Choose half a multigrain loaf if you’re only planning a few meals with bread around Vlaggetjesdag and won’t get through a whole loaf. Freezing part of a whole loaf is another option. Look beyond the name, too: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made with 100% wholemeal flour, while ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t tell you what type of flour it contains. Check the current label for ingredients, allergens and storage advice.
Half a loaf could be just right for a few herring rolls or filled sandwiches around Vlaggetjesdag. Think about how much you’ll actually eat, and follow the storage advice if you want to freeze the bread.
Having several grains or seeds doesn’t automatically make a loaf wholemeal. If you’re looking for bread made with 100% wholemeal flour, check for the word ‘wholemeal’: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses this term for bread made with 100% wholemeal flour.
If you have an allergy or specific dietary requirements, the current ingredients and allergen information are what matter. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking the allergen information on the label. For unpackaged bread, ask the seller for product information.
First work out how much bread you need, then compare the ‘wholemeal’ label, nutritional information and ingredients of the half loaves you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size and storage | Check that it really is half a loaf, and read the storage advice if you want to freeze some of it. | If I’m only planning a few meals with bread, I don’t want to be left with lots of leftovers. Around 33% of consumers put finding a suitable portion size first. |
| Wholemeal content and nutritional value | Look for ‘wholemeal’ if you want bread made with 100% wholemeal flour. To compare fibre, check the nutritional information per 100 g. | People specifically looking for wholemeal bread don’t want to rely on the words ‘multigrain’ or ‘dark’ alone. For around 42% of consumers, choosing wholemeal bread and considering its nutritional value come first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings. If you have questions about baker’s salt, ask the seller. | If I have an allergy or a specific question about ingredients, I need to know what’s in this particular loaf. For around 25% of consumers, this product information is the top priority. |
A loaf made with several grains won’t necessarily suit someone looking for bread made with 100% wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the word ‘wholemeal’ is the relevant label to look for.
Check for that label and read the ingredients and nutritional information if the loaf’s composition or fibre content also matters to you.
A half loaf that was listed previously may no longer be available. For example, Albert Heijn says that its boeren meergranen maanzaad half is no longer in its range.
Check the range at your chosen shop before counting on a particular variety.
That could save you an unnecessary trip to the shops.
A whole loaf may be more than a small household wants to use around Vlaggetjesdag.
Consider buying half a loaf, or freeze some of a whole loaf according to the product advice.
Without a plan for the leftovers, you may end up with bread you don’t want to use.
The RIVM describes Dutch policy aimed at using iodised salt in bread. This doesn’t tell you which type of salt has been used in an individual loaf.
Check the ingredients or ask the seller about that particular loaf if this matters to your choice.
Albert Heijn lists AH Vloerbrood meergranen half as a product.
Jumbo lists, among other products, a half Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen and a half Wit Meergranen Brood.
Lidl lists a Halfje donker meergranenbrood in its fresh-from-the-oven range.
Aldi lists boeren volkoren meergranenbrood in its bread range.
PLUS lists, among other products, Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half, 400 g.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half.
No. The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean that the bread is made with 100% wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, that’s what makes bread wholemeal, so look for the word ‘wholemeal’ if that’s what you’re after.
Half a loaf can be more convenient if you’re only planning a few meals with bread around Vlaggetjesdag and don’t want lots left over to store. If the variety you want is only available as a whole loaf, you can freeze some of it according to the storage advice.
Check the allergen information for the specific loaf, and ask the seller to explain anything you’re unsure about. For example, Lidl publishes an ingredients and allergens guide for its fresh-from-the-oven bread. Don’t rely on the bread’s name alone.
Check the ingredients for that particular loaf or ask the seller which type of salt was used. The policy on iodised salt in bread described by the RIVM doesn’t tell you what’s in every specific product.
No. For a herring roll, you can choose a loaf that suits the portion size and ingredients you’re looking for. Stichting Vlaggetjesdag Scheveningen describes the day as a celebration of the arrival of Hollandse Nieuwe herring, not an occasion that calls for a particular type of bread.
