Who should consider this choice?

Households keeping an eye on fibre

If you eat bread regularly and want to serve a wholemeal option at a Dutch Flag Day lunch, compare the wording on the bread and its fibre content per 100 g.

Bread eaters comparing salt

If salt is a particular concern, consider not only the bread but also what you serve with it. Compare the salt content of different breads using the same measure.

Households that read labels carefully

If you want to know whether baker’s salt has been used, or need to take allergens into account, check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific bread. The type of bread alone won’t tell you.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the wholemeal labelling, then compare the features that matter for your meal: fibre, salt, ingredients and how much bread you need. The percentages below link each main purchasing priority to a group of consumers; each person is counted in just one row.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholemeal and fibre Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g or per portion on the same basis. I want to choose bread based on the grain used and its fibre content, not its colour. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers.
Salt Compare salt per 100 g and consider the bread alongside the rest of the meal. If we’re also serving salty toppings, I want to know how much salt the bread itself contains. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this consideration.
Iodine and ingredients Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt and read the allergen information if you have allergies. I don’t want to assume that every bread containing salt also uses iodised baker’s salt, and I need to be able to check what ingredients it contains. For around 17% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority.
Texture and planning Choose a bread shape and quantity to suit the meal; check the storage advice if needed. We want bread that’s easy to serve at lunch, without having too much left over. This practical consideration comes first for around 16% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal

    A brown colour, seeds or several types of grain shown on the packaging don’t prove that all the grain ingredients are wholemeal. Choosing by appearance alone may therefore mean you overlook what you actually want to compare.

    Use the wholemeal label as your first filter, then read the bread’s nutritional information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between products made entirely with wholemeal grain ingredients and those that contain only some wholemeal ingredients when it comes to wholemeal labelling.

  • Assuming all bread contains iodised baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So seeing salt on an ingredients list doesn’t tell you by itself whether it’s iodised baker’s salt.

    For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt, or ask the baker which salt they’ve used.

  • Choosing based on extra fibre alone

    A claim about extra fibre relates to a specific bread and a specific comparison. It doesn’t tell you how much salt a portion contains or how large that portion is.

    Compare fibre and salt using the same measure, and consider the other parts of the meal when making your choice.

  • Buying a whole loaf for a small lunch

    If you only need part of the loaf, the rest may go stale before you get round to eating it.

    Choose a suitable size or freeze the bread in portions as soon as you buy it, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.

Brands to compare

These supermarket brands offer different types of wholemeal bread to help you compare your options. Always check the information provided with the bread you buy for its ingredients, nutritional values and allergens.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn groups products such as round loaves and hearth-baked loaves under an online wholemeal bread category.

  • Individual product pages make it easy to compare different types of bread.
  • Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the packaging when you buy.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists products including a half loaf called Volkoren Brood Koolhydraatarm (low-carbohydrate wholemeal bread).

  • This gives you a clearly identifiable option to compare with standard wholemeal bread.
  • A description in the product name doesn’t replace checking fibre, salt, ingredients and portion size on the label.

Lidl

Lidl describes products including fine-textured wholemeal bread, wholemeal rolls and rustic wholemeal sourdough bread.

  • If you’re looking for a finer texture, check the wholemeal labelling on the specific bread.
  • Lidl says that one specific finely milled bread for children contains as much fibre as wholemeal bread; don’t assume this product claim applies to every fine-textured bread.

ALDI

ALDI describes an Extra Fibre-Rich Wholemeal Bread for anyone wanting to compare fibre and salt separately.

  • According to ALDI’s own product information, this specific bread contains 30% more fibre and 30% less salt than standard wholemeal bread.
  • This comparison doesn’t automatically apply to other ALDI breads or breads from other shops, so check the current packaging.

PLUS

PLUS lists products including farmhouse wholemeal bread, wholemeal tiger bread and wholemeal hearth-baked loaves.

  • The different types of bread give you options for how you want to serve your meal.
  • PLUS says that product information can change, so check the packaging for the latest ingredients and allergen information.

Dirk

Dirk lists products including wholemeal hearth-baked bread, a wholemeal bâtard and a farmhouse loaf with extra fibre in its name.

  • You can compare different types of bread and an extra-fibre option as separate choices.
  • Compare the nutritional values of each specific bread before drawing conclusions about the differences.

Bread options on Joybuy

If you’re serving several small dishes, flatbread is another option to share. It’s a different type of bread from a whole or half wholemeal loaf, so check whether it suits what you’re planning to serve for Dutch Flag Day.

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, pack of 6 flatbreads

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 P

The six flatbreads are easy to share at a table with several small dishes, but they’re not the same shape as a standard whole or half loaf.

The product information lists wheat and gluten, and possible traces of soya and milk. If you have allergies, check the current packaging and read the ingredients list to see whether baker’s salt has been used.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is dark or multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. The colour and the presence of seeds don’t tell you whether all the grain ingredients are wholemeal. Check the product label, then read the nutritional information if you want to compare fibre content.

Does all wholemeal bread in the Netherlands contain iodine?

No, you can’t tell from the wholemeal label. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt, or ask which salt the baker uses if you’re buying unwrapped bread.

How should I store bread bought in advance for Dutch Flag Day?

If you don’t need the bread straight away, freeze it in portions as soon as you buy it, advises the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Take out only the portions you need, and follow the storage and preparation instructions on the label for packaged or bake-at-home bread.

Do I still need to check for allergens in wholemeal bread?

Yes. Wholemeal describes the grain ingredients used; it doesn’t tell you whether the bread is suitable for someone with an allergy. Read the allergen and ingredients information for the specific product, even if you’ve bought the same type of bread before.