If you want clearly visible seeds for your King’s Day drinks, choose seeded crackers or multiseed rusks: crackers offer a compact base, while rusks give you a round base for toppings. If you’re looking for a more neutral toast, Melba toast or plain toast is a better fit, but the name alone doesn’t tell you whether it contains seeds or is wholegrain. Always check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging.
You’re looking for visible seeds and a different texture from a neutral toast. Bolletje lists sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and linseeds among the ingredients in its multiseed rusks; check each product to see exactly which seeds it contains.
You want to compare nutritional information as well as shape. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is particularly high in fibre, but a product name mentioning seeds doesn’t tell you whether the base of a cracker or toast is wholegrain. Check the label of the product you’re buying.
You’re choosing food for guests who need to avoid certain ingredients, or you’re looking for a product labelled gluten-free. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of checking the label if you have a food allergy; also read any warnings about ingredients the product may contain.
First decide which product shape works best with your toppings, then compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the specific products you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Seeds and shape | Check which seeds are listed in the ingredients and choose between crackers, rusks and toast based on how you want to serve them. | If I want to serve toppings on a drinks platter, I’m looking for a shape and texture that work well for it. Around 31% of consumers put seeds, texture and presentation first. |
| Wholegrain and fibre | Check for a wholegrain description and compare fibre on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g; don’t assume it from terms such as ‘with seeds’ or ‘7 grains’. | When I’m choosing between crunchy products, I want to know what the label says about wholegrain and fibre. For around 31% of consumers, this is their top priority. |
| Allergens | Read the highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging; check the gluten-free claim for each product. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know whether this particular product is suitable to serve. Around 23% of consumers give checking the label their top priority. |
| Practical considerations | Check which product you want to buy and follow the storage advice on the packaging, especially if you’re shopping in advance. | If I’m buying well ahead of King’s Day, I want to choose a suitable base for my drinks spread and store it properly. For around 15% of consumers, this practical consideration comes first. |
Seeds tell you about an ingredient, not necessarily the type of grain used or the amount of fibre. A name such as ‘multiseed’ doesn’t tell you the nutritional value either.
Look for a wholegrain description on the label and compare the stated fibre content of products on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g.
For Bolletje Ontbijtcrackers Meerzaden, the product information lists cereals containing gluten and sesame seeds, as well as the possible presence of other allergens. The product name alone isn’t enough to help you choose if someone has an allergy.
Ask guests which ingredients they need to avoid and check the current packaging before serving, including any ‘may contain’ warnings.
Cheese, cold meats and other toppings can also contain salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises taking what you eat throughout the day into account when considering your total salt intake.
Compare the salt content of the base for your drinks spread per 100 g, and check the nutritional information for the toppings you’re serving with it too.
Jumbo advises storing Haust Krokant Toast away from moisture and heat. For other products, follow the storage advice on their own packaging.
Seal an opened pack securely and add moist toppings to toast shortly before serving.
Bolletje has a range of products that feature seeds, including seeded crackers and multiseed rusks.
Albert Heijn’s product listings give you options for comparing seeded crackers with Melba toast.
Jumbo lists both seeded crackers and plain crisp toast, each with its own label details to check.
ALDI lists Sun Snacks toast products and Melba toast as possible neutral bases for a drinks platter.
These products offer a cracker or rusk base for your King’s Day drinks. Compare the shape with the toppings you want to serve, and check the packaging of the product you choose for its fibre, salt and allergen information.
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A cracker option if you’re looking for a product with sunflower seeds for your drinks spread. The product name states that the pack contains 8 pieces; compare the nutritional information and allergens on the current label.
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A multiseed rusk for anyone who’d rather serve rusks than crackers on their drinks platter. The product name states that the pack contains 10 pieces; check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging before choosing it for your guests.
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Another multiseed rusk option for a crunchy base for your drinks spread. The product name states that the pack contains 184 g; compare the nutritional information with other products on a like-for-like basis.
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A cracker option if you’re specifically looking for a wholegrain variety as the base for your drinks spread. The product name states that the pack contains 190 g; check the label separately to see which seeds and allergens it contains.
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A cracker option if you want to include poppy seeds in your choice. The product name states that the pack contains 8 pieces and 200 g; check the packaging for the other ingredients and allergens.
No. Terms such as ‘with seeds’, ‘multiseed’ and ‘7 grains’ don’t confirm that the base is wholegrain. Check the wholegrain description and ingredients list for the specific product, and compare the fibre content separately in the nutritional information.
Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging. Bolletje lists cereals containing gluten and sesame seeds for Ontbijtcrackers Meerzaden; don’t assume the same applies to another variety without checking its own label.
Jumbo lists a product called Lekker Vrij van Gluten Zaden Crackers. Check the current gluten-free claim and the other allergens for the specific product; gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean that the other ingredients are suitable for every guest.
Yes, especially if you’re serving the toast with salty toppings. Compare the stated salt content per 100 g of the products you’re considering, and check the nutritional information for the toppings too.
