Who is this relevant to?

If you eat bread with split pea soup

You want a slice that’s easy to enjoy alongside your soup or cut into pieces. Check the actual thickness and decide whether you want pre-sliced bread or would rather slice it yourself.

If you buy wholemeal bread every day

Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre and salt, rather than relying on the bread’s colour or a name such as multigrain.

If you check ingredients and allergens

You want to know what’s in the bread before you buy it. If you have a specific dietary or allergen priority, the information on the exact packaging is what matters.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether slice thickness, nutritional information, labelling or where you can buy it matters most to you. Then always compare nutritional values per 100 g or per serving described in the same way.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Slice thickness and ease of handling Check the actual slice; if you’re buying a whole loaf, ask whether it can be sliced for you or slice it yourself. When I eat bread with split pea soup, I want a slice that’s easy to hold or divide. For around 36% of consumers, ease of handling would be the top priority.
Wholemeal and fibre Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g; for values per slice, take the weight of the slice into account. For my everyday bread, I want to know whether it’s wholemeal and how much fibre it contains. This combination would come first for around 29% of consumers.
Salt and allergens Compare salt per 100 g and read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging. If I need to watch my salt intake or avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the bread’s name. Around 21% of consumers would consider checking the label their main priority.
Local availability Check whether the bread is available at your shop and whether you can buy it whole or sliced. I want to be able to pick up the bread on the day split pea soup is on the menu. For around 14% of consumers, being able to buy it straight away would matter most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘fijn’ means a specific slice thickness

    For the wholemeal breads we looked at, this name doesn’t specify how thick the slices are. So the name alone doesn’t tell you how the bread will work with split pea soup.

    Check the slice in the shop. If you want to choose the thickness yourself, look for a whole loaf that you can slice.

  • Relying on colour or the word ‘multigrain’

    A dark colour or a grain-based name doesn’t tell you how much fibre a loaf contains. According to the Voedingscentrum, packaged wholemeal bread is labelled as wholemeal.

    Check for that label and compare the fibre in the breads you’re considering on the same basis.

  • Assuming every loaf contains iodine

    The RIVM reports that not all bread is made with iodised salt. So the type of bread alone doesn’t tell you which salt was used in a specific product.

    Check the ingredients on the exact packaging. If you have a personal question about iodine, speak to a healthcare professional or dietitian.

  • Assuming a product listing means it’s available in store

    An older Albert Heijn listing for AH Rond fijn volkoren heel 800 g was marked ‘discontinued’. Lidl, on the other hand, lists Fijn volkoren as an item available in store only.

    Before you go shopping, check which bread your local branch stocks, then look at the packaging and how it’s sliced.

Brands to consider for wholemeal bread

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn stocks wholemeal bread; an older product listing mentions AH Rond fijn volkoren heel 800 g.

  • In 2023, Albert Heijn said it had increased the proportion of wholemeal bread in its range.
  • The listing mentioned for AH Rond fijn volkoren heel 800 g was marked ‘discontinued’. Check what alternatives are available now.

Jumbo

Jumbo Fijn Volkoren has product information you can use to compare ingredients and nutritional values.

  • Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre and 1,00 g of salt per 100 g for this bread.
  • The bread contains wheat and gluten; the name ‘fijn’ doesn’t specify slice thickness.

Lidl

Lidl lists an 800 g Fijn volkoren loaf, available in store only.

  • In store, you can check the slice and packaging for yourself.
  • Check the nutritional information and ingredients on the loaf you buy.

ALDI

ALDI lists Fijn Volkoren as a sliced loaf in its fresh daily range.

  • The ‘sliced’ label is useful if you want to use the bread straight away, one slice at a time.
  • Check the thickness in store and read the nutritional information and allergen details on the packaging.

PLUS

PLUS provides product details for Rond fijn volkoren heel and for a separate reduced-carbohydrate wholemeal variety.

  • PLUS lists 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g for Rond fijn volkoren heel.
  • Rond fijn volkoren heel lists wheat, barley and gluten. Check the reduced-carbohydrate variety separately for its ingredients and allergens.

Dirk

Dirk lists wholemeal bread alongside other types of bread in its bakery range.

  • The range gives you the option of looking for wholemeal bread in store.
  • Check how the particular loaf is sliced, as well as its label and nutritional information.

Wholemeal loaves to slice yourself

These two packs from Lekhaven Bakkerij are for anyone who prefers to choose their own slice thickness to go with split pea soup. They’re the same type of wholemeal wheat bread, sold as a 550 g pack and a pack of 2 × 550 g; remember to defrost and bake before slicing.

Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal wheat bread, 2 × 550 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal wheat bread, 2 × 550 g

For anyone who wants to choose the slice thickness to go with split pea soup. This pack contains two 550 g loaves. Remember to defrost and bake them, and follow the preparation instructions on the packaging. Check it for allergen information and fibre and salt values too.

View at Joybuy
Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal wheat bread, 550 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal wheat bread, 550 g

For anyone who wants to buy one whole loaf and choose the slice thickness themselves. The pack weighs 550 g. Once defrosted and baked, leave the bread to cool before slicing it. Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging and check it for allergen and nutritional information.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is fijn volkoren the same as ‘medium sliced’?

No, ‘fijn’ doesn’t specify a fixed slice thickness. If thickness matters to you, check the slice in store or choose a whole loaf you can slice yourself.

How can I recognise wholemeal bread?

For packaged bread, look for the wholemeal label. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread must carry this label to be wholemeal; colour or the word multigrain isn’t enough.

Does all wholemeal bread contain iodised salt?

No. The RIVM reports that not all bread is made with iodised salt. For a particular loaf, check the ingredients on the packaging rather than relying on the type of bread.

Are Jumbo Fijn Volkoren and PLUS Rond fijn volkoren heel gluten-free?

No: Jumbo Fijn Volkoren lists wheat and gluten, while PLUS Rond fijn volkoren heel lists wheat, barley and gluten. If you follow a gluten-free diet, always check the latest allergen information for the product you’re planning to buy.

How should I store a wholemeal loaf?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the bread you buy. For the wholemeal products mentioned, Jumbo and PLUS recommend storing them in a dry, dark place; check separately whether freezing is recommended for your loaf.