Choose half a loaf if you don’t think you’ll finish a whole one and don’t want to freeze the rest. Adjust the amount to suit the people joining you for King’s Day, then choose a type of bread that goes with your meal. If you want wholemeal bread, check that the packaging says ‘wholemeal’: a dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t necessarily mean it is.
If there are one or two of you eating bread, you can limit the amount you buy for King’s Day by choosing half a loaf. If you’d still like to buy more, check whether the packaging says you can freeze the bread.
Looking for half a loaf of wholemeal bread for your usual sandwiches? Check the product name and label rather than judging by colour alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that ‘wholemeal’ and ‘multigrain’ mean different things.
If your King’s Day plans might change, you could start with a small amount and buy more bread later if needed. The Dutch government says that King’s Day is an official public holiday, but it isn’t automatically a day off for everyone.
First, work out how much bread you’re likely to use. Then choose a type of bread that suits your meal and check the label and your options for storing it.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and leftovers | Count how many slices you need and check the storage and freezing instructions. | When I’m buying for a small household, I don’t want leftover bread that I won’t eat or freeze in time. Around 31% of consumers put this first. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging and, if needed, compare the fibre per 100 g. | For my everyday sandwiches, I want to know whether the half loaf is actually wholemeal. For around 31% of consumers, this is the most important factor. |
| Type of bread and meal | Check which type of bread suits your planned lunch or toasted sandwich, and read the ingredients if they matter to your choice. | When I’m buying bread for a particular meal, how I’ll use it matters more than my usual choice of bread. This is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Buying and storing | Check your shop’s opening hours, current availability and storage instructions. | If my work or guest plans might still change, I want to plan when I buy and how I’ll store the bread accordingly. This is the main priority for around 15% of consumers. |
The colour and number of grains don’t tell you whether bread is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘wholemeal’ bread is made using wholemeal flour.
Check that the packaging says ‘wholemeal’, then compare the nutritional information if you want to assess different loaves.
A smaller pack won’t prevent leftovers if you don’t eat or store the bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread among the foods that are often wasted.
Buy according to the number of people eating, and follow the packaging instructions if you want to freeze the bread.
Ingredients vary from one product to another. The ingredient and allergen information for AH Rond volkoren half and PLUS Boeren volkoren half shows why the variant you choose matters.
Before buying, check the latest label for salt, baker’s salt or iodised salt, ingredients and any allergens that are relevant to you.
According to the Dutch government, King’s Day on 27 April is an official public holiday, but not everyone has the day off. Your plans and the number of people eating may therefore vary.
Check your local shop’s opening hours and availability, and only buy extra bread if you expect to use it or can store it.
These examples give you some half loaves to compare. Check the information for the specific product and your local shop before making a choice.
AH Rond volkoren half is one example of a half loaf of wholemeal bread.
Jumbo’s bread range includes Fijn Volkoren - Half and Waldkorn Volkoren Brood - Half.
Lidl lists Halfje extra volkorenbrood as a 400 g half-loaf option.
ALDI lists Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood half and Boeren volkoren meergranen half.
PLUS Boeren volkoren half is sold in a 400 g bag.
Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half is a half-loaf wholemeal option in Dirk’s range.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that the bread contains several types of grain; its colour doesn’t prove that it’s wholemeal either. Check that the packaging says ‘wholemeal’.
Follow the instructions for the bread you choose. PLUS recommends freezing Boeren volkoren half on the day of purchase and using it within one month; check the packaging for any other bread.
Don’t assume so based on the type of bread. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt for AH Rond volkoren half, while PLUS lists baker’s salt for PLUS Boeren volkoren half. Check the ingredients list for the bread you buy.
Read the allergen information on the current packaging for the specific variant. Albert Heijn lists several gluten-containing grains for AH Rond volkoren half; PLUS lists, among other things, soya for Boeren volkoren half. Don’t rely on the bread’s colour or the shop’s name.
First, check when your local shop is open and how many people will be eating. The Dutch government says that King’s Day on 27 April is an official public holiday, but not everyone has the day off. If you buy ahead, follow the bread’s storage instructions.
