Hollandse Geitenkaas has always been considered one of the top most popular Dutch cheeses. You will likely fall in love with Hollandse geitenkaas, thanks to its exceptional flavor and strong aroma. For decades, Dutch people have viewed Hollandse geitenkaas as an irreplaceable part of their daily diet.

So what is Hollandse Geitenkaas, exactly? It is a type of semi-firm white cheese. Unlike many other cheeses, Hollandse geitenkaas is made only from the pasteurized crème. Sometimes, they can also be made of whole, semi-skimmed, or skim milk of Dutch White cross breeds or Dutch white goats. Due to this delicate production process, its flavor turns out to be a delicate, light, and clean taste. Also, the cheese contains between 50 and 60 percent fat.

Cheese produced by young goats may be allowed to ripen in the open - where it produces a dry rind. Or it can also be foil-ripened to preserve its delicate qualities. Hollandse Geitenkaas pairs nicely with cold alcohols and dry pink wines, as do most goat cheeses. One thing to note here is that the taste will become quite moderate after at least three weeks of ripening.

Overall, you should get a hand on this cheese if you like to know what Dutch cheeses taste like!

When it comes to the top most popular Dutch cheeses, people come up with many names in their minds. Among these names in the Prima Donna! If you have ever heard of Dutch food (or, even better, have the chance to taste some of them), you probably have heard of Prima Donna many times in the restaurant. Let's explore this famous cheese!

To be more specific, Prima Donna is a parmesan-style cheese. Prima Donna is often produced in the Netherlands, and it is made from processed or raw cow's milk. Stages to make Prima Donna are divided into three categories: forte, maturo, and leggero, respectively.

As a result, you can easily observe that the texture behind the natural rind is very strong, which often feels crystalline, gritty, and crumbly. After several cooking processes, the final taste is robust, sweet, and nutty. Prima Donna is usually recommended to go with other dishes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir.

Also, this cheese is often left to mature on its own until it rises to the peak in terms of taste - meaning it will not grow anymore for a certain amount of time. The cheese, at this point, will acquire a specific flavor profile that will then be used for further recipes.

Toplist is also delighted to introduce to you another great cheese contender from the Dutch regions - the Noord-Holland Gouda, which has always been so tasty that it is regarded by many as an independent dish - instead of a complementing dish for other food. We can't wait to tell you everything there is to know about this famous Dutch cheese.

First of all, this Noord-Holland Gouda cheese has PDO designation, and it is prepared with 100 percent milk that is produced from North-Holland. In history, Noord-Holland Gouda cheese actually originated from the region of Gouda in South Holland, though. Therefore, its current registered name actually turns out to be incorrect history-wise.

Also, Noord-Holland Gouda has received lots of positive feedback for its aroma. Noord-Holland Gouda is a fragrant and delightful cheese that, depending on its age, may either be mild or robust. You can choose the ones that you like best! Another special thing about Noord-Holland Gouda is that the more mature the cheese is, the sharper and saltier it will become.

And Noord-Holland Gouda can also be broken down into smaller sub-categories, too. Some of its popular variants include Oud, Extra oud, Belegen, Jong belegen, Extra belegen, and Graskaas. What a great assortment for people of all preferences!

Edam Holland is another famous cheese from the Dutch region. It is among the most affordable options on our list. You can buy them from every store, not just in Dutch regions but also around the world! You might be surprised that some of your local stores have indeed housed this famous cheese.

So what is Edam Holland cheese? It is a type of semi-hard cheese that can grow well with age without any palpable spoilage. Hence, people are delighted that its flavor always turns out to be piquant and sweet at a very mild level that does not overwhelm people. On the other hand, as time goes by, its texture gets much tighter, firmer, and rubbery. Thanks to this special aroma, Edam Holland cheese goes well with many recipes!

Similar to Gouda Holland, Edam Holland is also left to mature on its own without any external force or ingredients. The cheese stems from cow milk on popular Dutch farms, the reason behind its rich calcium source. The cheese is produced in compliance with the strictest guidelines, and hence, it often has a special identification number (printed on wax) embedded in its cover.

Our final verdict is that Edam Holland cheeses are both affordable and delicious. Have a taste of these dishes if you haven’t already!

Boerenkaas cannot be skimmed over in our list of popular Dutch cheeses. The name Boerenkaas itself is a Dutch word, which means "farmer's cheese". We think that from this name alone, you can guess a lot of things about its productions and origins!

Indeed, as the name itself suggests, Boerenkaas are often produced using raw and unpasteurized milk from the family farm's own animals. This feature is not something that all Dutch cheeses share, which makes Boerenkaas pretty unique. As a result of its special production, only a tiny fraction of Dutch cheeses are unhealthy to eat; 99% of these cheeses are very nutritious.

Still, in modern days, factories are becoming more common, which is why you can also find a factory-made counterpart of these handcrafted cheeses. The flavor might not be that strong compared to naturally-made cheese, but still worth a try!

Edammer, Leidse, and Goudse are the three variants of Boerenkaas, which differ from each other mainly based on the kind of milk that the producers adopt in the procedure. Boerenkaas prepared from buffaloes, sheep's, or goat's milk are also available. In addition, spices, herbs, and seeds may be added to this cheese to enhance the taste! You will be surprised at how delicious the final dish turns out to be.

Beemster Classic is a type of matured Gouda-style cheese. You might be wondering how Beemster Classic differs from other types of cheese. Let's find out!

First of all, unlike many types of cheese that are produced in factories or from other sources, Beemster Classic is made from natural and organic cow milk. The cheese requires a minimum period of at least 18 months to mature so that it can give you the best flavor. This semi-hard cheese prides itself in delivering the smoothest, creamiest, and most solid feel, thanks to a natural rind rarely found anywhere else.

Many people believe that Beemster Classic can pair with almost any type of cake and snack, which is why you can find it almost anywhere if you ever set foot in the Dutch region one day. It is also advised that the cheese be used in sandwiches. We think you would like to complement it with Merlot or full white wine, or a glass of bitter and tart craft beer.

How about its scents? The scents are robust and wealthy, resulting in a taste that seems salty, harsh, and suggestive of burned toffee with a sweet aftertaste.

Aside from Dutch regions, Beemster is also one of the most popular cheeses in the United States. It was awarded the Super Gold prize at the 2015 World Cheese Awards.

The Dutch traditionally make a cheese called Maasdam from the milk of cows. The cheese was developed in the mid-1990s as an alternative to the pricey Emmental cheese that is produced in Switzerland. Thanks to its quality, it has become one of the Dutch's favorite cheeses ever since. Toplist will reveal some of the most notable features of Maasdam flavor and what it offers!

First of all, this cheese has a waxy rind that conceals a creamy and flexible texture. It is speckled with several huge holes, making the air circulate easier and ensuring the interior part of the cheese enjoys enough room for flavor extraction.

Also, this cheese is semi-hard in texture. Hence, we are not surprised that the tastes are subdued, nutty, buttery, and sweet at the same time. In the same vein, the fragrances have a fruity quality to them, which can be used as a substitute for fruits in some recipes.

Maasdam has a total of 40 percent fat and is known for its fatty content. The aging process might take anything from 5 to 13 weeks. When it is still fresh, it is often consumed as a treat or used in the preparation of sandwiches. In addition, Maasdam may be melted and used in fondues, casseroles, and soups.