Grocery shopping in a new country is oddly stressful when you have a diet to keep, because the labels that tell you what is safe are all in Dutch. At Albert Heijn, the country’s biggest supermarket, a handful of words and logos let you shop with confidence whether you are vegetarian, vegan, or avoiding gluten, lactose, or sugar.
The core diet words
These are the labels that decide whether something goes in your basket:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Vegetarisch | Vegetarian |
| Vegan / plantaardig | Vegan / plant-based |
| Glutenvrij | Gluten-free |
| Lactosevrij | Lactose-free |
| Biologisch (“bio”) | Organic |
| Suikervrij | Sugar-free |
| Zonder toegevoegde suiker | No added sugar |
| Halal | Halal |
“Plantaardig” (plant-based) is the word you will see most for vegan products, often more than “vegan” itself.
Reading the ingredients and allergens
Dutch labels list ingredients under “ingrediënten” and flag allergens clearly. The key line starts with “bevat” (contains) or “kan sporen bevatten van” (may contain traces of). Common allergens to recognise:
- “gluten,” “tarwe” (wheat)
- “melk” (milk), “lactose”
- “ei” (egg)
- “noten” (nuts), “pinda” (peanut)
- “soja,” “sesam”
Hidden animal ingredients to watch
If you are vegetarian or vegan, a few Dutch words signal animal content that is easy to miss:
- “gelatine” (gelatin, in many sweets and some yoghurts)
- “kip” (chicken), “rund” (beef), “varken” (pork), “vis” (fish)
- “kaas” with “stremsel” (cheese with animal rennet)
- “vlees” (meat) and “gevogelte” (poultry)
The Dutch nutrition authority, the Voedingscentrum, is a reliable reference if you want to dig into what a label really means.
Albert Heijn’s own logos
Albert Heijn makes this easier than most: many products carry a small green “vegan” or “vegetarisch” logo on the front, and the AH app and website let you filter by diet. Its plant-based range is labelled clearly, so once you know the two or three words above, the logos do most of the work.
A few shopping phrases
If you cannot find something or want to check:
- “Waar staan de vegetarische producten?” (Where are the vegetarian products?)
- “Is dit vegan?” (Is this vegan?)
- “Zit hier gelatine in?” (Does this contain gelatin?)
- “Heeft u glutenvrij brood?” (Do you have gluten-free bread?)
For the wider supermarket and café vocabulary, see how to order a coffee or beer in Amsterdam in Dutch and the 20 everyday phrases expats hear constantly.
Beyond the basics: more label words
A few more words sharpen your shopping. “Notenvrij” is nut-free; “scharrel” means free-range (as in “scharreleieren,” free-range eggs); “biologisch” or “bio” is organic. On dates, “THT” or “tenminste houdbaar tot” means best-before (the food is still fine after, just past its peak), while “te gebruiken tot” means use-by (do not eat after that date). For vegetarians and vegans, the Dutch Vegetariersbond publishes clear guidance on what Dutch labels and logos really mean.
Eating out with a diet
The same words help in restaurants. Ask “is dit vegetarisch?” (is this vegetarian?), “heeft u vegan opties?” (do you have vegan options?), or say “zonder vlees, graag” (without meat, please). Most Dutch menus mark vegetarian dishes, and staff in cities are well used to dietary requests, so do not be shy about asking.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that turns the phrases above into short, five-minute lessons with audio, built for expats in the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking Belgium.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Dutch word for vegetarian and vegan?
Vegetarian is “vegetarisch” and vegan is “vegan” or, more commonly on Dutch labels, “plantaardig” (plant-based). Albert Heijn marks many products with clear vegetarian and vegan logos on the packaging.
How do I read allergens on Dutch food labels?
Look for the line starting with “bevat” (contains) or “kan sporen bevatten van” (may contain traces of). Common allergens include gluten, tarwe (wheat), melk (milk), ei (egg), noten (nuts), and pinda (peanut).
What hidden animal ingredients should vegetarians watch for in Dutch?
Watch for “gelatine” (gelatin) in sweets and some yoghurts, animal “stremsel” (rennet) in cheese, and the meat and fish words kip (chicken), rund (beef), varken (pork), and vis (fish). When unsure, check for a vegetarian or vegan logo.
Does Albert Heijn label vegetarian and vegan products clearly?
Yes. Albert Heijn puts green vegetarian and vegan logos on many products and lets you filter by diet in its app and website, so once you know a few key words, shopping to a diet is straightforward.
