Kosher at the Supermarket
Last updated:
No kosher restaurant nearby? You can eat well from a regular Dutch supermarket. These are my personal tips from traveling to Amsterdam.
The NIK kosher list
The Dutch rabbinate (NIK) keeps a searchable list of kosher products sold in ordinary Dutch supermarkets: kasjroet.nik.nl. Search by product name (Dutch names work best) and tick “Show only kosher”.
Note the “AH” and “Jumbo” listed are grocery stores. AH is Albert Heijn, and you can find AH in particular all over central Amsterdam.
Hungry right now?
Grab cut fruit at Albert Heijn
My go-to: walk into an Albert Heijn and buy cut-up fruit.
How do you know it's fine? The NIK publishes a list of E-numbers (food additives) that are not permitted. These include e.g. colorings made from insects and emulsifiers made from animal fats. Check the ingredients on the label: the cut fruit doesn't have a problematic E-number.
A filling meal from Albert Heijn
Buy:
- Santa Maria tortillas, which are on the kosher list;
- cut-up salad greens;
- Boursin cheese imported from France. You won't find it on the Netherlands list. Instead, see the French kosher list at consistoire.org/produit and type in “Boursin”.
That's a filling meal! Another variation I've made is with tuna brought from home; alternatively, search the list for it (“tonijn” in Dutch).
Kosher stroopwafels!
And of course: kosher stroopwafels! My favorite are the Albert Heijn “AH Roomboter karamel stroopwafels” (butter caramel stroopwafels). See them on the kosher list.
You'll have to hunt around the store for the stroopwafel shelf, but you'll know it when you see it. Yum!
Prefer a sit-down meal? See the kosher restaurants in Amsterdam, or order kosher on Uber Eats.