Choose seeded wholemeal bread if the wholemeal base and fibre content are your priorities. Light multiseed bread is a good fit if you’re mainly looking for a lighter bread base with a seed texture. Visible seeds don’t prove that bread is wholemeal. If you’re serving herring or another generous topping, check the bread’s shape and firmness too. If you have an allergy or want to check its iodine content, read the information for the specific variety you choose.
For your Vlaggetjesdag meal, you want to know more than just whether there are seeds on the crust: you also want to find out what type of flour the bread is made with. The product name and ingredients can help you distinguish between wholemeal bread and light multiseed bread.
You’re looking for slices or rolls that are easy to top and serve. Vlaggetjesdag is closely associated with Dutch new-season herring, so decide whether you’d rather serve open-topped slices or individual rolls.
If sesame, cereals containing gluten or the type of salt used are important to your choice, you’ll need information about the specific bread. If it’s sold loose, ask for these details before buying.
First decide whether you need a wholemeal base, specific label information or simply a suitable shape for serving. Then compare the bread variety you’re actually planning to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base and fibre | Look for “wholemeal” in the product name and check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients. Only compare nutritional values on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | I want to choose wholemeal bread for my celebratory toppings, rather than bread that simply has seeds on the crust. Around 29% of consumers make the bread base their priority. |
| Allergens and type of salt | Check the ingredients and any precautionary allergen statements for sesame and cereals containing gluten, among other things. To find out which type of salt is used, look for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask if the bread is sold loose. | If an ingredient or type of salt matters to me, I want to be able to check it for the bread I’ve chosen before buying. Around 36% of consumers make this their priority. |
| Shape and texture | Choose between slices and individual rolls. If you’re serving generous or moist toppings, check that the variety you choose is firm enough. | I want something that’s easy to prepare and serve with herring or another generous topping. Ease of serving is the deciding factor for around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check your shop’s range shortly before your meal and read the packaging information for the variety you’re buying. | I shop at the same store and want to know which suitable bread I can get there. Around 14% of consumers give priority to this practical consideration. |
Multiseed bread can also contain wheat flour. For example, PLUS lists both 30% wholemeal wheat flour and 22% wheat flour in its Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden.
If you specifically want to buy wholemeal bread, read the product name and ingredients. The seeded crust alone won’t tell you what type of flour the bread is made with.
Seeded bread may contain sesame and cereals containing gluten. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists both among the allergens consumers must be informed about.
Check the allergen information and any precautionary allergen statements for the variety you’ve chosen. If the bread is sold loose, ask for this information before buying.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the use of baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So you can’t tell which type of salt has been used just from the presence of seeds or the type of bread.
For packaged bread, read the ingredients. If it’s sold loose, ask the baker which type of salt they use.
The variety of bread you see online may not be available in store on the day you shop. You should also check the ingredients of the variety you find.
Check your local range shortly before your meal and read the label on the bread you choose when you buy it.
These examples show why a bread range’s name isn’t enough: ingredients and nutritional information relate to a specific variety.
Albert Heijn’s packaged breads include product information to help you compare varieties.
Jumbo describes both a seeded wholemeal bread and a light multiseed bread.
PLUS provides ingredient information for Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden.
Dirk describes Bakker van der Akker Boeren meerzaden as brown wheat bread with seeds.
Lidl describes a multigrain loaf and a wholemeal roll with seeds.
ALDI describes Boeren volkoren meergranen as a bread with grains and seeds.
Here are two round multigrain loaves from Lekhaven Bakkerij for anyone looking for bread to serve with celebratory toppings. The pack sizes differ. For both varieties, check the packaging to see which seeds and types of flour are used and whether the bread meets your other requirements.
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A round multigrain loaf for serving slices with celebratory toppings. Check for yourself whether it’s firm enough for herring or other moist toppings.
Pack size: 550 g × 2. If you want a wholemeal option, check the types of flour. If you have an allergy or want to check its iodine content, read the ingredients, allergen information and type of salt used on the packaging.
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A round multigrain loaf for slicing and serving with a Vlaggetjesdag meal. Check that the slices are suitable for the toppings you’ve chosen.
Pack size: 550 g. If you want a wholemeal option, check the types of flour. If they’re relevant to you, check the ingredients, allergen information and type of salt used on the packaging.
No, seeds can be added to bread made with different types of flour. For example, PLUS lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour in its Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, read the product name and ingredients.
Check the allergen information for the specific bread before buying, including any precautionary allergen statements. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists sesame seeds and cereals containing gluten as allergens that consumers must be informed about. If the bread is sold loose, ask for this information.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the use of baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients on the packaging or, if the bread is sold loose, ask which type of salt is used. Don’t assume based on the seeds or the name of the bread.
You can, as long as the storage instructions for the bread you’ve chosen say it’s suitable for freezing. PLUS and Albert Heijn provide freezing instructions for the specific breads they describe, but always follow the directions on the packaging of the bread you buy.
