Market Hauls and Local Noms

Whether or not you’ve been to the Netherlands, chances are you’ve come across the beloved stroopwafel—a caramel-filled waffle cookie from Gouda that’s now famous worldwide. As much as I loved trying one hot off the waffle iron at Rotterdam’s bustling Binnenrotte Market, I was eager to go beyond the classics and explore more of the city’s dessert scene. Here are four standout sweet treats I sampled, along with some background on the local businesses where you can find them.

1. Rotterpouce Waffel from WAFFEL

The Dessert: The Rotterpouce Waffle offers a unique twist on tompouce, a traditional Dutch pastry consisting of pastry cream sandwiched between thin puff pastry layers and topped with pink icing. WAFFEL’s version comes with baked croissant dough dipped in pink ruby chocolate and topped with homemade vanilla pastry cream.

The Business: WAFFEL is a small but elegant bakery serving croissant waffles, matcha, and coffee. Founder Mercedes Roggen came up with the concept in October 2024, drawing on her love of classic French pastry (hence the croissant dough!) and inspiration from “Hou je waffel,” a saying that dates back to the 17th century, when waffle-making was primarily a women’s craft and a waffle iron was a staple part of every woman’s trousseau. While it is currently used to mean “shut your trap” (or waffle, to be literal!), the expression was originally used among waffle makers to mean “focus on your waffle” so the batter doesn’t leak and the waffle doesn’t burn. The menu includes sweet waffles like cinnamon bun, tiramisu, and Dubai chocolate and savory waffles like bánh mì, tuna melt, and carpaccio.

2. Stroopwafel Bite from SUE

The Dessert: The Stroopwafel Bite features a crunchy baked stroopwafel base, a soft caramel layer, creamy stroopwafel “cheesecake,” and a topping of homemade stroopwafel cookie crumbles and syrup. It’s a unique twist on the classic stroopwafel: indulgent yet free from the usual butter, refined sugar, milk, and eggs.

The Business: SUE offers handcrafted plant-based treats that are free from refined sugar, gluten, and lactose. The concept grew out of founder and cookbook author Kim Sue Palm’s search for healthier alternatives to the sweets she found hard to resist. After experimenting with recipes in her spare time and sharing the results with friends and family, she began supplying her creations to restaurants and bars, quickly growing a successful business from her home kitchen. Within just a few months, she quit her job to dedicate herself fully to SUE. Since then, SUE has expanded to three locations (two in Rotterdam and one in Amsterdam) where you can enjoy Kim’s signature bites in flavors like key lime, tiramisu, lavender lemon, and matcha latte—along with other delicious plant-based food and drinks.

3. Hangop from Vader Kleinjan Café

The Dessert: With a name meaning “to hang up,” hangop is a thick, creamy Dutch dessert made from buttermilk or yogurt that is left to “hang” and drain in a towel over a colander. Vader Kleinjan’s version features strained yogurt and real vanilla bean accompanied by red fruit compote and yogurt ice cream.

The Business: Ranked the #1 café in Rotterdam on TripAdvisor, Vader Kleinjan, owned by Thies Vader and Cornelis Kleinjan, offers meals and drinks with an incredible view. Situated in the heart of Oude Haven—the city’s oldest harbor and a historical hotspot—the café is a wonderful place to relax while admiring Het Witte Huis, Europe’s first high-rise building, and the famous yellow Cube Houses.

4. Haagse Bluf from Eet- en Biercafé Haagse Bluf

The Dessert: Dutch for “The Hague Bluff,” haagse bluf is a classic Dutch dessert made with whipped egg whites, sugar, and berry juice. The name is said to be a playful nod to the once-perceived tendency of The Hague’s residents to bluff or put on airs while lacking true substance. Similarly, haagse bluf looks grand and impressive but is actually very simple to make. Eet- en Biercafé Haagse Bluf’s version combines the usual whipped egg whites with brown sugar and cherries, alongside a mousse made from hopjes—a coffee-and-caramel flavored candy created in The Hague.

The Business: Considered the leading cheese fondue venue in Rotterdam and the surrounding area, Haagse Bluf has been serving specialty beer, drinks, and meals since 2000. The restaurant’s name refers both to its location on the Haagseveer—a central Rotterdam street that once maintained a ferry connection with The Hague—and to the classic Dutch dessert featured on their menu. If the weather permits, I highly recommend sitting on their terrace, which offers beautiful views and a nice break from the bustle of central Rotterdam.

Plan Your Rotterdam Dessert Tour: Links & Addresses

1. WAFEL
🌐 waffel.nl
📍 Binnenwegplein 2, 3012 KA Rotterdam  

2. SUE
🌐 sue-food.nl
📍 The SUE Store – Karel Doormanstraat 372-374, 3012 GA Rotterdam
📍 SUE Bakery – Goudsesingel 330 A, 3011 JT Rotterdam  

3. Vader Kleinjan Café
🌐 vaderkleinjan.nl
📍 Spaansepoort 73, 3011 MN Rotterdam  

4. Eet- en Biercafé Haagse Bluf
🌐 haagsebluf.eu
📍 Spaansepoort 73, 3011 MN Rotterdam