Holiday cottage cooks looking for seeds and texture
For breakfast, sandwiches or soup, you may want rye bread with noticeable grains or seeds. Check that they’re in the rye bread you choose: a separate seeded multigrain loaf is a different product.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Self-caterers looking for wholemeal bread
You’re looking for wholemeal bread and don’t want to rely solely on visible seeds or the word ‘multigrain’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholemeal bread as bread that’s high in fibre. For the exact variety, also compare the nutritional information on the packaging.
Shoppers keen to avoid leftovers
If you’re staying for a few days, consider how much bread you’ll actually use and how you’ll store the rest. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Storage Guide gives advice on refrigerating and freezing opened dark rye bread. Always check the storage instructions on the packaging first.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the seeds need to be in the rye bread itself, or whether you’d be happy to serve a second type of bread alongside it.
Rye bread with seeds listed
Choose this if: you want seeds in the rye bread itself and the ingredients list confirms they’re included.
Bear in mind: ‘multigrain’ or ‘Mehrkorn’ doesn’t tell you which seeds the bread contains.
Classic or wholemeal rye bread
Choose this if: rye bread matters more to you than seeds. If you prefer wholemeal, look for an explicit wholemeal label.
Bear in mind: don’t assume your chosen variety contains seeds without checking the ingredients.
Multigrain bread alongside rye bread
Choose this if: you want to serve both rye bread and a separate seeded loaf.
Bear in mind: the second loaf won’t necessarily have the same grains or texture as rye bread.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Seeds and texture | Look for seeds or kernels in the rye bread’s ingredients list. Don’t rely solely on ‘multigrain’ or ‘Mehrkorn’. | At breakfast or lunch, I want to be able to see seeds in the rye bread itself. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this combination of seeds and texture. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for an explicit ‘wholemeal’ label and compare the nutritional information for the exact variety. | If I mainly want wholemeal bread, I don’t let visible seeds influence that choice. For around 31% of consumers, wholemeal bread and fibre are a priority. |
| Packaging and storage | Compare the quantity, best-before date and storage instructions with the length of your stay. | If I’m only staying for a few days, I don’t want to be left with unused slices. The right pack size and storage options are the main concern for around 23% of consumers. |
| Allergens and salt | Read the allergen and ingredient information on the specific pack, especially if iodised salt is relevant to your choice. | If I need to take the bread’s ingredients into account, I want to check them before buying. This label check takes priority for around 15% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. The name doesn’t mean that the bread is wholemeal.
If you prefer wholemeal, look for a ‘wholemeal’ label on the packaging and consider seeds as a separate feature.
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Assuming the bread contains iodised salt based on its type
Brood.net Professionals describes the use of iodised bakers’ salt as an agreement within the baking industry. The type of bread alone doesn’t tell you which salt has been used in a particular variety.
If it matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for terms such as ‘bakers’ salt’ or ‘iodised table salt’.
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Buying more bread than you’ll use
The number of people eating and the meals you have each day can vary during a stay in a holiday cottage. As a result, you may end up with some bread left over if the pack size doesn’t suit your plans.
Compare the pack size with your meal plan and follow the storage instructions if you want to keep bread for later.
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Choosing seeded bread without checking the allergens
If you have a food allergy, the exact ingredients of the bread you choose matter, not just the product name. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority notes that allergen information for pre-packed products appears on the label, while information for unpackaged products must be made available in another way.
For packaged bread, check the current allergen information. If the bread is unpackaged, ask for the information before choosing.
Relevant shops and brands to explore
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn has an online category for rye bread and a separate category for multigrain bread.
- You can browse rye bread and multigrain bread as two different types of bread.
- Check the ingredients of a specific rye bread variety if you want it to contain seeds.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists several types of rye bread, including Tarwe Roggebrood Mehrkorn, 500 g.
- The Mehrkorn variety gives you a specific product to compare with other rye breads.
- Check the ingredients on the pack you choose to find out which seeds it contains.
PLUS
PLUS lists wheat rye bread and wholemeal rye bread in its rye bread category.
- You can look specifically for a wholemeal label.
- The category name alone doesn’t confirm that a particular variety contains seeds.
Dirk
Dirk lists rye bread, as well as multigrain farmhouse bread which, according to its own product page, contains grains and seeds.
- This is a useful option if you want to serve two different types of bread.
- The multigrain farmhouse bread mentioned isn’t the same as seeded rye bread.
ALDI
ALDI describes its multigrain bread as containing grains and seeds, and also lists rye bread in its bread range.
- This is relevant if you’re happy to serve seeded multigrain bread alongside rye bread.
- Check the label of a separate rye bread if you specifically want seeds in that loaf.
Lidl
Lidl lists rye bread in wholemeal and Westphalian varieties.
- The variety names help you compare rye breads more easily.
- Lidl says this product is only available in store. Check the packaging there for seeds and ingredients.
Products for choosing bread
These products include rye bread and separate multigrain breads for anyone who wants to serve another type of bread alongside rye. Before buying, decide whether the rye bread itself needs to contain seeds, and check the ingredients of the variety you choose.
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TastyBasics Rye Bread, 9 pieces
This rye bread is a good choice if you want to serve rye bread and don’t consider seeds a given feature of the loaf.
Check the ingredients if seeds are essential. Also compare the quantity and storage instructions with the length of your stay.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g
This multigrain bread is a separate option to serve alongside rye bread, not a variety of rye bread.
Check the ingredients if you’re specifically looking for seeds. Also check how it needs to be prepared and whether the holiday cottage has the right facilities.
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g'woon Multigrain Rolls, 4 pieces
These multigrain rolls are an option to serve alongside rye bread if you’d like to offer individual rolls.
The name doesn’t make them rye bread or wholemeal bread. Check the packaging for the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions that matter to your group and your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means bread made with at least three types of grain. It isn’t the same as a wholemeal label. If that’s important to your choice, look specifically for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging.
Can I assume rye bread contains iodised bakers’ salt?
No, don’t assume that based on the type of bread alone. Brood.net Professionals describes the use of iodised bakers’ salt as an agreement within the baking industry. If the type of salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients list on the specific pack.
How should I store opened rye bread during my stay?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of your rye bread. For opened dark rye bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Storage Guide recommends keeping it in the fridge for two weeks or in the freezer for one to three months. Freezing may affect its quality.
Where can I find allergen information for seeded bread?
For pre-packed bread, read the allergen information on the label of the variety you choose. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for unpackaged bread must be made available in another way. Ask for it before choosing.