For King's Day, choose a stroopwafel with a Fairtrade mark only once you’ve checked whether it applies to the finished product or to specific ingredients, such as sugar. Individually wrapped minis can make handing them out easier, but the bulk packs we looked at were listed as no longer available or as having been replaced. Before buying, check the certification mark, allergens and availability of the exact pack you want.
You want to be able to explain exactly what the Fairtrade mark on a King's Day treat refers to. For composite products, Fairtrade International distinguishes between marks that apply to the product and those that apply to specific ingredients sourced under Fairtrade terms.
You’re looking for individual portions for lots of people, whether at school or work. Check the number of pieces and the product status before relying on a bulk pack: the boxes described by Jumbo and Sligro were listed as no longer available and as having been replaced, respectively.
You want to check the ingredients in the stroopwafels you actually buy before handing them out. The mini stroopwafels described contained ingredients including wheat, milk, egg and soya, so check the label on the pack you choose.
When choosing stroopwafels for King's Day, your main concern will determine what to check first: what the certification mark means, how the treats are packaged, allergens or availability.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| What Fairtrade means | Check which mark appears on the pack and whether the wording refers to the finished product or to named ingredients. | I want to know what I can say about the Fairtrade status of my treat. An estimated 40% of consumers put this clarity first. |
| Serving and portions | Check the number of pieces and whether the stroopwafels are individually wrapped. | When I have lots of guests, I want to hand out portions without having to split them up first. Around 30% of consumers value ease of serving most. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re actually buying. | If someone needs to watch what they eat, I want to know which allergens the stroopwafels contain before handing them out. Roughly 20% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Availability | Check that the exact pack is still available and that any named replacement has the same features. | I want to buy what I need for my treat without relying on a product that has been replaced. Around 10% of consumers put availability first. |
According to Fairtrade International, marks on composite products can have different scopes. For its Fair Trade Original Mini Stroopwafels, Jumbo specifically named cane sugar and invert sugar syrup traded under Fairtrade terms; that alone doesn’t mean all the ingredients are Fairtrade.
Check the exact mark and read the wording alongside it. If the claim applies only to a named ingredient, describe the stroopwafel that way too.
Jumbo listed its box of Fair Trade Original Mini Stroopwafels as no longer available. Sligro said the Alex Meijer box described had been replaced. The features of an earlier product don’t automatically apply to its replacement.
Before ordering, check the current pack, number of pieces, Fairtrade mark and allergens for the product you’ll receive.
Finding an alternative shortly before you’re due to hand out the treats takes extra preparation.
PLUS describes its Wafels Choco Fairtrade, made with Fairtrade cocoa, as egg wafers with hazelnut-flavoured filling. They’re a different product category from stroopwafels.
Only include this kind of wafer in your choices if you’re deliberately looking for a different treat; don’t present it as a Fairtrade stroopwafel.
The mini stroopwafels described contain relevant allergens, but the ingredients in the product you buy may differ. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the allergen information in the ingredients list.
Before buying and handing them out, read the label on the physical pack, paying particular attention to ingredients such as wheat, milk, egg and soya.
A name to look out for when choosing mini stroopwafels for individual portions.
An example of a bulk pack for an organised get-together.
A stroopwafel brand with a regular pack at PLUS and a separate listing for Fairtrade minis at Foods & Goods.
No, the word Fairtrade alone doesn’t tell you that. For composite products, Fairtrade International distinguishes the FAIRTRADE Mark, which means all ingredients available as Fairtrade must have been sourced under Fairtrade terms, from marks for specific ingredients sourced under Fairtrade terms. Check the mark and the accompanying wording on the pack.
Jumbo described Fair Trade Original Mini Stroopwafels in a box of 150; Sligro described a box of 150 Alex Meijer mini stroopwafels as Fairtrade-certified. Jumbo marked its product as no longer available, while Sligro listed its product as replaced. So check the product is actually available before planning to buy it for King's Day.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re actually handing out. The mini stroopwafels described included ingredients such as wheat, milk, egg and soya; that list isn’t a substitute for checking the label on a different product.
No, a Fairtrade cocoa claim doesn’t change the type of product. PLUS describes its Wafels Choco Fairtrade as egg wafers with hazelnut-flavoured filling, not as stroopwafels. Choose them only if a different kind of treat would also suit.
