Which type is right for you?

For topped slices

If you want to serve rye bread with savoury or sweet toppings at the parade, look for a soft, sliced variety. Before serving, also check the allergens and storage instructions for an opened pack.

For crunchy bites

If you want to take a dry, crunchy base with you and add the toppings just before eating, sourdough rye crispbread fits the bill. Don’t expect the texture of soft rye bread, and if you have allergies, check the latest packaging.

For comparing labels

If the grain content, nutritional values or type of salt will determine your choice, compare the wholegrain claim, ingredients and nutrition information per 100 g. The words ‘rye bread’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t tell you by themselves whether a product contains iodised salt.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide whether you want to serve soft slices or crunchy bites. Then compare the labels of products in your chosen format.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Format and serving Choose between soft, sliced rye bread and dry, crunchy crispbread. Check the storage instructions if you open the pack in advance. I want to hand out topped slices at the parade, rather than put crunchy bites together on the spot. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this convenience when serving.
Wholegrain rye and fibre Read the wholegrain claim and ingredients list; compare fibre on a like-for-like basis, per 100 g. If I’m specifically looking for wholegrain rye, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. Around 29% of consumers give this check of the grain content priority.
Ingredients and salt Check for cereals containing gluten, allergen information and salt per 100 g. Look for an explicit mention if the type of salt used is important to you. I need to be able to see which ingredients and potential allergens a bite contains before I offer it. This label information matters most to around 21% of consumers.
Availability Check that your chosen variety is available from your selected shop, and look at the label of the product you actually take with you. When I’m shopping shortly before the parade, I don’t want to depend on one item that might be out of stock. Around 14% of consumers prioritise finding an option they can actually buy.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming rye bread is mostly rye

    The Consumers’ Association (Consumentenbond) warns that the rye content may be lower than the name suggests. So if you’re specifically looking for wholegrain rye, the packaging is more useful than the product name alone.

    Check the wholegrain claim and ingredients list. Compare the nutritional information for different products per 100 g.

  • Assuming sourdough means a standard recipe

    Soft rye bread and rye crispbread can both contain sourdough, while differing in format, other grains and allergens. The term doesn’t tell you whether a product is wholegrain.

    First choose the format you want, then read the label for that particular variety.

  • Assuming a product contains iodine based on its name

    A description such as rye bread or sourdough doesn’t confirm which type of salt has been used. Jumbo lists iodised salt for Brood van Soma Limburgs Volkoren Roggebrood; Albert Heijn lists sea salt for Hollandia Roggebrood donker zuurdesem.

    If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients on the latest packaging or ask the baker or manufacturer about that specific product.

  • Mistaking online listings for local stock

    Lidl states that the rye bread shown is only available in store. ALDI marks its Finest Bakery Roggebrood listing as ‘while stocks last’. That makes it uncertain whether you’ll find a specific pack if you decide in advance to buy it.

    Check availability shortly before you set off, and have another suitable product format in mind.

    If you only find out in store that your preferred variety isn’t available, it may take extra time to find an alternative.

Brands and shops to explore

These examples can help you compare product formats and label information; check the packaging of the variety you plan to buy.

Albert Heijn

Lists 500 g Hollandia Roggebrood donker zuurdesem for anyone looking for soft rye bread in slices.

  • The product information includes wholegrain rye, sourdough, nutritional values and allergens.
  • Check the storage instructions after opening and whether this specific variety is available.

Jumbo

Lists both Wasa Zuurdesem Rogge crispbread and Brood van Soma Limburgs Volkoren Roggebrood.

  • The product pages list ingredients, allergens and nutritional values for these varieties.
  • Crispbread and soft rye bread have different textures, so don’t choose based on the word sourdough alone.

Lidl

Lists a 500 g rye bread with sunflower seeds as an in-store product.

  • The product listing makes it clear that this variety is only sold in store.
  • Check the packaging to see whether the available variety contains sourdough.

Aldi

Lists 500 g Finest Bakery Roggebrood as ‘while stocks last’.

  • The product name and pack size make it easier to look for a specific product in store.
  • Check the packaging if sourdough, ingredients or type of salt will determine your choice.

Plus

Has an online selection of different rye bread varieties, including products from Brood van Soma.

  • The selection shows product names and pack sizes to help you tell the varieties apart.
  • Check the format, sourdough and ingredients on the individual product page or packaging.

Dirk

A search for rye bread brings up varieties from Van Dijk’s, Soma and Bolletje, among others.

  • The product names shown give you a starting point for looking up different types of rye bread.
  • Check for sourdough, the wholegrain claim and ingredients for each individual variety.

Rye sourdough products at Joybuy

This pick is crunchy sourdough rye crispbread for anyone who wants to make individual topped bites. It isn’t soft, sliced rye bread.

Wasa sourdough rye crispbread, 235 g

Wasa sourdough rye crispbread, 235 g

A crunchy base for bites you want to top just before eating.

235 g pack. Joybuy recommends storing in a cool, dry place, away from moisture and heat.

If you have allergies, check the latest packaging for rye, barley and possible traces of milk or sesame. Read the ingredients list if you want to know which type of salt is used.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is sourdough rye bread always wholegrain?

No. Sourdough doesn’t confirm that rye bread is wholegrain. Look for the wholegrain claim on the packaging and check which grains are listed in the ingredients. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), bread labelled ‘wholegrain’ is made from wholemeal flour.

Is sourdough rye crispbread gluten-free?

No, don’t assume it is: the Wasa variety discussed contains rye and barley, both cereals containing gluten. If you have an allergy or food intolerance, always check the label of the product you buy.

Does all Dutch rye bread contain iodised salt?

You can’t tell from the name rye bread. Jumbo lists iodised salt for Brood van Soma Limburgs Volkoren Roggebrood, while Albert Heijn lists sea salt for Hollandia Roggebrood donker zuurdesem. Check the latest ingredients list for the type of salt in the variety you choose.

How should I store rye bread and crispbread after the parade?

Follow the instructions on the packaging you choose, as the products mentioned have different storage recommendations. Albert Heijn recommends keeping Hollandia Roggebrood sealed and refrigerated after opening; Joybuy recommends storing Wasa rye crispbread in a cool, dry place.