If you want to cut thick slices yourself
For generously topped toast or sandwiches, you’ll want to choose the thickness of the slices yourself. Check the difference between a whole, unsliced loaf and a whole loaf that has already been sliced.
Who is this choice important for?
If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal multigrain bread
A loaf isn’t automatically wholemeal just because it contains several types of grain. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between ‘multigrain’ and ‘wholemeal’, so check the product name and ingredients if a wholemeal base is important to your choice.
If you need to consider gluten or other allergens
The name of the bread doesn’t give you the full allergen picture. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information before buying. Even a gluten-free product may contain other allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to cut the slices yourself. Then check whether the bread is wholemeal and read the allergen information for the loaf you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | Check whether the loaf is unsliced, or ask which slicing setting the bakery counter can use. ‘Whole, sliced’ doesn’t let you choose the thickness. | For generously topped Mother’s Day snacks, I want to choose how thick the slices are. For around 42% of consumers, having this control matters most when choosing. |
| Wholemeal base | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and check the ingredients and nutritional information, including fibre per 100 g. | If I’m specifically looking for wholemeal multigrain bread, I don’t want to judge by its colour or visible seeds. Around 33% of consumers prioritise a wholemeal base. |
| Allergens | Read the latest label. For unpackaged bread, ask for product-specific allergen information. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need information about the specific loaf. For around 25% of consumers, this check is their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that different types of grain are used; it doesn’t automatically mean the bread is wholemeal.
Check the product name and ingredients rather than judging by the colour or seeds.
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Assuming pre-sliced bread has thick slices
‘Sliced’ and ‘whole, sliced’ describe how the bread is sold, but they don’t tell you how thick the slices are. That matters when you want bread for generously topped snacks.
Ask about the slicing setting or choose a loaf you can confirm is sold unsliced.
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Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking isn’t compulsory in the Netherlands. The type of bread alone won’t tell you whether it has been used.
Check the packaging for baker’s salt or ask the baker.
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Checking only for ‘gluten-free’ if you have other allergies
A gluten-free label doesn’t rule out other allergens. For example, PLUS’s product information for a Schär multigrain product also lists other allergens and possible traces.
Always read the full, up-to-date ingredients and allergen information for the product you’ve chosen.
Brands and shops to explore
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists products including AH OerDesem donker meergranen as a whole, sliced loaf.
- The product page provides information about ingredients, allergens and storage.
- ‘Whole, sliced’ doesn’t mean you can choose the slice thickness yourself.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s multigrain range includes several types of bread, such as Stevig Meergranen and wholemeal multigrain bread.
- The different product names make it easier to search for the type of bread you want.
- ‘Stevig’ is a product name, not a measure of slice thickness. Check how each loaf is sold.
ALDI
ALDI lists products including heel luxe vloerbrood meergranen and boeren volkoren meergranenbrood.
- The names give you a starting point for searching for a hearth-baked loaf or a wholemeal option.
- Check whether ‘whole’ also means unsliced for the loaf you choose.
PLUS
PLUS lists products including Korenlanders-desem-meergranen products and Brood van Soma Haverkorn meergranenbrood.
- These individual products are a useful starting point for comparing ingredients and types of bread.
- Check how the specific product is sold and how thick it is sliced before choosing it for thick snack slices.
Dirk
Dirk’s search results include whole and half multigrain loaves, as well as multigrain hearth-baked loaves.
- The search results show different loaf shapes to explore.
- Check how the product is sold, along with its ingredients and allergens. The search term alone isn’t enough.
Multigrain bread and baguettes at Joybuy
These round multigrain loaves and multigrain baguettes are suited to a plan to cut your own snack slices. Baguettes are a different shape from a whole round loaf, so choose the option that suits your toppings and preferred portions. Remember that these products need to be defrosted and baked before slicing.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g
A round multigrain loaf for anyone who wants to cut their own snack slices after preparing it. Allow time to defrost and bake, and check before buying that this loaf shape is suitable for your preferred slice thickness.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 2 × 550 g
Two round multigrain loaves for anyone who wants to prepare more than one loaf and cut the slices themselves. Allow time to defrost and bake, and check that the loaf shape is suitable for the slices you want.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g
Four multigrain baguettes for anyone who’d rather slice smaller loaves than a round one. They need to be defrosted and baked, so check whether their shape leaves enough room for the toppings you have planned.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 2 × 4 × 135 g
Two packs, each containing four multigrain baguettes, for anyone who wants to prepare several smaller loaves. Allow time to defrost and bake, and check that their shape suits the snack slices you want.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but that doesn’t mean it’s wholemeal. Look specifically for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and check the ingredients.
How can I get thick slices for Mother’s Day snacks?
Choose a loaf you can confirm is unsliced, so you can cut it yourself, or ask the bakery counter to use a thicker slicing setting. ‘Whole, sliced’ means the loaf has already been cut into slices.
Does bread in the Netherlands always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking isn’t compulsory. Check the label or ask the baker which salt was used for that particular loaf.
What should I check if I need to avoid gluten or other allergens?
Read the latest ingredients and allergen information for the specific loaf before buying. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be clearly identified on the label. A gluten-free label doesn’t, on its own, tell you anything about other allergens.
Can I freeze multigrain bread in advance for Mother’s Day?
Follow the storage instructions for the loaf you choose. For AH OerDesem donker meergranen, Albert Heijn says it can be frozen on the day of purchase and recommends using it within one month of freezing. These instructions don’t automatically apply to other loaves.