For a traveller having one snack break
Want to take one biscuit or a small biscuit with you without opening a larger pack? Look for ‘individually wrapped’ and check how many biscuits are actually in each wrapper.
Which portion works best for you?
For a traveller who wants two biscuits at once
A sealed twin pack could work for a snack break with two biscuits. The biscuits share a wrapper, as with the Lotus Biscoff XL pack described by Jumbo.
For a traveller checking ingredients and allergens
Before eating, read the label for the exact variant you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says relevant allergens must be listed on the label of pre-packed foods.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how many biscuits you want to open during each part of your journey. Then work out whether you need a wrapper for each biscuit, or whether a twin pack or sharing pack will do.
Individually wrapped
When: you want to open one portion and keep the others sealed.
Trade-off: individual wrappers also mean more packaging to throw away.
Pack of two biscuits
When: two biscuits make up one snack break.
Trade-off: once opened, you won’t have one biscuit left in its own sealed wrapper.
Larger sharing pack
When: you want to share your biscuits or prepare your own portions in advance.
Trade-off: once opened, check the pack for instructions on how to store any leftover biscuits.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Look for ‘individually wrapped’ and count the biscuits in each wrapper; ‘on the go’ doesn’t tell you how many there are. | If you only want to open one biscuit, you’ll want to keep the next portion sealed in your bag. Around 36% of consumers prioritise individual portions. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label for your chosen variant, including the ingredients, allergens and any cross-contamination warnings. | If the ingredients determine my choice, I look beyond the front of the pack. This label check is a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Portion size | Check how many biscuits are in each sachet: one per pack and two per pack are different portion sizes. | On a longer journey, I might want two biscuits at once without opening a whole sharing pack. Portion size is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Rubbish on the journey | Think about where you’ll keep empty wrappers until you can throw them away. | If you have little room for loose wrappers while travelling, consider the packaging you’ll have to dispose of after your snack. This is the biggest consideration for around 14% of consumers; NS asks passengers to put rubbish in the bin. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘packed in pairs’ means ‘individually wrapped’
You’ll open two biscuits at once, when you might have wanted to keep one sealed for later.
Check how many biscuits are in each sachet. Jumbo says Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10 contains ten sachets, each with two biscuits.
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Relying on a nutritional or dietary claim instead of checking the label
A claim about one product feature doesn’t automatically tell you which ingredients and allergens are in the variant you’ve chosen.
Check the current ingredients list and allergen information for that variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on the label of pre-packed foods.
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Relying on the product page alone
What matters is the pack you actually take with you, including the condition of its individual wrappers.
When it arrives, check the label, best-before date and that the packaging is intact.
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Leaving loose wrappers on the train
With individually wrapped portions, you’ll have wrappers to clear away after eating. NS asks passengers to put rubbish in the bin.
Keep an empty wrapper until you can throw it away; take a small rubbish bag if you need one.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
An option if you’re happy for two biscuits to make up one sealed portion.
- Jumbo lists Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10 as ten sachets, each containing two biscuits.
- This variant won’t suit you if you specifically want one wrapper per biscuit.
Goud Gebakken
Koekhappers for anyone who wants to take one individually wrapped biscuit.
- ALDI Netherlands lists six individually wrapped biscuits for the Koekhappers variants mentioned.
- Check which variant you’re buying; the product listing includes several versions.
Peijnenburg
Breakfast cake if you’d rather take an individually wrapped slice than a biscuit.
- Jumbo explicitly describes the Peijnenburg plain breakfast cake 4-pack as ‘individually wrapped’.
- Check the label for this variant if ingredients or allergens matter to your choice.
Bonne Maman
Mini tarts for anyone looking for an individually wrapped tartlet.
- Albert Heijn lists nine individually wrapped Bonne Maman Tartelettes citron.
- Check the best-before date on the pack you take with you.
Biscotto
Chocolate biscuits for anyone who wants to open two at a time as one portion.
- ALDI Netherlands lists its Biscotto chocolate biscuits as packed in pairs.
- ‘Packed in pairs’ doesn’t mean each biscuit has its own wrapper.
Biscuits to browse on Joybuy
These biscuits come in different pack formats for an on-the-go snack. For each variant, check how many biscuits you’ll open at once. You can plan your portion in advance only when the number in each inner pack is clear.
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Ulker Halley Mini Biscuit 3x77g
An option if you’re looking for mini biscuits for several snack breaks. The product name lists 3x77g; check the pack to see how many biscuits are in each inner pack, and read the allergen information.
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Garden Wafer Biscuits Coconut Flavour 200g
A coconut wafer to consider if you’d like to take wafers as a travel snack. The product name lists 200g; check whether there are inner packs, how many wafers they contain and what the current allergen information says.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits 150 g
Worth considering if you’re looking for milk chocolate biscuits and two at a time would make a good snack. The product name lists 150 g; check whether this variant is packed in pairs, as that’s different from having a wrapper for each biscuit.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas Cookies 8 pcs, 200 g
A speculaas biscuit to consider if you want to divide your biscuits between several snack breaks. The product name lists 8 pcs and 200 g; check the inner packaging before assuming the biscuits are individually wrapped.
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Oreo Raspberry & Blueberry Flavor Sandwich Cookies 97g, 2 individual packs
An option if you want to take two separate packs with you. The product name lists 97g and two individual packs; check how many biscuits are in each pack, as two packs don’t automatically mean one wrapper per biscuit.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if each biscuit is individually wrapped?
Count how many biscuits are in each wrapper or sachet. ‘Individually wrapped’ means each portion is separate, whereas the Lotus Biscoff XL pack described by Jumbo contains two biscuits per sachet.
Should I read the allergen information even if the biscuits are wrapped?
Yes, read the label for the specific variant you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says relevant allergens must be listed on the label of pre-packed foods; an individual wrapper doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients.
What if a wrapper is damaged?
Don’t treat a damaged or open wrapper as a sealed portion without checking it first. Inspect the product and follow the instructions on the packaging; a best-before date alone won’t tell you whether the wrapper is intact.