Which options suit different needs?

If you’re used to white bread

You’re looking for a less coarse texture and don’t want to replace all your slices at once. The Voedingscentrum suggests combining white and wholemeal bread as a way to make the change gradually.

If you buy bread for regular lunches

You want a type of bread that suits the way you use it and is available at your usual shop. Compare the formats on sale and check whether a particular variety is available in store.

If you live alone or with a small household

You don’t want a whole loaf to go stale before you’ve finished it. A half loaf, or freezing portions as soon as you’ve bought it, may suit the pace at which you eat bread better, as recommended by the Voedingscentrum.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether you’re looking for bread labelled as wholemeal or would prefer to eat white and wholemeal bread side by side for now. Then consider which texture, format and label information will work for your household.

What to consider What should you look for? Who is this most important for?
Taste and texture Look for the label ‘wholemeal’ if you want bread made with 100% wholemeal flour. Consider finely milled wholemeal bread if you prefer a less coarse texture. I’m used to white bread and want to make the switch gradually, without replacing every slice straight away. A familiar transition like this is the priority for around 42% of consumers.
Availability and size Check whether your preferred variety is available at your shop and choose a whole or half loaf that suits the pace at which you eat bread. I want to be able to buy bread for my regular lunches somewhere I already shop. This is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers.
Storage and labelling Read the storage and allergen information for your chosen bread, and check whether you can freeze it in portions. If I live alone, I don’t want my bread to go off and I want to know what ingredients it contains. Storage or checking the label is the main concern for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a dark colour for wholemeal

    According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is made with 100% wholemeal flour, while brown bread contains a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. Colour or a name such as multigrain doesn’t tell you that on its own.

    Check that the bread you want to buy is labelled ‘wholemeal’.

  • Buying a whole loaf without a storage plan

    In a small household, bread can go stale before you’ve finished it.

    Choose a half loaf if that suits you better, or freeze a whole loaf in portions as soon as you’ve bought it, as recommended by the Voedingscentrum.

  • Only reading the front of the pack if you have an allergy

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed foods. The product name doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients.

    Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact bread you’re buying, including any relevant warnings about possible traces.

  • Assuming online product information matches the current label

    PLUS says that product information can change. This means an earlier product description may not match the packaging you receive.

    Check the packaging again if the ingredients, allergens or nutritional information matter to your choice.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s wholemeal bread range includes a variety of loaf shapes and options.

  • The range includes whole and half loaves.
  • Check the current ingredients and format for the loaf you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo is one option to compare when looking for finely milled wholemeal bread.

  • Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g for its Fijn Volkorenbrood and provides product information about ingredients and allergens.
  • That nutritional value applies to this specific loaf, not to all Jumbo breads.

Lidl

Lidl lists a finely milled wholemeal loaf for anyone looking to try a less coarse type of bread.

  • The listed option weighs 800 g.
  • Lidl says this option is only available in store.

ALDI

ALDI lists finely milled wholemeal bread as well as a separate extra-high-fibre option.

  • The two options have different product labels for you to compare.
  • Claims about the extra-high-fibre loaf don’t automatically apply to the finely milled wholemeal loaf; check the label for the option you choose.

PLUS

PLUS provides product information for its Rond fijn volkoren heel loaf.

  • For this specific loaf, PLUS lists 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g.
  • PLUS says product information can change, so check the packaging.

Dirk

Dirk lists, among other options, a wholemeal hearth loaf and a wholemeal bâtard.

  • You can compare these loaf shapes if you shop in store.
  • Dirk doesn’t list a delivery service, so bear this in mind if you want your shopping delivered.

A related bread option on Joybuy

If you’re considering Lebanese flatbread as well as sliced bread, this is another type of bread to look at. The English name Whole Wheat doesn’t, on its own, confirm that the packaging carries the Dutch label ‘volkoren’.

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P

An option if you’d like to use Lebanese flatbread for individual meals instead of a standard sliced loaf.

Check the label, ingredients and allergen information on the packaging if they matter to your choice.

According to the product information, the bread should be used within two days of opening.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is brown bread the same as wholemeal bread?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is made with 100% wholemeal flour, while brown bread contains a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. Look for the label ‘wholemeal’ rather than relying on the colour or a name such as multigrain.

How can I get used to wholemeal bread if I’m used to white bread?

You can temporarily combine white and wholemeal slices; the Voedingscentrum suggests this as a way to make the change gradually. Finely milled wholemeal bread is another option if you’re looking for a less coarse texture, but taste is a personal consideration.

What should I do with a whole loaf if I live alone?

Freeze it in portions as soon as you’ve bought it, as recommended by the Voedingscentrum, and take out what you need. A half loaf may also suit you better if you’d rather not freeze it; follow the storage instructions on the label for a sealed pack.

Where can I find the allergens in a particular loaf?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are labelled on pre-packed foods; also check any relevant warnings about possible traces.

Does all bread in the Netherlands contain iodised baker’s salt?

No, you can’t assume that every loaf does. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the addition of iodine compounds to bread through baker’s salt, but that doesn’t tell you whether your chosen loaf contains this salt. Check the ingredients for that particular bread.