Nico bakes the tastiest oliebollen in the Netherlands
The tastiest oliebollen in the Netherlands are available at the oliebollen stall on Koemarkt in Schiedam. That’s where Nico Sterrenburg bakes the light, crispy oliebollen with the highest score from Oliebollentestonline. The website’s oliebollen testers tasted hundreds of oliebollen from across the Netherlands, and Nico’s oliebollen came in at number one.
The oliebollen test was carried out by AD for years, but they stopped doing so in 2018. They received complaints that the test was not conducted fairly. Twelve volunteers and two experts in oliebollen thought that was such a shame that they started their own oliebollen test website.
‘Greasy sponge’
Oliebollen bakers can sign up themselves, or be nominated by satisfied customers. The testers set out anonymously, buy oliebollen with currants and taste them that same day. They taste critically and give honest scores – not everyone scores as highly as Nico from Schiedam. Oliebollen from Assendelft that are dripping with grease, for example, receive a 3.5 and the recommendation ‘Please, do something about this.’ And in Zwolle, the testers tasted ‘Another greasy sponge with an overpowering cinnamon flavour.’ There you go, a 4.
A 10!
They are wildly enthusiastic about Nico’s oliebollen. The tastiest oliebollen in the Netherlands, a 10. Nico’s stall was entered into the competition by satisfied customers. He had won prizes before: in 2020 and 2018, he was the best oliebollen baker in South Holland, and in 2019 he was also the best in the Netherlands. His oliebollen have never received a rating lower than 9.5.
Crispy and light
Nico is absolutely delighted with his prize. ‘They’re even crispier and lighter this year than before,’ he says. ‘We keep trying to improve: even lighter, even crispier, the tastiest apples, currants and raisins.’ The crowd-control barriers are ready to keep the crowds moving smoothly. There are already queues at Nico’s oliebollen stall, and it will get even busier between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Oliebollen nearby
Anyone who wants to know where the best oliebollen are baked nearby can check oliebollentestonline.nl. Or head to Schiedam and join the queue at Nico’s for the best oliebol in the country.
