If you have coeliac disease, choose an unopened pack that is explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the current label before you set off, even if you’ve bought the product before. If you want to eat at a festival stall, ask not only about the ingredients but also how the stroopwafel is prepared and how cross-contamination is prevented. If you want to bring your own backup, check the festival rules in advance.
You want to check what you’re eating before you arrive, rather than relying solely on a stall that also prepares food containing gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises festival-goers to ask vendors how they prevent cross-contamination.
You want to have a sealed pack with you in case you can’t find a suitable stroopwafel at the festival. Check in advance whether the festival allows you to bring your own food.
As well as gluten, ingredients such as egg and lupin may be relevant. Product information from Jumbo and PLUS shows why you should read the allergen information on the specific pack.
First, choose a stroopwafel explicitly labelled gluten-free and decide whether you’ll bring a sealed pack or eat at a stall. Then check for other allergens and consider whether the packaging is practical to take with you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and cross-contamination | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging. At a stall, ask how the product is prepared and whether the work surface and utensils are kept separate or cleaned. | If I want to eat at a stall, I need to know that my stroopwafel is gluten-free and won’t come into contact with food containing gluten. For around 36% of consumers, this reassurance matters most. |
| Bringing your own supply | Check availability before you set off and read the festival rules on bringing your own food. Keep any backup you bring sealed. | If the food on offer at the festival is uncertain, I want to have a stroopwafel to hand. Around 29% of consumers give bringing their own backup the highest priority. |
| Other allergens | Read the allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying; ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t tell you whether it contains egg or lupin, for example. | If I also need to avoid other allergens, I can’t rely on the gluten-free label alone. For around 21% of consumers, these additional checks come first. |
| Taking it with you and storage | Compare pack sizes and storage instructions. Jumbo and PLUS list their specified packs as 240 g. | With limited space in my bag, I want to know how much I’m taking and how to protect the pack while I’m travelling. Around 14% of consumers consider this the most important factor. |
Not seeing wheat in the ingredients list doesn’t tell you the same thing as an explicit gluten-free label on the product.
Check the wording on the current pack before taking the stroopwafels with you.
Even if a stroopwafel is made with gluten-free ingredients, it could still come into contact with food containing gluten during preparation. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the importance of separate preparation, clean utensils and a clean work surface.
Ask how the stall prevents cross-contamination. If you can’t get a clear answer, it’s better to choose your own sealed backup.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn also lists the AH Glutenvrij Stroopwafels mentioned here as ‘Discontinued’.
When you buy, check the pack you actually receive rather than relying only on product information you’ve seen before.
The gluten-free stroopwafels from Jumbo and PLUS mentioned here list egg and lupin; Jumbo also states that its product may contain nuts and sesame.
If you have additional allergies, compare the full allergen information on the pack you choose with the ingredients you need to avoid.
Jumbo lists 240 g Stroop Wafels labelled gluten-free and bearing the Crossed Grain mark.
PLUS describes gluten-free stroopwafels in a 240 g pack.
Albert Heijn describes 240 g AH Glutenvrij Stroopwafels, but marks this specific variety as ‘Discontinued’.
A Jumbo listing describes 240 g Consenza Gluten Free Stroopwafels, but notes that the product is no longer part of its online range.
Daelmans is included in a general overview of stroopwafels from PLUS.
Yes, an explicit gluten-free label on the packaging is a useful starting point for a pre-packed stroopwafel. Still, check the current label and any other allergens. If you’re considering an unwrapped product from a stall, also assess how it’s prepared.
That answer alone isn’t enough to determine whether the stroopwafel is gluten-free. Also ask whether the product is gluten-free and how the stall prevents contact with gluten-containing ingredients, crumbs and used kitchen utensils.
Check the rules for the specific festival. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises reading the festival information and contacting the organiser in advance if necessary. Keep any written confirmation you receive.
It varies by stroopwafel: the varieties from Jumbo and PLUS mentioned here list egg and lupin, while Jumbo also notes that its variety may contain nuts and sesame. So always read the allergen information on the pack you’re buying.
If possible, bring an unopened pack and keep it separate from food containing gluten and any crumbs. Follow the storage instructions on the label too; Jumbo and PLUS state that the varieties mentioned should be stored in a cool, dry place.
