The Craziest Things Ever Found Inside Dutch Bitterballen

Dutch cuisine has a few beloved staples, and one of the most famous is the bitterbal. This deep-fried, crispy, golden-brown snack, filled with a creamy ragout-like interior, is a staple of Dutch bars and snack bars. Traditionally made with beef or veal, these little balls of joy are often dipped in mustard and enjoyed alongside a cold beer. But like any popular dish, there are always those who take experimentation to the next level. Over the years, some daring chefs and pranksters have stuffed their bitterballen with the most bizarre, surprising, and even questionable fillings. Here are some of the wildest things ever found inside Dutch bitterballen.

1. Chocolate and Chili Bitterballen

A chef in Amsterdam decided to fuse the world of snacks with the world of desserts by incorporating a spicy chocolate ganache into bitterballen. The result? A mix of crispy, gooey, sweet, and spicy, all in one bite. Some people loved the unexpected combination of creamy chocolate with a fiery kick, while others found it too disorienting for their taste buds.

2. Herring Bitterballen

Raw herring is a Dutch delicacy often enjoyed with onions and pickles, but someone took things too far by stuffing a bitterbal with herring ragout. The warm, fishy interior was not exactly what unsuspecting customers expected when biting into what they thought was a normal bitterbal. The result? A social media storm, where opinions ranged from “an insult to bitterballen” to “a genius seafood innovation.”

3. Gummy Bears Bitterballen

One snack bar in Rotterdam decided to test the boundaries of sweet and savory by stuffing bitterballen with melted gummy bears. The gelatinous, overly sweet filling contrasted sharply with the crispy exterior, leading to many horrified reactions. While it gained some attention as a novelty food stunt, the gummy bear bitterbal never quite made it to mainstream menus.

4. Peanut Butter and Jelly Bitterballen

In an attempt to cater to nostalgic childhood flavors, one experimental chef introduced PB&J bitterballen. The creamy peanut butter mixed with fruit preserves oozed out when bitten into, creating a strange yet oddly comforting experience. It was a hit among some adventurous eaters but deeply confusing to those expecting a savory meat filling.

5. Wasabi and Tuna Bitterballen

Inspired by sushi, a chef in Utrecht filled bitterballen with a wasabi-infused tuna mixture. While sushi lovers appreciated the fusion, traditionalists were outraged at the idea of warm tuna inside a Dutch snack. Nonetheless, the combination found some popularity among foodies who enjoyed the unexpected heat from the wasabi.

6. Bitterballen with Surstromming

For those unfamiliar, surströmming is a notoriously pungent Swedish fermented fish that is known for its overpowering smell. One bold chef decided to mix this into a bitterbal filling, leading to reactions ranging from disgust to complete horror. Even opening the deep-fried snack released a powerful aroma that cleared rooms. Needless to say, it did not last long on the menu.

7. Truffle and Gold Leaf Bitterballen

On the opposite end of the spectrum, a Michelin-starred restaurant in The Hague introduced a luxury version of the snack, filling it with black truffle-infused ragout and covering it with edible gold leaf. This extravagant version of the traditional street food was met with mixed reviews—some called it an unnecessary gimmick, while others enjoyed the rich, earthy flavor combined with the visual appeal.

8. Insect Bitterballen

As sustainability becomes a bigger focus in the food industry, some experimental chefs have turned to insects as an alternative protein source. A food truck in Eindhoven served bitterballen filled with mealworms and crickets, ground into a rich, meaty ragout. Some diners were surprisingly pleased with the nutty, umami flavor, while others were simply too squeamish to take a bite.

9. Nutella and Bacon Bitterballen

Sweet and salty lovers got a treat when a bar in Amsterdam decided to fill their bitterballen with a Nutella-bacon mixture. The gooey, chocolate-hazelnut spread combined with crispy, salty bacon made for an intense flavor experience. Some found it addictive, while others were left questioning why anyone would mess with such a classic dish.

10. Spaghetti and Meatball Bitterballen

An Italian-Dutch fusion experiment resulted in bitterballen stuffed with a miniature version of spaghetti and meatballs. When bitten into, tomato sauce and tiny pasta strands spilled out, making for an incredibly messy, yet oddly nostalgic eating experience. While innovative, this version was hard to eat cleanly and didn’t quite catch on.

The Bottom Line

Bitterballen are beloved for a reason—their crispy exterior and creamy, savory filling make them the perfect snack. While some of these wacky innovations have been met with praise, others have left diners horrified. Whether it’s a luxurious truffle bitterbal, an insect-based eco-experiment, or an outright prank like the surströmming filling, one thing is clear: Dutch cuisine still has plenty of room for creative (and sometimes questionable) innovation.

Would you dare to try one of these bizarre bitterballen, or do you prefer to stick with the traditional beef version? Let us know what you think!