For generous toppings at your Christmas get-together, wholegrain crispbread labelled ‘Robuust’ is a useful place to start, but the label doesn’t guarantee a particular thickness or strength. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information, and check the label for gluten, sesame and other allergens. Choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free if a guest needs one.
You’re looking for a crisp base for cheese, fish or spreads. The products sold as ‘Robuust’ by ALDI Netherlands and Jumbo are a useful place to start, but the name alone doesn’t tell you how much topping each piece can hold.
You also want to compare the ingredients and nutritional value of the crispbread itself. Check the grain, seeds and fibre per 100 g for each variety, as listed on the packaging.
You take gluten, sesame and other allergens into account when shopping. A gluten-free variety may still contain sesame, so check the label on every pack you serve.
Start with the toppings you plan to serve. Then check the ingredients and allergens for your guests, and only then decide which pack size is most convenient.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sturdiness with generous toppings | Use ‘Robuust’ as a search term, but also look at the pieces and packaging; the name doesn’t indicate thickness or strength. | If I want to pile toppings generously onto appetisers, I want pieces that stay whole when picked up and topped. For around 37% of consumers, sturdiness comes first. |
| Wholegrain, seeds and fibre | Compare the ingredients list and fibre per 100 g. Jumbo lists wholegrain rye flour and 20 g of fibre per 100 g for Wasa Volkoren; this doesn’t tell you how sturdy each piece is. | When I want the crispbread itself to add a distinctive grain or seed flavour, I look beyond the toppings. Around 27% of consumers give this profile top priority. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current packaging. For example, Wasa Gluten- & Lactosevrij Sesame & Sea Salt, as described by Jumbo, contains sesame. | If I need to consider what a guest can’t eat, a suitable label matters more than flavour or pack size. This is the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
| Packaging and availability | Check the net weight and where you can buy your chosen variety. Lidl Netherlands describes its listed crispbread varieties as available in store only. | If I’m putting together several sharing boards, I want to be able to buy enough of the same suitable variety. For around 18% of consumers, this practical planning is their main concern. |
The product names used by ALDI Netherlands and Jumbo don’t specify a measurable thickness or guaranteed strength. So you can’t tell from the term alone whether a piece is suitable for your toppings.
Check that the pieces are intact and, if necessary, try them with your chosen toppings beforehand. Add moist toppings just before serving.
Wasa Gluten- & Lactosevrij Sesame & Sea Salt, as described by Jumbo, contains sesame and states that the product may contain milk, mustard and soya.
Ask which allergens you need to consider for your guests, and check the current label on your chosen variety every time.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers in the Netherlands aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t assume a product contains iodised baker’s salt just because it’s crispbread.
If the type of salt used matters to you, check the label or ask the baker or manufacturer.
The range shown by Jumbo includes several Wasa varieties, including wholegrain rye and a gluten-free sesame option.
Jumbo stocks products including Bolletje Oerknäck Robuust Volkoren and light, airy crispbread varieties.
ALDI Netherlands describes both Robuust wholegrain crispbread with seeds and a separate sesame variety.
Albert Heijn stocks products including wholegrain crispbread and varieties with sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
Ryvita groups its rye crispbread, Thins and Crackerbread into separate product ranges.
These crispbread varieties are worth considering as a base for toppings or as a wholegrain option for your Christmas table. Don’t compare them based on assumed strength: if you’re adding generous toppings, first try the chosen piece with your topping to see how they work together.
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A variety to consider if you’re looking for a base for toppings at your Christmas get-together. If you’re adding generous or moist toppings, check for yourself that the pieces are suitable, and read the allergen information on the packaging.
Pack size: 215 g.
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A rye variety to compare if the ingredients in your crispbread base matter to you. The product name doesn’t tell you how well it will hold generous toppings, so check the current label too.
Pack size: 235 g.
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A wholegrain variety to consider if you’re buying crispbread for several Christmas appetisers. Check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging, and assess each piece separately to see whether it suits your toppings.
Pack size: 375 g.
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A wholegrain variety for anyone comparing bases for Christmas appetisers. Don’t confuse this product with Bolletje Oerknäck Robuust Volkoren: check the variety name, label and pieces before adding generous toppings.
Pack size: 265 g.
No. ‘Robuust’ is a useful search term, but it doesn’t specify thickness or strength. Check that the pieces are intact and, if necessary, try them with your chosen toppings beforehand. The product names used by ALDI Netherlands and Jumbo don’t guarantee sturdiness on their own.
No, there are varieties explicitly labelled gluten-free. Jumbo describes Wasa Volkoren as containing rye flour and Wasa Gluten- & Lactosevrij Sesame & Sea Salt as gluten-free; always check the current label for the variety you choose.
Not necessarily: Wasa Gluten- & Lactosevrij Sesame & Sea Salt, as described by Jumbo, contains sesame seeds. As well as checking that it’s labelled gluten-free, read the full allergen information on the packaging.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So don’t assume that all crispbread contains iodised baker’s salt; check the label or ask the baker or manufacturer.
Ideally, add the toppings just before serving, especially if you’re using moist spreads. That way, you can keep the pieces dry until then and check that they stay intact with your chosen toppings.
