Maasdam cheese

Maasdam cheese (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmaːsdɑm]) is a Emmental-style Dutch cheese. Made from cow's milk, it is aged for at least four weeks. It ripens faster than other cheeses made in the Netherlands. Maasdam has internal voids, or holes from the ripening process,[2] and a smooth, yellow rind. Sometimes, it is waxed like Gouda is. The cheese was created to compete with Swiss Emmentaler cheeses by being less expensive and quicker to produce. In the process of making a cheese with the same general components as Swiss cheeses, the Dutch ended up with a cheese that is nutty and sweet, but softer than Emmental, due to a higher moisture content.

Maasdam
Country of origin	Netherlands
Source of milk	Cows
Pasteurised	Yes
Texture	Semihard
Fat content	45%[1]
Aging time	1–3 months
Named after	Maasdam
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

The style was introduced in 1984 by the Baars company as the trademarked Leerdammer cheese, although it is now made by other Dutch companies under the name Maasdammer. That name was selected to honor the village of Maasdam in the province of Zuid-Holland.

See also

• List of cheeses – list of cheeses by place of origin
•  Food portal

References

1. "Maasdam – A characteristic Dutch cheese". Cheese Partners Holland. Archived from the original on 29 Jul 2012.
2. "Veldhuyzen Maasdam Cheese". veldhuyzenkaas.nl. Retrieved 25 October 2020.