Amsterdam food festival on wheels - Rollende Keukens

Rollende Keukens Instagram

Rolling kitchens is the translations of Rollende Keukens. The annual food truck festival in Amsterdam now in its 11th year.

Trucks, pickups, vans, trailers, buses and any object with wheels and is dispensing yummy food and drinks descends on Amsterdam's Westerpark. 

Good fun, food and music. A great combination for 5 days in May. 

Best thing is the free entrance.

There is no entrance fee . Also, as it is a public park you can bring your own seats, drinks and even food. There is alcohol available at the festival but many people stop off at the local super markets to stock up on beer and wine.

If the weather is fine expect large crowds and long lines. Amsterdammers love this food festival.

Tips for families and foodies

Go early and go on the first days. Lines can get very long late in the afternoon and at the end of the day when Amsterdam's large student population wakes up and demonstrate their multiplying skills.  

2017 Foodie favorites

Each year the best food trucks are awarded with long lines and a write up in Amsterdam's number 1 daily news source Het Parool. In 2018 look out for those from Het Parool's - De Beste Foodtrucks van de Rollende Keukens 2017 (only in Dutch).

Here is an summary but keep in mind many vendors change and the list below may not be in 2018 edition of Rollende Keukens.

- Jamaican Food  - Jerk chicken need we say more

- Benny Blij - a small restaurant away from the crowds - fish soup and risotto was a 2017 hit

- La Pilseria - Spanish tapas with a beer tent feel

- L'Aubergine - vegetarian dips, grilled and smoked vegetables from a dark purple vehicle - of course

Here is our post from previous Rolling Kitchens Festival.

When: May 9 - 13 2018

Where: Westerpark or for your Uber Pazzanistraat 33, Amsterdam

Time: 13:00 - 23:00

Website: Rollende Keukens

Instagram: Rollende Keukens

Facebook: Rollende Keukens

Rolling Kitchens Festival at Amsterdam's Westergasfabriek

When in Amsterdam....once a year Kitchens roll into town. Food, music, drinks, food and more food is laid out at Amsterdam's Westergasfabriek. For four days starting Ascension Day  75 vans, caravans, trucks, buses, trailers create a large open air food court on wheels, a food lover's dream.

Rolling Kitchens entrance in Amsterdam

There was so much to choose from we didn't know where to start. The weather was great, the sun came out so we started with a plastic bag of lemon infused water from the lemon fairy.

Lemon Fairy at Rolling Kitchens, Amsterdam

The crowd was large and the lines for food long. We definitively saw what was popular by the length of the line. There was so much food from which to choose: Mexican tacos and ceviche, Thai curry, Moroccan, Vegan, sushi, wood fired pizza, burgers, pig on a spit, Surinam roti, Indian curry, Italian pasta....you see the problem we faced. What a good problem!

Rolling Kitchens at Amsterdam's Westerpark

We started with a Bara stuffed with Bacalao. This is a dish from Suriname. Bacalao is salted fish and it was warmed on the BBQ. The fish was topped with pickled cabbage and curry ketchup. Wow, the Bara was so fresh and crispy. The salted fish wonderful, the pickles spicy.

Bara with Bacaloa at Rolling Kitchens, Amsterdam

 Now we had food in our stomachs time for one of the long lines. There were some serious BBQs around so we went for the line with a big smoking BBQ.

Smoking BBQ at Rolling Kitchen's Amsterdam

Smokey Goodness BBQ stall in Amsterdam

Smoked BBQ pork roll with coleslaw was chosen. Also a home made ice tea was ordered. The smoked pork was lovely, soft and sweet with BBQ sauce. The ice tea was a hit especially to wash away the lingering spice of the Bara. However, the star of the show was the sunshine that warmed the crowd.

BBQ pork roll with Ice Tea

We walked around amazed by the different vehicles made into food dispensers.

Hungry again from looking at all the wheels, ravioli with ricotta and lemon was selected. No not a large size just a small size,please.

The sauce was a little salty but tasty. The lemon balanced the ricotta. The people serving were rocking, people eating and dancing at the same time.

Wonderful weather, great tasty food, pumping music, happy. We called it a day even though the outdoor movie was about to start. Thank you Mister Kitchen and Pacific Parc for organizing the event. Rolling home on two wheels with a full stomach was satisfying.

Rolling Kitchens runs from 1300 to 2300hrs, Thursday 17 May to Sunday 20 May at Amsterdam's Westergasfabriek.

On Sunday the last day of Rolling Kitchens coincides with the monthly Neighborfood Market. What a fantastic food weekend.

When in Amsterdam...enjoy!