Who is this relevant to?

Festival-goers who want to avoid buying more than they need

You’re looking for a wholemeal loaf that’ll provide enough sandwiches for the day. Check the pack size and any promotional terms before heading to a shop.

Groups or families who like to plan ahead

You’re preparing several packed lunches and want to freeze any leftover bread in portions. The Voedingscentrum advises freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it.

Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens

You want to know which grains and other allergens are in a particular loaf before buying it. Ingredients and allergens can vary from one product to another.

What should you look for when choosing?

Work out how many sandwiches you want to take with you for the festival day. Then consider what you can store, and check the label if ingredients or allergens are important to your choice.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Amount of bread Check the weight and whether you’re choosing a whole loaf, a half loaf or individual pieces. I want to take enough sandwiches for the festival day without buying more bread than we’ll use. For around 50% of consumers, the amount in each purchase is the most important factor.
Storing portions Check whether you can freeze any spare portions straight away, and only take what you expect to eat that day. If I’m preparing lunches for several festival days, I want to stop the rest of the loaf from drying out. For around 30% of consumers, storing portions is the priority.
Label and allergens Check the wholemeal description, ingredients list and allergen information for the specific product. If I have a food allergy or specific ingredient requirements, I need to be able to check whether this particular loaf is suitable. Around 20% of consumers put checking the label first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming different-sized loaves are equivalent

    A whole loaf, a half loaf and a pack of individual flatbreads won’t necessarily provide the same amount of bread.

    Check the weight and shape of the bread before deciding how many packs you’ll need for the festival day.

  • Assuming all wholemeal bread contains the same allergens

    The ingredients and potential allergen warnings listed for the Jumbo and PLUS loaves we looked at are different. The wholemeal description doesn’t replace this product information.

    Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the specific loaf every time you buy it.

  • Taking more fresh bread than you’ll eat that day

    According to the Voedingscentrum, opened wholemeal bread keeps for a limited time in a kitchen cupboard, and any unused bread may dry out.

    Divide the loaf into portions after buying it, freeze any spares straight away and take only what you expect to eat.

Supermarkets to consider

Albert Heijn

The product page for AH Boeren grof volkorenbrood provides information for anyone who wants to check the ingredients and storage advice in advance.

  • The page lists ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and freezing advice.
  • Check the current range to see whether the specific loaf is available.

Jumbo

Jumbo provides product information for Fijn Volkorenbrood that you can read before placing an order.

  • The information for this loaf includes ingredients, allergens, storage instructions and 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The loaf we looked at contains wheat and barley; also check for warnings about other potential allergens.

Lidl

Lidl lists products including a whole tiger-style wholemeal loaf, available in store.

  • The product page makes it clear that this loaf is sold in store.
  • Check the latest terms and availability at the shop you plan to visit.

ALDI

ALDI includes a sliced Fijn volkoren heel brood in its daily fresh bread range.

  • The sliced loaf makes it easy to count out your sandwiches in advance.
  • Check the packaging of the loaf you buy for its ingredients and allergens.

PLUS

PLUS lists Boeren volkoren heel as an 800 g loaf, with product information available in advance.

  • The page lists ingredients, allergens, freezing advice and 6,7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • When you receive the loaf, check that the packaging matches the product information you read beforehand.

Dirk

Dirk lists several wholemeal options from Bakker van der Akker in its bread category, including Boeren volkoren heel.

  • The category shows different types of bread, making it easier to look specifically for a whole loaf.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging or product page for the exact loaf.

Wholemeal flatbread for festival portions at Joybuy

This Souq wholemeal flatbread comes in a pack of six individual pieces, making it a handy option if you want to take separate portions to the festival. It’s a different format from the whole sliced wholemeal loaf that this guide is mainly about.

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P, wholemeal flatbread

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P

The pack of six flatbreads is a good option if you want to take individual pieces with you. This is flatbread, not a whole sliced wholemeal loaf; if you have specific ingredient or allergen requirements, check the packaging.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether bread is wholemeal?

Look for the wholemeal description and check the ingredients list for the specific loaf too. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the grain ingredient in a product described as wholemeal must be made entirely from wholemeal flour. The label also provides information about the other ingredients.

How should I store wholemeal bread for several festival days?

Freeze any portions you won’t use straight away as soon as you buy the loaf. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months. Follow the label instructions for unopened packaging.

Can I choose ordinary wholemeal bread if I need to avoid gluten?

Don’t assume that ordinary wholemeal bread is gluten-free. The Jumbo and PLUS loaves we looked at list wheat and barley; check the ingredients and allergens for the specific product every time you buy it.

How can I tell whether wholemeal bread contains iodised salt?

Check the ingredients list for the specific loaf; the wholemeal description won’t tell you this. The Jumbo product we looked at lists bakers’ salt, while the Albert Heijn product lists iodised salt. These details don’t tell you anything about the ingredients of other loaves.