Choose a snack box if you want to take a pre-portioned snack with you without any preparation: the AH Hamsterchef varieties we looked at each contain ten 14-gram boxes. If you’d rather decide how much to take, you could portion out PLUS Sultana raisins from a 375-gram bag before you leave. Check the ingredients and allergen information for each variety. Albert Heijn shops at Schiphol are located before security, but that doesn’t confirm that a particular fruit variety is in stock there. You’ll also need to check hand luggage rules and import regulations for your destination separately.
You want to take a small snack with you without weighing it at home or carrying an opened bag of fruit. Each of the AH Hamsterchef boxes we looked at contains 14 grams; Albert Heijn lists ten individual portions per pack.
You compare ingredients and allergens against your dietary requirements. The apple variety we looked at lists sulphites, so check the exact packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products.
You buy a larger bag, decide how much to take and portion it out before you leave. This gives you the freedom to choose your portion size, but it takes preparation and suitable packaging for your journey.
If you want to take one snack with you without any preparation, check the weight of each individual box. If you’d rather decide how much to take, compare larger packs and factor in the time needed to portion them out. The percentages below break down the main purchasing priorities for consumers considering dried fruit as a snack for a journey via Schiphol.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this more important to? |
|---|---|---|
| An individual portion | Check the number of inner packs and the weight in grams of each box. A larger bag isn’t automatically divided into portions. | If I want to take one snack with me without weighing it at home, a pre-portioned box suits my plans. Consumers who prioritise a ready-to-eat portion: around 36%. |
| Ingredients and dietary requirements | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety. Compare the sugars per 100 grams with the amount you plan to eat. | If ingredients or allergens determine my choice, I check each variety individually. Consumers who prioritise the label and their personal dietary requirements: around 29%. |
| When and where to shop at Schiphol | Check whether the shop is before security and whether the variety you want is available at that branch. | If I want to shop at the airport, the shop needs to fit my route and departure time. Consumers who prioritise being able to shop at a convenient time and place: around 21%. |
| Quantity and preparation | Compare the price per weight of the exact pack and consider whether you have time to portion it out yourself. | If I want to prepare several snacks, I weigh up the quantity against the extra work and the need for my own resealable packaging. Consumers who prioritise cost per quantity and portioning snacks themselves: around 14%. |
The AH Hamsterchef pack we looked at contains ten 14-gram portions; the PLUS stand-up pouch contains 375 grams and isn’t sold in individual inner packs. So the total weight alone doesn’t tell you how much you’ll take for each snack break.
Check the weight of each inner pack, or portion out a larger bag at home if you want individual servings.
For the plain AH Hamsterchef raisins we looked at, Albert Heijn lists 0 grams of added sugars, but 65 grams of total sugars per 100 grams.
Consider both the nutritional information per 100 grams and the amount you actually plan to eat.
The AH variety with raisins and apple we looked at lists sulphur dioxide and sulphites; the plain raisins have a different ingredients list.
Check the current packaging for the exact variety if ingredients or allergens affect your choice.
Schiphol’s hand luggage checks and your destination’s import rules are separate matters. The Dutch Government points out that rules vary from country to country.
Check the rules for your destination and any transit country before taking leftovers with you.
If the applicable import rules don’t allow it, you may have to hand over your snack when you arrive.
The Hamsterchef raisins we looked at are available in individual boxes; the apple variety has different ingredients and allergen information.
Jumbo’s range includes sultanas, dried apricots and dates in larger packs.
Lidl lists Belbake Raisins in a 750-gram pack as an in-store product.
ALDI Netherlands lists Trader Joe’s Raisins in a 500-gram pack.
PLUS Sultana raisins are listed in a 375-gram stand-up pouch. The product information lists raisins and sunflower oil as ingredients.
Dirk’s range includes sultanas, apricots and prunes in 375-gram packs.
A larger pack of dried dates for anyone who wants to put together their own portion to take on a journey.
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The product information says the dates are pitted and suitable as a snack; the 908 g pack is a larger pack, not an individual snack portion.
Schiphol distinguishes between food and liquid or spreadable food, which is subject to the liquids rules. A box of dry raisins isn’t liquid or spreadable food; always follow the instructions of security staff.
No. According to Schiphol, liquid and spreadable food is subject to the liquids rules. The airport states that containers must hold no more than 100 ml; this isn’t a maximum weight for boxes of dried fruit.
That depends on the rules of your destination country and, where relevant, any transit country. The Dutch Government stresses that countries have different import and export rules; being allowed through security doesn’t mean you’re allowed to import the food.
Schiphol lists one Albert Heijn and two Albert Heijn to go locations at Plaza before security, which visitors and passengers can access. Check the latest opening hours and ask about the exact fruit variety if needed, as the location listing doesn’t confirm product-specific stock.
No. Both packs we looked at contain ten 14-gram boxes, but the apple variety lists 70% raisins, 30% apple and sulphites. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you choose.
No. The 14 grams is the declared portion size of the AH boxes we looked at, not a general legal portion size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 grams of dried fruit per day; this isn’t a hand luggage rule.
