Shopping for food
IN THIS SECTION
Introduction
Opening hours
Where are the corner stores?
Where and who are the supermarkets?
What are the alternatives to the supermarkets?
Where do I find my favourite things from home?
Introduction
You may find that shopping in the Netherlands is quite a different experience than what you are used to. Use the following as your guide:
Grocery Shopping hints
- Take your own bags to the supermarket.
- There are no "one-stop-shops".
- Don't forget to take a number, if no number is apparent keep an eye on who comes in after you.
- Always keep lots of cash on hand.
- Trolleys (winkelwagons) are all coin operated, remember to take 0,50cent and €1,00 coins with you. You can also get key rings that have a disk which is the size of a 0,50cent coin.
Opening hours
Strange as this may seem, this is quite an important topic because the opening hours are limited and a little frustrating when you are used to being able to 'pop out' and get stuff.
Officially stores are permitted to open from 8am to 10pm during the week, you will find however that this is largely ignored. Outside of central Rotterdam stores do not open on a Sunday. Larger stores and shopping centres open 12 times during the year - generally the first Sunday of each month. The generally accepted opening hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday (suburbs are open until 9pm Thursdays) and Friday 9am to 9pm in Rotterdam centre. Rotterdam centre is open on Sundays from 12 noon to 5pm every weekend.
The above is a guide only as stores generally choose their own opening times quite separate from consumer need and sales opportunity.
The actual opening hours are as follows:
Monday (if at all): 12-1pm to 5-6pm.
Tuesday to Thursday: 9-10am to 5-6pm
Friday: 9-10am to 9pm
Saturday:9.30am to 5-6pm (this may differ outside of city centre)
Sunday: 12-1pm to 5-6pm (Rotterdam centre only)
Supermarkets seem to be the only stores to open out of "normal" hours, ie. Albert Heijn are 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday.
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Where are the corner stores?
When the supermarkets are closed, you can go to something called an "Avondwinkel", essentially meaning night shop. It is generally more expensive as you are paying for the convenience of it being open until late. They open when the other stores close and are also open on Sundays. Opening hours are from around 5pm until 1am and from noon to 1am on Sunday. They are not very frequent but below is a selection.
EFE Avondwinkel
Niewe Binnenweg, 180a, 3015BJ Rotterdam ctr
Avondwinkel
Goudsesingel, 227a-229a, 3031EK Rotterdam ctr
Lamaari Avondwinkel
Niewe Binnenweg, 273, 3021GE, Rotterdam ctr
De Avondmarket
Beijerlandsein 43, 3074EB Rotterdam
Sjako Night Shops
Pleinweg, 6a, 3083EB, Rotterdam
Fa Hazi & Meir Avondmarkt
Benthuizerstr 86b, 3036CL Rotterdam
Sjako Night Shops
Kruisplein, 155, 3014DD, Rotterdam
Baqqoe Avondwinkel
Mathenesserweg 1, 3027HC Rotterdam
Tarifit Avondwinkel
Schiedamseweg, 53, 3026AC, De Schieweg
De Schieweg Avondwinkel
Shieweg 105-107, 3038AK
De Goudse Rijweg Avondwinkel
Goudse rijweg 13, 3061DA, Kralingen
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Who and where are the supermarkets?
Below is a list of the main supermarkets found in Rotterdam. They are not ranked in any particular order although Albert heijn is the largest and most popular.
Albert heijn
Generally the most expensive and it is not a one stop shop as you may be used to. Albert heijn do however, have internet shopping; the only supermarket to offer such a service. The registration can be done in English but the shopping site is in Dutch. You can also access Etos, Deli XL and Gall and Gall (for alcohol). Make sure you have your food shoppers guide and Nederlands/Engels/Nederlands dictionaries handy. Delivery crates cost €4,00 each, which are deducted from your total after each return, delivery charge depends on time chosen. They will collect your soda bottles and give you 0,25cents back for each bottle (and also swap-a-crates), which is deducted from your total bill.
Konmar – slightly better selection that AH and have (generally) larger stores, 2 in Rotterdam
C1000
Spar
Super de Boer - budget
Edah
Bas van der Heijden - budget
Plus Toko – Indian, Indonesian – spices and eastern delicacies. Found all over Rotterdam
Groene Passage – excellent organic supermarket, meat deli in central Rotterdam
Look in your yellow pages type ‘Supermarkts’ in Wat zoetk u? and ‘Rotterdam’ in Waar? You will get a comprehensive listing of the various supermarkets and food stores in your area.
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What are the alternatives to the supermarket?
You will generally find in your local suburb, a good shopping centre with all the specialist stores; including butcher, baker, tea & coffee shop, cheese shop, fish, meat, deli and grocer. This is the real Dutch way of shopping.
The freshness and selection of produce is often better at your local shops or at weekly markets held around Rotterdam.
Fish is best bought fresh from the market or specialist fish stores also. If you buy at any of the markets, they will scale the fish, fillet it and cut off the head. You will pay for the whole fish however, it is weighed before the filleting process.
Below is a listing of Dutch names for all the specialty stores:
Butcher - Slagerij
Poulty and Game - Poelier
Fish and Seafood - Vishandel
Bakery - Bakkerij
Pastry and confectionary - Banketbakkerij
Greengrocer - Groenteman/Groenteboer
Cheese shop - Kaashandel
Deli - Delicatessenwinkel
Dairy produce - Zuivelhandel
Alcohol - Sliterij
Healthfood - Reformhuis (they sell Maple Syrup here)
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Where do I find my favourite items from home?
If you miss your favourite foods from home, there are a number of different sources to purchase from.
Online:
Expat Shopping
Expat Essentials Provides over 2,600 of Britain's best loved food and non food products from marmite, tea, chocolate to magazines and baby care goods.
Thomas Greens A British online store that also stocks American, South African and Australian products.
Great Aussie Food Great Aussie Foods deliver world wide, and are happy to source specific requests. Includes items such as vitamins, pantry items, drinks, sauces and spreads etc.
Forage Provider of over 650 different products from the UK, America, and South Africa.
A Quarter Of Old fashioned British sweet shop selling traditional sweets.
Best of British If they don’t have what you want, they will try to get it for you.
Expatboxes An Expatbox is full of the things you miss from home. Either a themed box, or a box that you make up and request it. Also available is a range of Union Jack souvenirs.
British Export Grocer British food & groceries.
British Corner Shop Wide range of traditional and luxury British food and drink products including books and magazines for delivery worldwide.
ExpatDirect UK groceries and foods.
American Goodies Website that specializes in American food.
Baking:
Dutch Windmill Shop
Terbregse Rechter Rottekade 91, Hellegersberg, Rotterdam
English and American baking products.
Opening hours: 10-4pm Tuesday to Saturday.
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Asia, Africa and Europe:
Asian Foods
Nieuwe Binnenweg and Kruiskade, Rotterdam
West Kruiskade is known as China town and here you can find many different cultures and shops offering all kinds of Asian products.
Chinese Supermarkets:
Wah Nam Hong
West Kruiskade 4-6, Rotterdam
Ocean Paradise
Opposite Euromast in the floating hotel.
Rice & Spice Food Store
Schiedamseweg 153A, Rotterdam
Multicultural products; food and non food. Also Afro hair products and cosmetics.
Euro Africa
Nieuwe Binnenweg 306b, 3021GT, Rotterdam
Stocks dried codfish plus a variety of specialities from Portugal, Africa and Brazil.
Pasta di-Mamma
Vastelaand 42, 3011BM, Rotterdam Pasta
Genova Italian Deli
Zwaanshals 558-570, 3035KT
Wildhandel Treuren Jonker
Fransstraat 61, Rotterdam
Wild meats, pate, fois-gras and lamb. Closed Monday.
La Salute
Kerkstraat 8a, 3054NC, Hillegersberg
Delicatessen, Italian wines, catering, home cooking, workshops, restaurant.
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Outside Rotterdam
There are a number of stores offering various products that are based in Amsterdam, Delft and The Hague.
The Hague
Van Dijk
Ursulaland 80, Den Haag
Offering a large variety of imported foods including Hamburger Helper, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Crisco vegetable shortening, Oreos and much, much more.
Forasté
Van Hoytemastraat 74, Den Haag
French Traiteur
Maison Rigal
Van Hoytemastraat 113, Den Haag
French Epicerie
Russian Supermarket
Piet heijnstraat 66, Den Haag
Specialises in genuine Russian food and drinks, books and videos, Babushkas and several other things.
Italy - Wines & Deli
Piet heijnstraat 20, Den Haag
Delft
Il Tartufo - Italian
Minderbroerstraat 2, Delft
Freshly-made pasta plus a range of other Italian delights
Amsterdam
Tijn's
Eerste van der Helstraat 64, Amsterdam
Tijn's is an Asian grocery store that stocks US food. You’ll find products including Cheez Its, Duncan Hines frostings, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, Cheltenhouse salad dressings, Marshmallow Fluff, Karo corn syrup and best of all, ZipLoc bags. The store also carries ingredients for Japanese, Indian, Indonesian and Filipino cooking, and has cooked dishes (Indonesian and Surinam food) for takeaway.
Mediterranee
Haarlemmerdijk 184, The Jordaan, Amsterdam
French, Moroccan and Dutch baking traditions are all practiced under the one roof. The finest croissants in town, too. No credit cards.
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