Amsterdam Centraal is where most visits begin, and the streets just south of it are full of places to eat sweet, some excellent, plenty forgettable. If you have just stepped off the train, or you are killing time before one, here are the best desserts near Amsterdam Centraal, all within a short, easy walk and worth the detour.
We are Ruma (formerly De Beste Lekkernij), a Mediterranean bakery in the Nine Streets, about a ten minute walk from the station. This is the route and the list we would hand a friend arriving in the city.
Getting your bearings from the station
From the front of Amsterdam Centraal, the Damrak runs straight down toward Dam Square. That main drag is heavy on chains and tourist traps, so the trick is to step off it. Walk down and then west into the Nine Streets (De 9 Straatjes), roughly ten minutes, and you are in the best dessert territory in the city. The Anne Frank House and the Jordaan are just beyond.
The best desserts near Amsterdam Centraal
1. Trilece at Ruma (formerly De Beste Lekkernij)
About ten minutes from the station in the Nine Streets. Our trilece is the viral three-milk cake, soaked soft, caramel on top, served cold, over 600 million views, baked by hand daily. A great first taste of the city, plus baklava, simit and pistachio cannoli if you want more. See what trilece is.
2. A warm cookie at Van Stapele
In the Nine Streets down the Heisteeg, Van Stapele bakes a single warm dark chocolate cookie with a soft centre. Easy to fold into the same walk, and they sell out, so do not dawdle.
3. Fresh stroopwafels near Dam Square
For the Dutch classic, freshly pressed stroopwafels turn up around the centre, including near Dam Square, set into De Nieuwe Kerk. Warm and gooey is the only way. Full guide: best stroopwafels in Amsterdam.
4. Baklava at Ruma
Back to us, because good baklava is not on every corner here. Thin filo, chopped nuts, baked golden and honey-soaked so it stays glossy. Pistachio, with a Turkish coffee, after a long journey.
5. A canal-side gelato
On a warm day, the artisan gelato spots around the centre are a quick, happy stop between the station and the Nine Streets. Grab a cone and walk the canals.
What to skip near the station
The Damrak strip between Centraal and Dam Square is mostly chains, oversized novelty waffles and overpriced photo-bait. It is fine for a quick snack, but the genuinely good stuff is a few minutes further into the Nine Streets and the Jordaan. Walk the extra blocks. For more on the area, see our desserts near the Anne Frank House guide.
If you are short on time
Even with a tight connection, you can make it to the Nine Streets and back. A cold trilece travels well in the hand, and we are open daily 8am to 7pm, so an early arrival or a late train both work. If you would rather not move, you can order Ruma across the city.
Dessert by layover length
How much you can fit in depends on your time. With under an hour, stay close: grab a quick treat near Dam Square and head straight back. With one to two hours, walk into the Nine Streets for a proper sit-down trilece and a coffee, then return. With a half day or more, do the full loop: the Nine Streets, a wander into the Jordaan, and the Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp for a fresh stroopwafel. Amsterdam Centraal is central enough that even a short gap between trains is enough to taste something genuinely good, as long as you skip the station snack bars.
Storing the station and luggage
If you are carrying bags, Amsterdam Centraal has luggage lockers, which makes a dessert detour far more comfortable than dragging a suitcase along the canals. Drop your bags, do the Nine Streets loop, and collect them on your way to the platform. A cold trilece survives a short carry if you would rather take it onto the train, and boxed baklava or lokum travel even better, making either a good edible souvenir to eat on the journey.
Getting from Centraal to the desserts
Walking is simplest and prettiest. From the station, head down the Damrak, then turn west into the canal belt and the Nine Streets, about ten minutes on foot. If you would rather ride, several tram lines run from Centraal toward the centre and the Jordaan, though for this short distance your feet are usually quicker than waiting for a tram. Once you are in the Nine Streets, everything in this guide is within a few minutes. For the neighbourhood beyond the desserts, see our things to do in the Nine Streets guide.
Where to find us
Ruma is at Herenstraat 24A in the Nine Streets, about ten minutes on foot from Amsterdam Centraal and a short walk from Dam Square and the Anne Frank House. See the menu, plan a visit, or browse our best desserts in Amsterdam guide for the full city.