However, the more aggressive Adams took charge in the third and led 9-6 going into the fourth, before controlling a bruising closer.
Adams had been the first English female boxer to win a medal at a major tournament when she won European silver in 2007, and has since collected two silvers at world level, but this was her first taste of gold in a major tournament.
And having not won a European medal since Adams in 2007, England ended the week in Rotterdam with a best-ever haul of four.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed,” Adams told BBC Sport’s Jess Creighton., external “It’s still sinking in, what I’ve achieved tonight. This gold medal will go towards my ranking points for the (Olympic) qualifiers.
“I said before the tournament I was hoping to get gold. I was determined and would not be denied and I’m bringing this gold back to England. I was down after the first round but, again, I was determined.
“There was no way France was going to win, I wanted it too much.
“This is the most medals England have ever had at a European Championships, so it’s great to come back with four medals – couldn’t ask for anything better than that really.”
Adams’ fellow Olympic hopefuls, light-welterweight (64kg) Natasha Jonas and middleweight (75kg) Savannah Marshall, had already won bronze medals following defeats in Friday’s semi-finals.
The three Olympic weight categories in women’s boxing are flyweight, middleweight and lightweight. Six boxers travelled to Rotterdam representing England and all but Whiteside are also members of Great Britain Boxing’s Olympic squad, external.