Holland America Dutch Dinner Menu: Full Dining Room Menu
Holland America Line celebrates its Dutch heritage throughout the cruise experience, and one of the most distinctive examples is the Dutch Dinner served in the ship’s Dining Room. The themed dinner combines Dutch-inspired dishes with several familiar Holland America favorites, giving passengers a chance to try dishes such as Bami Goreng, Hodge Podge Klapstuk, Dutch-style pea soup, Dover sole, and Tompouce.
The photographed Holland America Dutch Dinner menu below shows the complete selection of cocktails, wines, starters, main courses, premium entrées, desserts, and after-dinner drinks offered during this particular sailing. Holland America introduced its expanded Dutch Day celebration across its cruises in 2024, with the Dutch Dinner serving as one of the centerpiece events.
CruisePrism readers can also explore our Holland America menus, Holland America drink menus and Holland America onboard guides for more onboard food and beverage information.
What Is Holland America’s Dutch Dinner?
Holland America Line has deep ties to the Netherlands, dating back to the company’s beginnings in Rotterdam in the 19th century. The cruise line continues to highlight that heritage onboard through Dutch-inspired food and special events.
Holland America expanded those traditions with Dutch Day, a celebration offered across its cruises. One of the main features is a special Dutch Dinner in the Dining Room featuring a mixture of traditional and contemporary dishes inspired by Dutch cuisine.
The menu is not exclusively Dutch. Passengers who prefer more familiar choices can still find items such as beef tenderloin, roasted chicken, salmon, French onion soup, Caesar salad, and crème brûlée.
That makes Dutch Dinner an opportunity to experiment with something different without requiring everyone at the table to order Dutch specialties.
Holland America Dutch Dinner Menu
The photographed menu begins with five specialty cocktails:
- Paper Plane – $12
- Como Spritz – $12
- Gala Lemon Drop – $14
- Penicillin – $13
- Dutch 75 – $11
The Dutch 75 fits particularly well with the evening’s theme. It combines De Lijn Gin, sparkling wine, and lemon juice.
The Paper Plane contains Angel’s Envy Bourbon, Nonino Amaro, Aperol, and lemon juice, while the Como Spritz combines Cynar, passionfruit, lemon, and Holland America sparkling wine.
Wines Available With Dutch Dinner
Four wines are shown on the menu, with pricing by the glass and bottle:
- Holland America Line Sparkling Wine, Washington – $10 glass / $40 bottle
- Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Washington – $12 / $48
- Sokol Blosser Evolution Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon – $14 / $56
- Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon, California – $18 / $72
Beverage-package coverage can depend on the package and current onboard policies, so passengers should check the terms applicable to their sailing.
Holland America Dutch Dinner Starters
Several Dutch-inspired dishes appear among the starters alongside familiar Dining Room choices.
The menu includes:
- Bay Shrimp Cocktail – Dutch cocktail sauce and boiled egg
- Steak Tartare – capers and gherkin pickles
- Chicken and Sweetbreads in Mushroom Cream – puff pastry and Hollandaise sauce
- Westland Salad – tomato, cucumber, egg, and mustard dressing
- Green Pea Soup – pumpernickel and speck ham
- French Onion Soup – Gruyère cheese crouton
- Classic Caesar Salad – Parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, and anchovies
The Green Pea Soup is particularly connected to Holland America’s Dutch Dinner concept. Holland America highlights Dutch pea soup as one of the traditional flavors featured during its Dutch heritage celebrations.
The Westland Salad and Bay Shrimp Cocktail provide lighter alternatives, while passengers wanting familiar cruise dining staples can choose French onion soup or Caesar salad.
Bami Goreng
Bami Goreng is one of the most interesting main courses on the menu.
Holland America’s version includes egg, chicken, shrimp saté, peanut sauce, and krupuk shrimp crackers.
The Indonesian influence may initially seem unexpected on a Dutch-themed menu, but Indonesian cuisine has had a major influence on food in the Netherlands because of the historical relationship between the two countries. Dishes with Indonesian roots have consequently become a familiar part of Dutch food culture.
Holland America specifically includes Bami Goreng among the Dutch-inspired dishes it promotes for Dutch Dinner.
Hodge Podge Klapstuk
Another particularly Dutch selection is Hodge Podge Klapstuk.
The menu describes it as braised beef brisket served with carrots, potatoes, onions, and gravy.
This is one of the dishes Holland America itself highlights when promoting Dutch Day and its onboard Dutch Dinner.
For passengers looking to choose something that most directly represents the theme of the evening, Hodge Podge Klapstuk is one of the standout options.
Other Main Courses
Passengers do not have to choose a Dutch-inspired dish.
The regular main-course selection shown on this menu also includes:
- Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms – chateau potatoes and sautéed vegetables
- Pan-Fried Dover Sole with Lemon Butter – parsley potatoes, asparagus, and carrots
- Vegan Braised Bell Pepper – brown rice and tomato coulis
- Pork Cordon Bleu – ham, Gouda, green peas, carrots, and Lyonnaise
- Roasted Chicken – French fries and apple sauce
- Salmon Fillet with Bay Shrimp – saffron risotto and fennel
The variety is useful for groups where some passengers want to experience the Dutch Dinner theme while others prefer more traditional cruise dining choices.
Premium Entrées Available for an Extra Charge
The photographed menu also includes three premium entrées carrying an additional charge.
A 15-ounce Pinnacle Grill Boneless Ribeye is available for $20. It comes with shallot confit, aged balsamic, green peppercorn, baked potato, and creamed spinach.
Two seafood selections are identified as being by Iron Chef Morimoto:
- Steamed Fresh Alaskan Halibut – $25
- Broiled Lobster Tails – $25
The halibut comes with premium Hong Kong XO sauce and seasonal vegetables, while the lobster tails are served with yuzu butter and roasted garlic mashed potatoes.
These are optional upgrades rather than part of the standard complimentary entrée selection.
Holland America Dutch Dinner Desserts
Dessert brings another mixture of Dutch influence and familiar favorites.
The menu shows:
- Crème Brûlée – burnt sugar
- Tompouce – puff pastry, vanilla custard, and royal icing
- Apple Pie – vanilla ice cream
- Lindt Chocolate Tulip – chocolate cream and flourless chocolate sponge
- Lindt Hot Chocolate Fudge Sundae – vanilla ice cream, chocolate chunks, and stroopwafel
Tompouce is one of the most recognizably Dutch selections on the dessert menu. The layered pastry is a well-known treat in the Netherlands and fits naturally with the Dutch Dinner theme.
The hot chocolate fudge sundae also incorporates stroopwafel, another food closely associated with the Netherlands.
After-Dinner Drinks and Coffee
Passengers wanting to finish the meal with a drink have several choices.
The photographed menu lists:
- Disaronno Amaretto – $10.50
- Highland Park Single Malt – $13
- Remy Martin VSOP – $17
- Graham’s 6 Grapes Port – $13
- Solo Espresso – $2.75
- Cappuccino – $3.75
These drinks carry separate prices on the menu.
Vegetarian, Gluten-Friendly and No-Sugar-Added Choices
The menu uses symbols to identify certain dietary selections.
The Westland Salad is marked gluten friendly, as is the Bay Shrimp Cocktail. The Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms and Crème Brûlée are also identified as gluten-friendly selections.
The Vegan Braised Bell Pepper is marked as the vegetarian choice.
Apple Pie is identified as no sugar added.
Passengers with allergies or specific dietary requirements should still speak with the onboard dining team rather than relying solely on menu symbols.
Is Holland America Dutch Dinner Included?
The standard selections on the Dutch Dinner menu are served as part of the Dining Room dinner experience.
The menu clearly separates the premium surcharge entrées, including the $20 Pinnacle Grill Boneless Ribeye and the two $25 Morimoto seafood selections.
Cocktails, wines, specialty coffees, and after-dinner drinks also display individual prices and may be covered depending on the passenger’s beverage package.
Holland America’s Dutch Day
Dutch Dinner is part of Holland America Line’s broader celebration of its roots in the Netherlands.
The cruise line introduced an expanded Dutch Day experience across its cruises in 2024. Holland America has described the day as an opportunity to celebrate Dutch culinary traditions and the company’s heritage.
The celebration extends beyond dinner. Depending on the current onboard program, Dutch-themed food and experiences can appear elsewhere around the ship, and Holland America connects its popular Orange Party with the Dutch heritage celebration.
Passengers interested in participating should check their current Holland America daily program or onboard schedule because the timing of events can vary by sailing.
Is the Dutch Dinner Menu the Same on Every Cruise?
Passengers should use this photographed menu as a guide rather than assuming every future Dutch Dinner will be identical.
Cruise line menus can change, individual ingredients can be substituted, pricing can be adjusted, and specific dishes may differ by ship, itinerary, or sailing.
However, several dishes photographed here — including Bami Goreng, Hodge Podge Klapstuk, Dutch-style pea soup, and Dover sole — are also dishes Holland America has specifically promoted as part of its Dutch Dinner experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dutch Dinner on Holland America Line?
Dutch Dinner is a themed Dining Room dinner celebrating Holland America Line’s Dutch heritage. It includes Dutch-inspired dishes alongside familiar international and cruise dining selections.
Is Holland America Dutch Dinner free?
The standard Dining Room selections are included as part of the normal dinner experience. The photographed menu also contains premium entrées with additional charges, as well as separately priced alcoholic beverages and specialty coffees.
What are the most Dutch dishes on the menu?
Notable themed selections include Bami Goreng, Hodge Podge Klapstuk, Green Pea Soup, Westland Salad, Bay Shrimp Cocktail, and Tompouce.
What is Hodge Podge Klapstuk?
On this Holland America menu, Hodge Podge Klapstuk consists of braised beef brisket with carrots, potatoes, onions, and gravy.
What is Bami Goreng on Holland America?
The photographed menu describes Bami Goreng as a dish with egg, chicken, shrimp saté, peanut sauce, and krupuk shrimp crackers.
Does Holland America Dutch Dinner have vegetarian food?
Yes. The photographed menu includes a Vegan Braised Bell Pepper served with brown rice and tomato coulis.
Are there steak and lobster upgrades?
Yes. This menu offers a 15-ounce Pinnacle Grill Boneless Ribeye for $20 and Broiled Lobster Tails for $25. A Steamed Fresh Alaskan Halibut entrée is also available for $25.
What desserts are served at Holland America Dutch Dinner?
The photographed menu includes Crème Brûlée, Tompouce, Apple Pie, Lindt Chocolate Tulip, and a Lindt Hot Chocolate Fudge Sundae with stroopwafel.
Does Dutch Dinner happen on every Holland America cruise?
Holland America introduced Dutch Day across its cruises, with a special Dutch Dinner in the Dining Room serving as one of the central culinary experiences.
Should I wear orange to Dutch Dinner?
Holland America connects its Dutch heritage celebrations with the Orange Party and encourages guests to wear orange for that event. Passengers should check the daily program for the schedule and dress suggestions on their particular sailing.
Conclusion
Holland America’s Dutch Dinner is more than a themed menu. It is a direct connection to the cruise line’s Dutch heritage, combining traditional and Dutch-influenced dishes with enough familiar choices that passengers do not have to be adventurous to enjoy the evening.
For passengers who want to lean into the theme, dishes such as Green Pea Soup, Bami Goreng, Hodge Podge Klapstuk, and Tompouce provide some of the most distinctive choices. Those who prefer familiar favorites can choose from beef tenderloin, Dover sole, roasted chicken, salmon, Caesar salad, and crème brûlée.
The photographed menu also makes the pricing clear for optional upgrades, with a $20 Pinnacle Grill ribeye and $25 premium seafood entrées available alongside the included dinner selections.
For anyone planning a Holland America cruise, Dutch Dinner is one of the line’s more distinctive Dining Room menus and a culinary reminder of the history and traditions that continue to shape the Holland America experience.
