🧑🤝🧑 Dutch
Also known as: Dutch people, Netherlanders
West Germanic people, the main population of the Netherlands in Western Europe; their Gouda and Edam cheeses are known worldwide.
The Dutch are a West Germanic people, the main population of the Netherlands in Western Europe. Their country is low-lying, with a damp maritime climate and lush meadows on reclaimed land, ideal for cows. The Dutch black-and-white cattle became the basis of the world’s most widespread dairy breed, the Holstein Friesian.
The Dutch have traded cheese for centuries: the cheese markets of Gouda, Alkmaar and Edam date back to the Middle Ages. Gouda is a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese sold anywhere from young to aged for several years; Edam is a round cheese in a red wax coating. “Gouda Holland” and “Noord-Hollandse Gouda” are protected in the EU.
Milk and cheese are part of everyday Dutch food: a cheese sandwich for lunch with a glass of milk or buttermilk is a familiar combination. Today the Netherlands is one of the world’s largest cheese exporters.
How it connects to milk
🧑🤝🧑 Dutch ← tradition ← 🧀 Gouda → made from → 🥛 Cow's milk → type of → 🥛 Milk
Links
Frequently asked questions
Where does the name Gouda come from?
From the town of Gouda, which has long held a cheese market.
Why is Edam cheese red?
It is coated in red wax to protect it during storage and transport.
Which dairy breed comes from the Netherlands?
Dutch black-and-white cattle formed the basis of the Holstein Friesian breed.
What to read next
- 🍸 Gin and juniper spirits — Juniper spirits: gin is at least 37.5% ABV in the EU with juniper taste predominating. Distilled gin and London gin are stricter methods; genever, sloe gin and Berenburg are separate types.
- 🥃 Genever — Genever (jenever) is the grain-and-juniper spirit of Belgium, the Netherlands, northern France and western Germany: from 30% ABV (60 proof in the US), at least 1.5% malt wine.
- 🍸 Juniper-flavoured spirit drink — The EU's broadest juniper category (19): alcohol or grain distillate with juniper berries, from 30% ABV. Genever, Wacholder and genebra belong here; gin is a stricter category.
- 🥃 Curaçao — Orange liqueur linked to the island of Curaçao and its bitter laraha orange. In the EU it is simply a liqueur (from 15% ABV, 100 g/l sugar); Senior & Co has made it since 1896, per the producer.
- 🥃 Ostfriesischer Korngenever (East Frisian grain genever) — Ostfriesischer Korngenever is a German protected name for East Frisian genever: alcohol only from grain distillate and moutwijn, juniper flavour by distillation only; at least 38% ABV, sugar up to 5 g/l.
Similar
🧑🤝🧑 French · 🧑🤝🧑 British · 🧑🤝🧑 Slovaks
ℹ️ This page describes the people only through food: what they grow and make, and which foods and drinks matter in their traditions. History, language, religion and other parts of the culture are not covered here.
Sources
- EUR-Lex — Commission Regulation (EU) No 1122/2010 (Gouda Holland, PGI)
- EUR-Lex — Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (first EU list of PDO/PGI names)
- FAO — Dairy animals: Cattle