Where to buy the best Dutch ice-cream in the Netherlands according to Expatica readers. Your suggestions are welcome, so keep them coming in. Plus, best ice-cream in the Netherlands award 2008 goes to an ice-cream parlour in Rijsbergen.

Amersfoort (Utrecht)

Icecream parlour San Marco.  I have done, will continue to drive a few extra kilometers for this one. Addictive.

www.ijssalonsanmarco.nl  

Daniëlle de Groot

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Amersfoort  IJssalon received "world's best ice-cream maker award" in  2007

Mazzoli, Langestraat 75, in Amersfoort (owned by Ermanno Mazzoli), won the Longarone de Coppa d'Oro for its banana-flavoured ice-cream.

Another Dutch ice-cream parlour, La Femigi (Promenade 7) in the small southern town of  Malden, came in second.

Around 80 professional ice-cream makers competed for this prestigious international award in the traditional ice-cream industry.  

Dutch ice-cream awards and ice-cream in Amstelveen

There is definitely Dutch ice cream to be found, and even Dutch Ice-Cream Awards to honour those who make it.|

If you're lucky enough to live in Amstelveen, the Ijs van Columbus ice cream salon, situated just off van der Hooplaan near de Meerkamp swimming complex is wonderful.

They are usually finalists in these sort of competitions. Nothing compares to the spaghetti ice-cream we had in Germany, but on a hot day choosing your flavours with your kids at a local ice cream salon is a pleasure.

Favourite flavours in our house are pistachio, Smurf ijs (blue like the Smurfs), citroen and bosvruchten.

Ijs van Columbus makes birthday cakes that you can order online - send in an electronic file (as a .jpg) of the picture you want, say when you want to collect it and presto! A made to order cake. They also make ice-cream cakes.

Just beware - the Dutch don't eat ice-cream in winter so you might show up on a warm spring day, anticipating ice-cream only to find that it's still three weeks until ice-cream will be sold.

Ashleigh in Holland 

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Goat's ice-cream (Amsterdamse Bos)

All that you say in your editorial 'Dutch Ice-cream' is true. However, the goat farm (geitenboerderij) in the Amsterdamse Bos does sell the most fabulous, creamy goats ice-cream 'farmed', needless to say, from their own goats.
 
Actually, they've got a good thing going there, recycling at its best - they milk goats - they sell small bottles of said milk to small children - small children feed milk back to goats - goats produce more milk - they milk goats... Still, I suppose they have to make a living somehow...
 
Cheers for ex-pat letter, always enjoy it.

Andrea Lowne

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Dutch Ice-cream

Amsterdam
I enjoy your expat topics. But I did get thinking that maybe you should follow up with some of the homemade ice-cream shops that are in the city (Amsterdam).

There's a bakery near my apartment that welcomes the spring by making ice cream along with pastries, flavours like ‘oma's apple tart’ and ‘three berries’. It's near the Spui, on the Singel. I've also had some at similar small places, one in Zuid, and there must be more. Just an idea, and it could be fun to have to taste test all the ice  cream!

Caren Harple

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Italian ice-cream (Amsterdam)

In six years of living in Amsterdam I always wondered at the lack of  Dutch ice-cream. After all, the Italians, French and Germans all love  ice-cream and each has developed a distinct ice-cream culture. That  said, there is a terrific Italian Gelato place just off the Albert Cuypstraat.

Clay Doyle
(Los Angeles. Amsterdam 1998-2004)

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Home-made ice-cream in Amsterdam

With regards to your statement in 'Dutch ice-cream' that there is no Dutch ice cream, you are very definitely wrong.  Family-run business Linde makes a truly frozen whipped cream, which resembles a soft ice cream.

It is located directly across the street from the Hema on Nieuwendijk, and most of the time you will have to wait outside the door in line-ups to get your ice cream.

Several years ago, the company that manufactured the equipment went out of business, and the owner of this establishment bought up all the remaining equipment in order to keep his business running.  If you ever get the chance to try this ice cream, you will keep going back.

Warren Bettis

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Ice-cream in Arcen, Limburg

Please don't leave Clevers (www.clevers.nl) off your list of great ice cream in the Netherlands.  Here in the province of Limburg we have many great places for Dutch ice cream.  There is nothing better than going to Clevers in the beautiful town of Arcen on a warm sunny day, sitting on the terrace overlooking the Maas River while enjoying some of the best ice cream in the world!  It's worth waiting in the long lines for this delicious dairy treat.   The only problem is trying to decide with flavour(s) you want.

Kristina

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Ice-cream in Haarlem

I  recommend Garrone Gelateria, Grote Houtstraat 179, Haarlem, an Italian family business since 1947 which is by far the best italian icecream in town.

IJscafe Da Benito, Soendaplein 33, Haarlem is also good.

Ania Markham

(Also recommended by Daniëlle de Groot) 

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Rijsbergen Icecream parlour voted best in the Netherlands for 2008

The winner of the Golden icescoop for 2008 is Icecream parlour Bon Appètit in Rijsbergen, Kennedyplein 3, Rijsbergen (North Brabant).

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Ice-cream in Rotterdam

Want to taste a yummy ice-cream?
Come by Rotterdam's De Ijssalon or hire your own ice-cream trolley for a party ...
 
Marisa de Brito

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Thorn, Limburg

There is a fabulous ice cream parlour in Thorn, Limburg.  It is called San Marino  and their Apple Tart ice cream is mind-blowingly good. It is without doubt the best I have ever eaten.

Helen Jackson

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Utrecht Ice-cream Shop

My recommendation would be Il Mulino , Adelaarstraat 2, Utrecht.  The ice cream and sundaes are the best I have every tasted.  They have a multitude of flavours as well as a whipped cream sandwich which is enjoyed by many I observed.   My favourites are chocolate, chocolate chip, pistachio, mocha, lemon.  There is always a line outside the building especially when the weather is good.  You can sit across the street on the steps by the  Oude Gracht canal  when the small boats wait for the locks to be opened with a view of the Dom.  I can't wait to go back.

www.ilmulino.nl/

Pam Boucher (Elwood, IL USA)
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Ice-cream in Weesp

There is an excellent ice cream parlour in Weesp (just 10 minutes by train from Amsterdam Centraal) called Nelis Ijssalon (www.nelisijssalon.nl/). It's open all year round (only till 6pm during the winter but till much later when it's warm), the people are nice and it is never empty (not even in winter!). I believe their coffee ice cream won second place a few years back in the IJs wedstrijd but I prefer their fruit flavoured ice-creams. They have loads of flavours and also sell good apple-pie. (By the way, Weesp is also lovely for a day trip.)
 
Yun Mei Ching

If you have any names of bakeries making ice-cream near you, or good Dutch ice-cream shops, please send them in so we can grow this list for the summer!

(This is an ongoing list which was last added to in June 2008 - keep your contributions coming in.)

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