Choose speculaas with dark chocolate if the label on the exact pack confirms that type of chocolate. Check the cocoa percentage too if it matters to your choice. If you want a solid snack for your hand luggage, plain speculaas biscuits are an alternative, but they won’t give you the chocolate flavour you’re looking for. Schiphol allows food in hand luggage, but spreadable foods are subject to the liquids rules. Always check the current packaging for allergen information too.
If you specifically want dark chocolate with your speculaas, check the type of chocolate and, if stated, the cocoa percentage on the packaging. Albert Heijn lists AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade as discontinued, so don’t rely on that product page if you’re looking to buy something just before departure.
If you’re looking for a solid biscuit to eat on the go, you don’t need to treat it as a spreadable food. Schiphol does distinguish between spreadable foods and other food: the liquids rules apply to spreadable foods.
Compare the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re buying. The Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade and Echte Bakkers Speculaas described by Jumbo have different allergen information. A different flavour or variety isn’t a substitute for checking the current label.
First decide whether dark chocolate is essential for you. Then check the packaging for taking it in your hand luggage and for any ingredients you want to avoid.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Type of chocolate and cocoa | Check whether the exact variety contains dark chocolate and whether a cocoa percentage is listed. Milk chocolate isn’t the same choice. | If I’m looking for a rich dark chocolate flavour, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘chocolate’ alone. For around 46% of consumers, that preference would be the main consideration. |
| Taking it in hand luggage | Distinguish between a solid biscuit and a spreadable product. According to Schiphol, the liquids rules apply to the latter. | When I’m on the go, I want to take a solid snack with me without treating a spread like an ordinary biscuit. For around 27% of consumers, convenience would come first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check both the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose, including any ‘may contain’ statements. | If certain ingredients matter to me, I need to be able to check the information for that exact variety. For around 27% of consumers, this would be the main factor in their choice. |
The chocolate in chocolate speculaas may be milk chocolate. The Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade described by Jumbo lists at least 29% cocoa solids in the milk chocolate, so it isn’t a dark chocolate variety.
Check the type of chocolate on the exact pack and assess any stated cocoa percentage separately.
Albert Heijn marks AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade as discontinued. The listing therefore doesn’t confirm that you can buy the product before you depart.
Check the current range at the retailer you plan to shop with.
According to Schiphol, spreadable foods are subject to the liquids rules for hand luggage. A solid speculaas biscuit and speculaas spread therefore need different checks before you go through security.
Choose a solid biscuit if you don’t want to take a spreadable product with you, or check in advance which liquids rules apply to your pack.
Allergen information can vary between chocolate products and plain speculaas. A familiar brand name won’t tell you which ingredients or ‘may contain’ statements appear on a specific pack.
When buying, read the label for the variety you’ve chosen, including any ‘may contain’ statement.
Albert Heijn lists an AH speculaas variety with dark chocolate.
Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade combines milk chocolate with speculaas ingredients, as described by Jumbo.
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.
According to Albert Heijn, Delicata Melk speculaas is a milk chocolate product with a speculoos caramel filling.
Yes. Schiphol allows food in hand luggage and distinguishes between solid food and liquid or spreadable food under the liquids rules. Bear in mind that security staff can still refuse an item if they consider it a security risk.
Yes. According to Schiphol, spreadable foods are subject to those rules. Check which packaging is permitted before putting speculaas spread in your hand luggage; don’t treat a jar of spread like a solid biscuit.
Check whether the exact variety is labelled as a product with dark chocolate, and look at the label for any stated cocoa percentage. The Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade described by Jumbo contains milk chocolate, while Albert Heijn lists its AH variety with dark chocolate as discontinued.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re buying. For Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade, Jumbo lists milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat, as well as possible traces of nuts. You shouldn’t assume this information applies to another variety.
