Breakfast lovers short on time
You want to be able to grab something straight away in the morning. You can top a rusk immediately; bread takes less effort at that moment if you’ve portioned it in advance.
Who is this choice for?
Breakfast lovers who check the label
You’re looking for a wholemeal base in particular and want to know whether baker’s salt has been used in the bread. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the term sourdough alone doesn’t tell you whether bread is wholemeal, and bakers don’t have to use baker’s salt.
Fans of a sweet breakfast
You want to keep using chocolate sprinkles, while assessing the bread or rusk base and your chosen variety of sprinkles separately.
What should you look for when choosing?
Wholemeal sourdough bread
Choose this if: you want a wholemeal bread base with a sourdough flavour and can portion the loaf in advance.
Bear in mind: fresh bread needs a little planning so you can use it in time or freeze it.
Dutch rusks with chocolate sprinkles
Choose this if: you mainly want a crisp base that you can top without having to prepare bread.
Bear in mind: rusks and chocolate sprinkles are separate choices; rusks don’t offer the flavour and texture of sourdough bread.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Ready for breakfast straight away | Check whether the bread is already sliced and whether you can portion it in advance. You can top rusks straight away. | If there’s little time to prepare in the morning, I want to be able to grab a base and top it straight away. Convenience comes first for around 40% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and baker’s salt | Check the wholemeal label and ingredients; if you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask what salt has been used. | I want to choose wholemeal sourdough bread without assuming what it contains from the word sourdough. I also want to know whether baker’s salt has been used; for around 30% of consumers, checking the label is the main priority. |
| Sweet toppings | Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for your chosen chocolate sprinkles, separately from those of the base. | The flavour of the chocolate sprinkles makes breakfast appealing to me, but I also want to check the ingredients in the topping separately. This flavour choice matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Storage | Choose a suitable loaf size or freeze portions; follow the storage instructions on the packet for rusks. | If I don’t eat bread every day, I want to avoid having a whole loaf left over. Suitable storage is the deciding factor for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming sourdough means wholemeal
Sourdough refers to how the bread is made, not necessarily to the flour used. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that sourdough bread can be made from different grains.
Look for the wholemeal label separately on the packet and check the ingredients if that kind of base is important to you.
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Assuming all bread provides iodine
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So choosing sourdough doesn’t tell you what salt is in a particular loaf.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt on packaged bread, or ask your baker.
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Only checking the chocolate sprinkles
The flavour of the topping tells you nothing about the ingredients in the rusk or bread underneath. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also points out that sweet toppings can contain sugar, salt and/or saturated fat.
Check the nutritional information for the topping, then choose a base to suit your preference for wholemeal, sourdough or convenience.
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Buying a whole loaf without a storage plan
If you only eat sourdough bread occasionally, an opened loaf could be left out for longer than you intended. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal sourdough bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days.
Choose a suitable size or freeze the bread in portions, and follow the storage instructions on the packet.
Brands to compare
De Ruijter
A brand to look at if you want to choose between different flavours and types of chocolate topping.
- Albert Heijn lists De Ruijter milk and dark chocolate sprinkles, as well as chocolate flakes.
- Choosing chocolate sprinkles doesn’t tell you whether the bread or rusks underneath are wholemeal.
Venz
A chocolate sprinkles brand with a range of chocolate varieties.
- Jumbo lists Venz milk, dark and white chocolate sprinkles.
- Compare the latest ingredients and nutritional information for each variety; the brand name alone doesn’t tell you what’s in them.
Albert Heijn
A supermarket where you can look at rusks and chocolate sprinkles as separate parts of your breakfast.
- Its range includes own-brand wholemeal rusks and De Ruijter chocolate toppings.
- Check the packet for the latest product information when you buy.
Jumbo
A supermarket with a range of rusks and sourdough bread baked fresh in store.
- Jumbo lists plain, wholemeal and high-fibre rusks, as well as varieties with grains and seeds.
- According to Jumbo, sourdough loaves baked in store aren’t available to order online.
Lidl
An in-store option if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal sourdough bread.
- Lidl describes its rustic wholemeal sourdough bread as wholemeal wheat sourdough bread.
- Lidl lists this bread as available in store only; check the ingredients on the packet.
Aldi
A supermarket where you can look at wholemeal bread and own-brand chocolate sprinkles separately if sourdough isn’t essential.
- ALDI lists extra-high-fibre wholemeal bread and Kiekeboe dark chocolate sprinkles.
- If you’re specifically looking for sourdough, check the latest label on the bread you choose.
Dutch rusks and chocolate sprinkles at Joybuy
These products suit the rusk and choose-your-own-sprinkles option: the first two are wholemeal rusks, while the other three are different varieties of chocolate sprinkles. For a breakfast combination, choose a base and topping separately.
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Bolletje wholemeal rusks, 13 pieces
A wholemeal rusk base you can top straight away.
Pack of 13. If you’re specifically looking for sourdough or baker’s salt, check the ingredients for this variety.
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Bolletje dark wholemeal rusks, 10 pieces
A dark wholemeal rusk option for anyone who wants a base they can top straight away.
Pack of 10. Check the ingredients if sourdough or baker’s salt is important to your choice.
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De Ruijter Intense dark chocolate sprinkles, 200 g
Dark chocolate sprinkles for anyone who wants to add their own sweet topping to bread or rusks.
200 g pack. Check the latest label for ingredients and allergens.
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De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g
Dark chocolate sprinkles for a breakfast where you choose the rusk or bread base separately.
390 g pack. Check the latest label if the ingredients or allergens are important to your choice.
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g'woon dark chocolate sprinkles, 400 g
Dark chocolate sprinkles to enjoy with your choice of bread or rusks.
400 g pack. Check the nutritional information and allergens on the latest label.
Frequently asked questions
Is sourdough bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, sourdough bread can be made from different grains. Check the wholemeal label and ingredients if you specifically want a wholemeal bread base.
Does all sourdough bread contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell from the word sourdough. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients on packaged bread or ask about unpackaged bread.
How can I keep sourdough bread ready for a quick breakfast?
Portion the bread in advance and freeze any you won’t use soon. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal sourdough bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days; also follow the instructions on the packet.
Where can I check for allergens in bread, rusks and chocolate sprinkles?
Always read the latest label on packaged products, and ask for allergen information about unpackaged products. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.