Van Stapele Koekmakerij

Van Stapele Koekmakerij has built an international reputation by doing one thing exceptionally well. The bakery sells only a single type of cookie: a rich dark-chocolate cookie filled with a soft white-chocolate centre.

The recipe was created by Vera van Stapele in her Amsterdam kitchen in February 2013. Later that year, she opened a tiny shop in the Heisteeg. Demand eventually outgrew the original location, and in April 2024 Van Stapele moved to a larger shop at Rokin 17.

Fresh batches are baked continuously throughout the day. The cookie is crisp around the edges but remains soft and gooey inside, with the warm white-chocolate filling creating an indulgent contrast to the darker dough. Despite the bakery’s enormous popularity, no alternative flavours or seasonal variations have been added.

Cookies can be purchased individually or in the recognisable Van Stapele tin. There is no delivery service and advance orders are generally unavailable, so visiting the shop remains part of the experience.

Insider tip:
Visit on a weekday or between 10:00 and 12:00 to minimise your waiting time. The bakery guarantees cookie availability until 16:00, but closes once the final batch has sold. Eat your first cookie immediately for the ideal combination of crisp edges and a warm, melted centre.