holidays with my US-based friends & family. So I love to share a little bit of my life in Amsterdam with loved ones. If you’re looking for what to send to your family & friends back home for the holidays, look no further than this gift guide! Below are 10 of my favorite gifts from Amsterdam to give to friends and family.
xx,
Mercedes
Glühwein spices
One of the things I love most about the holidays in the Netherlands is glühwein. It’s such a cozy and special evening tradition – and there’s an easy way to bring this tradition back home to your family & friends.
Dille & Kamille sells these pre-packaged spices, but you can also easily make your own. This year I bought inexpensive jars (similar to these), and made my own spice kits with cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, nutmeg, and star anise. And here is a link for where to get mulling spices in the US!
Canal house ornaments
Last year I gifted a version of these sparkly house ornaments, and I love this gingerbread version. This year I’m giving these porcelain houses from Dille & Kamille. There are a few styles, all modeled after the classic Dutch canal house.
Local chocolate
Tony’s Chocolonely has gained notoriety worldwide, due in no small part to their eco-friendly practices. Tony’s is even available now at grocery stores in the US – but many people don’t know they’re a Dutch brand. I love to give the Sinterklaas chocolate letters to kids (corresponding to their first name).
To make this gift a little more unique, pick up some of the more rare or unusual flavors, like chocolate chip cookie or blueberry waffel. I also find that Marqt usually has an amazing selection.
Canal house candle holders
Another one of my favorite items from Dille & Kamille are their porcelain candle holder houses. They are perfect for just about anyone, since the clean white design goes with every type of decor.
Stroopwafels
This one may seem obvious, but it’s always a crowd pleaser. I like to buy packages of fresh stroopwafels either from a local market (like Noordermarkt on Saturdays or Albert Cuyp) or from Melly’s, one of my favorite bakeries. Melly’s also sells cute blue & white containers for the cookies.
Chocolate sprinkles
My friends & family in the states always find this one interesting. One of the most popular Dutch breakfasts is chocolate sprinkles on toast. So, I sometimes pick up a few boxes at the grocery store as novelty gifts – they’re available at every local Jumbo or Albert Heijn.
Christmas poppers
Also called Christmas crackers, these paper poppers are traditional in many places in Europe. My step-mother’s family is Dutch, and always has these at Christmas dinner. These ones are good if you are based in the US, and Dille & Kamille sells this mini set.
Canal house tea towels
In case you aren’t sensing the theme here, I love to give gifts with a canal house motif. These tea towels are cute, practical, and come in enough colors to please everyone on your list.
Shortlist Amsterdam
This is one of my favorite gifts to give, because it might just inspire people to come visit! Shortlist is an annual listing (only recently available in English) of all of the top restaurants in Amsterdam. But it also doubles as a cookbook since each restaurant provides one of their famous recipes, making it a perfect recipe.
Traditional tiles
The Netherlands is famous for blue & white tiles, which look lovely as individual decor pieces. But original Royal Delft can be very expensive.
Heinen Delfts Blauw offers lookalike tiles for 1/10 of the price, including this beautiful tulip and these adorable canal houses. Alternatively, you can usually find unique vintage tiles at antique shops. My favorite shop is Antiekcentrum.
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