For Sinterklaas Eve, choose a pre-sliced multigrain loaf if you want to serve filled slices quickly, but check the slice thickness separately: ‘sliced’ doesn’t confirm that the slices are medium-thick. If you also want to eat the same bread every day and fibre matters to you, check whether that particular loaf is wholemeal and compare the nutritional information per 100 g. When buying, check the allergen information and whether baker’s salt is listed.
If the bread will also be part of your daily diet after Sinterklaas Eve, you’ll want to know whether ‘multigrain’ on this product also means ‘wholemeal’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between the two terms.
For filled slices, snacks or bread with soup, it matters whether the bread is already sliced. If you’re hosting a small group, choosing between half a loaf and a whole loaf can also be practical.
If you’re buying bread for someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients or allergens, read the information for the product you’ve chosen. You may also want to check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed.
First decide how you want to serve the bread and whether it will also be for everyday meals. Then compare the packaging and nutritional information of the options that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for a wholemeal claim on the specific loaf and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain doesn’t automatically mean wholemeal. | If I want to eat this bread every day too, I want to assess its ingredients rather than rely on the name. Around 36% of consumers would choose wholemeal and fibre as their main consideration. |
| Slicing and toppings | Check whether the bread is sliced, and look at the actual slice thickness if you’re after medium-thick slices. | For filled snacks on Sinterklaas Eve, I want slices I can use without having to cut the bread myself. Slicing and ease of serving would be the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for your chosen loaf; if you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask before you buy. | When I buy bread for a guest with a food allergy, I need to be able to check which ingredients and allergens are listed for the product. For around 21% of consumers, this would be their top priority. |
| Quantity and availability | Choose a half or whole loaf to suit your group, and check the available option in store or on the current product page. | For a small group, I don’t want to buy more bread than we expect to use. Choosing the right quantity would matter most to around 14% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to the types of grain used; the name alone doesn’t mean the bread is fully wholemeal.
If you prefer wholemeal bread, look for an explicit wholemeal claim and compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
A label saying that bread is sliced doesn’t tell you whether the slices are right for the toppings or portions you have in mind.
Look at the slices or ask about their thickness before making medium-thick slices a deciding factor.
Not all bread is made with baker’s salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the label to see whether it has been used.
Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt on the multigrain bread you choose.
Product ranges and recipes can change, so a description you saw earlier may not match the loaf you buy.
Check the version just before you buy, and read the packaging on the loaf you’re actually taking home.
Albert Heijn lists AH Liefde & Passie Multigrain as sliced bread, alongside other multigrain options.
Jumbo lists regular and dark wholemeal multigrain options, including half loaves.
Lidl lists a 400 g Halfje donker multigrain loaf for anyone looking for a smaller loaf.
ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen half as sliced bread.
PLUS lists Korenlanders Desem Meergranen Boekweit as a part-baked, medium-brown multigrain sourdough loaf.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers multigrain bread in half and whole loaves.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to bread made with several types of grain; it doesn’t necessarily mean the bread is fully wholemeal. Check the wholemeal claim and ingredients for the specific loaf.
No, not all bread is made with baker’s salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the label to see whether baker’s salt has been used, so check the ingredients on the bread you choose.
No. Multigrain bread may contain grains that contain gluten. If you need to follow a gluten-free diet, rely only on the information and labelling for the specific product, not on the name ‘multigrain’.
Ask the seller for the allergen information before you buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must also be made available to consumers for unpackaged foods in the Netherlands.
Follow the storage instructions for the bread you’ve bought. Albert Heijn says that AH Liefde & Passie Multigrain sliced bread can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within one month; these instructions don’t automatically apply to other loaves.
