Want to prepare and serve sandwiches quickly on Sinterklaas Eve? Start with sliced wholemeal bread whose slices suit your toppings. Choose a coarser variety only if you prefer that texture, and check the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details on the specific pack whichever you choose. The word ‘fine’ on its own does not confirm a particular slice thickness.
If you want to serve sandwiches or small portions without much cutting, look for bread that is sold pre-sliced. ALDI, for example, describes its Fijn Volkoren as sliced; check that the slices of the variety you choose work with your toppings.
If you’ll still be eating the bread after Sinterklaas Eve, fibre and salt per 100 g are more useful points of comparison than the bread’s name alone. Voedingscentrum provides general nutritional values for wholemeal bread, but the nutritional information for the specific product is what matters when choosing.
If you need to consider allergens, salt or the presence of baker’s salt, read the information on the pack you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information for prepacked foods appears on the label. Voedingscentrum notes that not all bread is made with baker’s salt.
First decide whether your priority is serving bread without having to slice it, or finding a particular texture. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the varieties that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Topping and serving | Check whether the bread is sliced and look at the actual slices. ‘Fine’ or ‘medium sliced’ is no substitute for checking. | If I want to prepare several sandwiches quickly, I don’t want to have to slice a whole loaf first. For around 36% of consumers, serving convenience is the most important factor. |
| Fibre and salt | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, or use the same serving size when comparing per slice. | If you eat the bread on ordinary days too, you’ll want to take the nutritional information for the variety you choose into account. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this nutritional profile. |
| Texture | Check whether ingredients such as grains, seeds or kernels are listed, and look at the slices if possible. | For my toppings, I want to know whether a finer or coarser slice would work better. Around 21% of consumers put texture first. |
| Allergens and baker’s salt | Check the allergen information and ingredients. Look specifically for baker’s salt or iodised salt if its presence matters to your choice. | If someone at the table needs to avoid allergens, I want to be able to check the pack before serving the bread. For around 14% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
Wholemeal breads can vary in slice and texture. A fine wholemeal loaf and a variety with grains or kernels may therefore not suit the same serving needs.
Check separately whether the bread is sliced, what the slices look like and which ingredients have been used. If you want a particular slice thickness, don’t rely on the product name alone.
According to Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt when baking bread is not compulsory. So you can’t tell from the word ‘wholemeal’ whether the bread was made with baker’s salt.
Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt if this is relevant to your choice. For unwrapped bread, ask for product information.
The fibre content doesn’t tell you which allergens a product contains or how much salt it has. These details can vary between bread varieties.
Read the nutritional and allergen information for the exact bread you want to serve, especially if someone at the table needs to avoid allergens.
These brands offer wholemeal varieties that can be a starting point for comparison. Check the slices and the current packaging of the bread you choose; the brand name alone doesn’t tell you enough.
Albert Heijn has a wholemeal bread range that includes separately listed sliced varieties, such as AH Liefde & Passie Petit volkoren gesneden.
Jumbo describes products including Rond Fijn Volkoren as wholegrain wheat bread in its bread range.
ALDI describes Fijn Volkoren as sliced bread and also offers a separate extra-high-fibre wholemeal variety.
Lidl describes a kids’ bread made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour and also lists a half loaf of extra-wholemeal bread as a store product.
PLUS lists Rond fijn volkoren as a whole loaf of wholegrain wheat bread.
Dirk’s bread range includes Boeren volkoren, casino volkoren and extra-high-fibre wholemeal bread.
This rye bread product is a related option to consider if you’re looking for a different type of bread alongside regular sandwiches. Check the product format and slices before assuming you can serve it in portions without cutting it.
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Take a look at this rye bread variety if you’re considering a different type of bread for the table. Check whether the product is a bun or sliced bread, and whether the actual slices suit your serving plans; medium-thick slices are not guaranteed.
Before serving, read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack, particularly if wheat or rye is relevant to anyone at the table. Check the ingredients too if you want to know whether baker’s salt has been used.
No. Don’t assume this bread has a set slice thickness based on that description. Check the slices on the pack, in the product description or in store; terms such as ‘sliced’ and ‘fine wholemeal’ each answer a different question.
No. According to Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory. Check the ingredients list if you want to know whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used in a specific variety.
For prepacked bread, read the allergen information on the label; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says it must be shown there. For unwrapped bread, ask for the allergen information before choosing, and check which cereals containing gluten or other allergens are listed for the specific variety.
Yes, as long as you follow the storage instructions for the bread you choose and check its quality before serving. Read the pack for advice on storing or freezing it; don’t assume storage advice for another variety of bread will apply.
Compare the values per 100 g on the packs of the breads you’re considering. Values per slice are directly comparable only when the slices weigh the same. Voedingscentrum provides general values for wholemeal bread, while Albert Heijn and PLUS list nutritional values for their individual varieties.
