Christmas market host looking to serve something soft
An eierkoek is a handy choice if you want to offer a soft biscuit to eat by hand or use as the base for a small winter snack. Be sure to consider the size of each biscuit.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Label-conscious biscuit shopper
If you’re comparing eierkoeken and digestive biscuits by ingredients or nutritional value, the information for each variety is more useful than the category name. Check details such as wholemeal flour, fibre, sugars and serving size.
Seller of unpackaged biscuits
If you’re selling biscuits from a Christmas market stall, customers need to know which allergens they contain. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority has rules on this for unpackaged food.
What should you look for when choosing?
Soft eierkoek
Ideal for: serving straight from the hand or using as the base for a snack.
Bear in mind: the eierkoeken reviewed vary in fibre content and list allergens such as wheat, egg, milk or soya; check the specific variety you choose.
Digestive biscuit
Ideal for: anyone who prefers to serve a crunchy biscuit and compare varieties made with wholemeal flour or with different fibre contents.
Bear in mind: a digestive biscuit won’t automatically suit every dietary requirement. The AH wholemeal digestive reviewed contains wheat; check the other ingredients and nutritional information on the label too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Texture and serving | Choose carefully between a soft eierkoek, a crisp variety and a crunchy digestive biscuit. | For my stall, I want a biscuit that suits how I hand it out or finish it as a snack; for around 29% of consumers, the way it’s served would be the top priority. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the allergen list and any warnings about possible traces; if selling unpackaged, make the information available to customers. | If I’m selling unpackaged biscuits, I want to know exactly which ingredients and allergens apply to each variety; for around 29% of consumers, this information would be their first consideration. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre, sugars, fat and energy per 100 g and per serving; check the packaging separately for any listed ingredients or nutritional claims. | I want to weigh up the fibre content against the rest of the nutritional value in my serving; for around 24% of consumers, this would be the main reason for choosing. |
| Packaging and availability | Check the number of biscuits, the best-before date and whether the variety you want is currently available. | If I’m buying for a group, I want to know how many biscuits I can hand out and whether I can get the same pack in time; for around 18% of consumers, packaging and availability would be deciding factors. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming the name ‘digestive’ tells you about nutritional value
The AH wholemeal digestive lists 6 g of fibre, but also 18 g of fat and 460 kcal per 100 g. Fibre content alone doesn’t tell you what you’ll get in a serving.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then consider how much you’ll actually serve.
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Assuming all eierkoeken contain the same allergens
The eierkoeken reviewed list different combinations of wheat, egg, milk and soya. Bolletje also warns that its Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel may contain nuts and sesame.
Use the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety you’re serving, including any relevant warnings about possible traces.
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Mistaking a temporary supermarket listing for Christmas stock
Lidl listed its eierkoeken as a special buy in stores from 5 to 11 October 2026. This doesn’t tell you whether they’ll be available when the Christmas market takes place.
Check that your chosen variety is available shortly before you buy, and allow time to find an alternative if you need a larger quantity.
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Serving unpackaged biscuits without accessible allergen information
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, customers must be able to get information about the 14 designated allergens in unpackaged food.
Keep the product information available at your stall and check the requirements if you plan to provide it verbally.
Brands and supermarket own-label options
Albert Heijn
The Albert Heijn product ranges reviewed include regular and wholemeal eierkoeken and digestive biscuits.
- The AH wholemeal eierkoek lists 3.5 g of fibre per 100 g, compared with 1.4 g for the regular variety.
- The AH digestive biscuits reviewed are labelled vegan and lactose-free, but contain wheat. Check the current packaging of the variety you buy.
Jumbo
The Jumbo product range reviewed includes regular and wholemeal eierkoeken.
- The regular variety is listed as a pack of 4 weighing 300 g; the wholemeal variety reviewed lists 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Both varieties reviewed list allergens including gluten, egg, milk and soya.
Bolletje
Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel is a crisp, spiced variety with a milk coating, rather than the same soft texture as a regular eierkoek.
- Bolletje describes this variety as crisp, thanks to its light, whipped batter, with cinnamon and a milk coating.
- The ingredients and allergen information lists wheat, egg, soya and milk, as well as possible traces of nuts and sesame.
Verkade
Verkade Verk digestive puur is a digestive biscuit with a chocolate coating.
- The product information reviewed lists 4.2 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The same variety lists 24 g of fat and 495 kcal per 100 g. Check current availability if you’re looking for this particular pack.
Heerlijck Banket
ALDI Nederland lists free-range eierkoeken from Heerlijck Banket.
- The listed pack contains 12 biscuits with a total weight of 360 g.
- For nutritional and allergen information, check the packaging of the biscuits you actually buy.
Lidl
Lidl listed a pack of 12 eierkoeken as a limited-time in-store item.
- Knowing the number of biscuits in the pack helps you plan portions for a stall.
- The in-store period of 5 to 11 October 2026 doesn’t guarantee later availability; check the packaging for ingredients and allergens too.
Digestive biscuits at Joybuy
This product selection suits the digestive biscuit option: a biscuit to serve with coffee or tea, for example. If you’re choosing mainly for nutritional value or allergens, compare the label with your requirements.
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McVities Digestive Original 400 g
A digestive biscuit for anyone who’d rather serve a biscuit with coffee or tea than a soft eierkoek.
Pack weight: 400 g. Before serving, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
For this variety, Joybuy recommends storing it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Frequently asked questions
Are eierkoeken and digestive biscuits automatically gluten-free?
No. The eierkoeken and digestive biscuits reviewed list wheat or cereals containing gluten. The AH digestive biscuits labelled vegan and lactose-free also contain wheat, so always read the label for the exact variety.
Do I need to provide allergen information for unpackaged biscuits at a Christmas market?
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, customers must be able to get information about the 14 designated allergens in unpackaged food. Keep this information available where you’re selling the biscuits, and check the requirements if you plan to provide it verbally.
How should I store eierkoeken and digestive biscuits for my stall?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you choose. For McVities Digestive Original, Joybuy recommends a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight; also check the packaging and date before serving.
Does a wholemeal digestive biscuit always have fewer calories than an eierkoek?
No. The AH wholemeal digestive reviewed lists 460 kcal and 18 g of fat per 100 g, compared with 301 kcal and 3.4 g of fat per 100 g for the AH wholemeal eierkoek reviewed. The digestive does contain more fibre—6 g per 100 g compared with 3.5 g—but you should also compare the serving you plan to offer.