6 lesser-known local delicacies you’ll want to try now
Our entire country is home to wonderful regional products. Worstenbroodje, Bossche bol and Zeeuwse bolus are familiar to us all, but there is so much more to discover. Step off the beaten track and try a local product you don’t know yet. We’ve rounded up 6 lesser-known local delicacies that are truly worth trying.
Platte tieten
Platte tieten are a delicacy from Brabant, from Bergen op Zoom to be precise. They are also known as koeienvlaaien, joskes or Groffenkoeken. The latter name is used most often; the large biscuits filled with pastry cream were once a failed experiment by baker Groffen. But because they are so popular (his son still sells around 7,000 a week!), they have remained on the menu. They are available with different-coloured icing, from chocolate brown to bright blue.
Nonnevot
In Limburg, of course, you order a slice of Limburgse vlaai. And eat a plate of zoervleis. But there is something else you should try: nonnevot. Perhaps not as well known as vlaai and zoervleis, but incredibly tasty. It is a pastry shaped like a loop with a loose knot on top. What does it taste like? A little like a doughnut. Some bakers bake it, while others deep-fry it. Limburgers mainly eat it during carnival. A nice change from bitterballen with your beer.
Fladderak
Fladderak makes people from Groningen flutter. It is a spirit containing 25% alcohol. A type of brandy that tastes of lemon and cinnamon. You can find Fladderak truly only in Groningen. It is made there by Hooghoudt distillery (in the city of Groningen) and by Groninger Genever Stokerij in Oostwold. Try it when you’re in the far north. Delicious with a piece of poffert, a Groningen delicacy that deserves a little more recognition too, as far as we’re concerned.
Spakenburgs Hart
Planning a day in Utrecht? Head a little farther north in the province. To Spakenburg, to be precise. That’s where you can eat Spakenburgs Hart: the local delicacy that makes every Spakenburger’s heart beat faster. It is a slab cake that you can bend slightly. They are known for their cheerful decorations. Many bakers add heartwarming messages, making it the perfect gift for someone. So you are literally giving away a piece of your heart. *melts*
Delfts Bruggetje
If you like sugar bread, you’ll also love Delfts Bruggetje. This Delft sweet treat is sugar bread filled with dried apricots, pieces of hazelnut and candied sugar. You can get it at Stadsbakkerij De Diamanten Ring. They have been baking it there for centuries (yes, really), following the same family recipe. It doesn’t get more traditional than this.
Nimweegse Nuilertjes
“Stop moaning and buy a bag of sweets,” Nijmegen residents sometimes say to each other. What do they buy? Nimweegse Nuilertjes! Salty, gelatin-free liquorice sold in funky tins. The creators of this liquorice were inspired by the character of a typical Nijmegen resident: rather gruff at first glance, but with a heart of gold. Can you taste the resemblance?
Also read:
- All the delicious things from Noord-Holland
- Delicacies from Limburg
- 24 hours in Den Bosch: these are the Brabant city’s best culinary hotspots
Header image: Groffen bakery in Bergen op Zoom
