Natalie, the creator behind Natalieats, started her content journey after a torn ACL gave her the time to rediscover her passion for food photography. What began as a fun way to share her favorite dining spots in Amsterdam quickly evolved into a thriving community. By creating engaging reels and exploring unique local food experiences, Natalieats has turned her love for food into a powerful way to connect with the city’s vibrant culinary scene.
When did Natalieats started journey as a content creator?
I started my content creation journey a year ago, when I tore my ACL and I was looking for something to do when I was healing and could not walk. I have always taken so many photos of food since I love it so much, so I started posting old photos and realized how fun it was to connect to other foodies in a new way in Amsterdam, and then when I started creating reels early this year the account really took off!
I’m very driven by my passion for food, especially discovering unique and authentic dining experiences having lived here for 7 years it’s such a fun new way to discover the city and I’ve met such amazing people I would not have met before.
What began as casual sharing of my favorite spots turned into a way to connect with a community of food lovers, and I love that I get to highlight the stories of the amazing local community around me.
How has Amsterdam’s food scene evolved over the past decade, and what trends have shaped this transformation
Amsterdam’s food scene has become so dynamic over the past decade! We’ve seen a shift from traditional Dutch cuisine to a more global palate.
There’s been a rise in plant-based restaurants, street food-inspired dishes, and a huge focus on sustainability and local ingredients. People are now more experimental, and that’s reflected in the number of fusion restaurants popping up, blending flavors from all over the world while keeping local Dutch traditions alive.
How do Amsterdam’s chefs balance traditional Dutch cuisine with international influences? Can you give examples of dishes that illustrate this blend? Can you give examples of dishes that illustrate this blend?
Many chefs in Amsterdam creatively combine Dutch traditions with global flavors. For example, you’ll see “bitterballen” made with non-traditional fillings like truffle or asian twists. Another example is how Indonesian influences have blended into Dutch cuisine—Rijsttafel, a colonial-era Indonesian feast, is a staple in Amsterdam, but now you’ll see it in more modern and creative presentations, keeping the tradition but with a twist.
What is a favorite food you’ve always wanted to have?
I’ve always wanted to have more authentic Malaysian food here in Amsterdam because it’s where my mom is from, and I have such strong memories tied to the dishes from that region. Mee goreng, apam balik, asam laksa, nasi lemak, tori canal, hokkien mee—there’s so much to try, and I miss it all so much. While there are some options in Amsterdam, it’s hard to find places that truly capture those authentic flavors, and I would love to see more representation of Malaysian cuisine here.
How has globalization impacted traditional cuisines around the world? Are there any examples where fusion has enriched or diluted traditional dishes
Globalization has had a significant impact on traditional cuisines, and for me I always love trying new flavors so I’ve found them to be enriching. Fusion cuisine can bring exciting innovation, like Sakai cooks a supper club where a Japanese-Brazilian chef combines flavors from both backgrounds into new & exciting dishes in a beautiful and authentic way.
The only note is that sometimes some traditional dishes can lose their authenticity if they’re overly adapted for international palates; for example, the dutch palate is less favorable of spice, and I do miss spicy dishes while here – I’ve once had a place ask me where I’m from, and when I told them I was from Hong Kong they said I most likely wouldn’t like their food given they tone down the flavors for the dutch palate. It’s definitely a balance between keeping the essence of the cuisine while embracing new influences.
