St Maarten-St Martin
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Amsterdam Cheese And Liquor Store

Over 50 Dutch cheeses, rare spirits, and tastings with a cheese master near the Philipsburg cruise port.

retail
Dutch cheese specialty spirits tastings unique souvenirs cruise passengers

Why Go

Sint Maarten's Dutch heritage shows up in unexpected places — like a family-owned cheese shop on Emma Plein stocking over 50 varieties of Gouda alongside unique spirits, South African wines, and almond cookies you will not find anywhere else on the island. Since 2013, Amsterdam Cheese And Liquor Store has turned a niche concept into a cruise-port favorite where tastings replace the usual hard sell.

The Experience

Step inside and the aroma hits first — wheels and wedges of Henri Willig Gouda in every variation imaginable: smoked, aged, truffle, pesto, lavender, coconut, and classic. A cheese master offers tastings and can walk you through pairings with the wine and spirit selection. Beyond cheese, the shelves carry rums, liqueurs, and spirits chosen for being unavailable elsewhere on-island — bottles that make genuine conversation pieces back home. South African wines add another dimension rarely found in Caribbean retail. Almond cookies, pastries, and fun souvenir items round out the inventory. The duty-free pricing means you are paying less than you would for equivalent Henri Willig products in Amsterdam.

What to Try

Start with a guided cheese tasting — the smoked Gouda, truffle Gouda, and aged variants show the range of what Dutch cheese can do. Pair a wheel of your favorite with a bottle of South African red for a villa picnic that costs less than a restaurant meal. The unique spirits and liqueurs — things you have genuinely never seen before — make gifts that stand out from the usual rum-and-hot-sauce souvenir bag.

Insider Tip

The Emma Plein location is right near Jump Up Casino and Diamond Casino, making it easy to combine with a Philipsburg entertainment evening. Opens at 8:30 AM on cruise days, and sometimes opens Sundays when ships are in port — check before assuming they are closed.

The Practical Stuff

Located at 1 Emma Plein, Philipsburg (Dutch side). Mid-range pricing ($$). Open Mon-Sat 8:30 AM - 5 PM. May open Sundays when cruise ships are in port. Tastings available — just ask. Vacuum-sealed cheese packaging available for travel.

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