Choose a rustic sourdough or hearth loaf if crust and presentation are your priorities. If you also want to serve the same bread for breakfast or lunch, and are looking for wholemeal bread, check specifically for the ‘wholemeal’ label; sourdough alone tells you nothing about whether it’s made with wholemeal flour. Part-baked bread lets you choose when to serve it, but needs some preparation. Whichever option you choose, check availability, ingredients and allergens.
You’re looking for a loaf whose shape and crust suit a meal such as soup, a sharing platter or dinner. A rustic sourdough or hearth loaf is one option to consider. Check that your preferred variety is available on the day you shop.
You want to use the bread for breakfast or lunch too, and wholemeal matters to you. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between wholemeal bread and other types of bread, so look for the ‘wholemeal’ label rather than relying on words such as ‘sourdough’ or ‘multigrain’.
You need information about the specific loaf before buying it. For packaged bread, read the current label; for unpackaged bread, ask what allergen information is available. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the requirement to provide allergen information for unpackaged foods.
First decide whether the bread is mainly for a special meal, should also suit everyday occasions, or needs to be baked just before serving. Then check the product information for the exact variety you’re buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Crust and presentation | Check the shape of the loaf and whether your chosen variety is fresh, packaged or part-baked. Check availability for the day you’re shopping. | If the bread will be on display at the table, I want a shape and crust that suit the meal. For around 36% of consumers, how the meal is presented comes first. |
| Wholemeal for different mealtimes | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and, if needed, compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g. ‘Sourdough’, ‘spelt’ and ‘multigrain’ don’t automatically mean wholemeal. | I want to use the bread for breakfast or lunch after dinner too, so I’m deliberately looking for a wholemeal variety. Around 29% of consumers put everyday use first. |
| Availability and serving time | Check whether the bread can be ordered online or is only available in-store. For part-baked bread, check the preparation instructions on the packaging. | My meal is planned, so I need to know when I can buy the bread and whether I still need to bake it. This is the biggest consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, or ask for it if the bread is unpackaged. Look for ‘baker’s salt’ if you want to check whether it’s used. | I need to know what’s in this particular loaf before choosing it; the type of bread alone doesn’t give me enough information. For around 14% of consumers, this is the main concern. |
A rustic-sounding name doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour the bread contains. If you also want to buy wholemeal bread for everyday meals, you could end up choosing a different variety from the one you intended.
Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and check the ingredients and fibre per 100 g. For example, PLUS states that Korenlanders Desem Wit contains 55% wheat flour, so ‘sourdough’ is no substitute for checking the ingredients.
You can’t tell which salt has been used from terms such as ‘premium’, ‘organic’ or ‘sourdough’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that bakers don’t always use baker’s salt.
Check the ingredients list for ‘baker’s salt’ if this matters to your choice. For unpackaged bread, ask what ingredients information is available.
A loaf’s name doesn’t give you a complete picture of the ingredients and allergens in that variety. It’s important to find out about any allergens in unpackaged bread too.
Read the current product information and ask the retailer for allergen information about unpackaged bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must be available to customers.
Bread you see in a shop isn’t necessarily available to order online. Jumbo, for example, says its rustic sourdough loaves, baked on the shop floor, are only available in-store.
Check how your chosen bread is sold before planning your meal around it. If you’re not going to the shop, look in good time for a suitable alternative that you can order.
These brands offer different bread ranges to compare. Assess the type of bread, ingredients and how it’s sold for each product, rather than relying on the brand name alone.
AH Liefde & Passie and OerDesem are relevant ranges if you’re looking for sourdough to serve with a meal.
Jumbo describes a range of rustic sourdough loaves for anyone who wants to serve fresh, in-store bread with a meal.
Lidl lists, among other options, a 600 g organic brown multigrain sourdough loaf with seeds.
ALDI lists options including Bakkersgoud Rustiek Wit and various freshly baked hearth loaves.
The Korenlanders range includes sourdough and offers an option for anyone considering part-baked varieties too.
Dirk lists options including wholemeal hearth loaf, wholemeal batard and breads from Bakker van der Akker.
Below you’ll find round loaves, Lebanese flatbread, individual portions and mini baguettes. They suit different ways of serving bread, so check each product to see whether its shape and any preparation required fit your meal plans.
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This round loaf is a good fit if you want to put a whole loaf on the table and are also looking for a wholemeal option.
The pack contains 550 g. When planning your meal, allow for the stated defrosting, baking and cooling steps. Check the current preparation and allergen information on the packaging.
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This Lebanese flatbread offers a different way to serve bread from a round sourdough or hearth loaf, and could work well with a meal featuring dips.
The product name states that there are six pieces and that this is the Whole Wheat variety. Check the current ingredients and allergen information before buying.
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The pack of individual pieces could be a good option if you want bread for separate mealtimes rather than serving a whole loaf.
The product name states that there are five pieces. Don’t assume ‘Rustic’ means wholemeal or sourdough. Check the current allergen information carefully: the available product descriptions give conflicting information about cereals containing gluten.
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These round loaves are a good fit if you want to serve bread with a meal and can plan the preparation in advance.
The product name states that there are two loaves, each weighing 550 g. Baking times vary between product descriptions; follow the current packaging instructions for preparation and check the allergen information there too.
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Mini baguettes could be a good fit for a meal where you want to serve smaller portions, as long as you have time for any preparation needed.
The product name states that there are seven pieces. Before buying, check whether this variety is ready-to-bake bread rolls or a mix: the product descriptions contradict each other. Check the current ingredients and allergen information too.
No. ‘Sourdough’ describes how the bread is made and doesn’t automatically mean it’s wholemeal. Look for the explicit ‘wholemeal’ label and check the ingredients. For example, PLUS states that Korenlanders Desem Wit contains 55% wheat flour.
No, the sourdough label tells you nothing about the salt used. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that bakers don’t always use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list; for unpackaged bread, ask for the ingredients information.
Ask the retailer for allergen information about the specific bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says information about allergens present in unpackaged foods must be available to customers.
No, it depends on the product and how it’s sold. Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves, baked on the shop floor, can’t be ordered online. So before planning your meal, check whether your chosen bread can be delivered, collected or is only available in-store.
Part-baked bread is a good choice when you want to bake it just before serving and have time to use the oven. Follow the instructions for your chosen variety: PLUS, for example, gives oven-baking instructions for its sourdough demi-baguette, but preparation varies from one loaf to another.
