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Best supermarkets in the Netherlands: Where to go grocery shopping?
Would you like to know the best supermarkets in the Netherlands? Here we have compiled a list of the most important ones with the best offers for your weekly shopping.
In the Netherlands, you’ll find a wide variety of shops and supermarkets where you can do your weekly shopping for your home. You’ll be able to choose between hypermarkets where you can find everything you need for groceries, home decoration, and clothing, to smaller stores for more everyday practical shopping.
We’ve compiled a list of the best supermarkets in the Netherlands, so you can learn about their history, the products they offer, their prices and opening hours. Additionally, we’ll show you other stores where you can buy furniture, appliances, and traditional Dutch clothing.
What types of shops are there in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, you’ll find a range of shops and stores offering various prices and products for your home and pantry. Here, we’ll list the different types of stores you can visit to do your shopping once you settle in the Netherlands.
- Hypermarkets: Large supermarket chains with a wide range of products and prices. You can find everything from home items to clothing, food, medicines, tools, technology, and sports. Weekly discounts on some products and loyalty programs, such as points to accumulate or discount vouchers, are also common.
- Discount supermarkets: These stores are often the best ally for both Dutch and foreigners looking for various products such as: Frozen foods, fruits, vegetables, meats or cheeses, as they offer a wide selection and prices are significantly lower compared to larger stores.
- High-end supermarkets: If you prefer to buy organic products, zero-calorie foods, gluten-free items, and healthier options, these stores are for you. You’ll find high-quality products, but the prices are higher than in conventional stores.
- International product supermarkets: If you want to find products from a specific country, these stores might have what you’re looking for, as the Netherlands has seen an increase in stores offering specialised international markets.
- Express stores: These are smaller markets where you can find items like snacks, drinks, and other practical everyday goods. Prices tend to be a bit higher in these stores, but their strategic locations in cities make them some of the most visited stores in the country.
- Weekly markets: These are characterised by offering fresh products like meats, vegetables, fruits, and flowers to the public once a week.
The most notable supermarkets in the Netherlands
We’ve selected 5 prominent supermarkets in the Netherlands, where you’ll find food like fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and other groceries. Some of them offer regular promotions, while others provide high-end products that justify their higher cost and benefit for customers.
1. Albert Heijn
It is one of the oldest and most widespread stores in the Netherlands, with up to 1,100 stores of various types, such as express stores, hypermarkets, and smaller supermarkets. This gives them an advantage over their direct competitors in terms of coverage.
Additionally, they cover the market with a large variety of local and imported products that they offer to customers. You can find fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, dairy, frozen foods, and bakery items.
Here are the prices of some of the products offered at Albert Heijn:
- Food
- 450 g mixed vegetables €1.79 ($1.95)
- 1 L full cream milk €1.50 ($1.63)
- 500 g spaghetti €1.19 ($1.29)
- 500 g Greek yogurt €1.79 ($1.95)
- 200 g strawberries €2.15 ($2.33)
- 1.5 L grape juice €1.79 ($1.95)
- Personal care products
- 1 L floor disinfectant €3.49 ($3.79)
- 75 ml kitchen degreaser 2 x €3.50 ($3.79)
- 75 ml bleach 3 x €3.99 ($4.34)
- 75 ml bathroom cleaner 2 x €3.50 ($3.79)
- 9 rolls toilet paper €6.10 ($6.63)
The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 22:00, and Sundays from 9:00 to 22:00. Depending on the area and the type of store, the opening and closing hours may vary. However, if you prefer to shop at Albert Heijn without leaving your house, you can order your products online and have them delivered to your home.
| Pros | Cons |
| -Large variety of food products. -Wide national coverage. | -Some prices are higher compared to other similar markets. -Fewer discount offers. |
2. Lidl
Lidl is one of the stores that offers the widest range of products for your home, as you can find tools, clothing, groceries, cleaning products, and furniture. It’s known for its wide variety of mid-range priced products, which allows them to maintain a balanced price offer.
In terms of coverage, Lidl has over 400 branches both in cities and less densely populated areas. This has allowed them to fill gaps where other stores don’t reach, offering moderate prices. Below, we list some products and their prices:
- Food
- 1 kg mandarins €1.29 ($1.40)
- 500 g vine tomatoes €1.69 ($1.83)
- 200 g onions €0.49 ($0.53)
- 1 kg small apples €1.29 ($1.40)
- 400 g mushrooms €1.29 ($1.40)
- 500 g carrots €1.19 ($1.30)
- 400 g olives €3.49 ($3.79)
- 900 g chicken breasts €9.29 ($10.10)
- 300 g back bacon €2.99 ($3.24)
- Personal care products
- 900 ml fabric softener €2.29 ($2.49)
- 3 L liquid detergent €4.41 ($4.79)
- Wet wipes pack of 40 €0.99 ($1.07)
The opening hours for Lidl are Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 21:00, and Sunday from 8:00 to 18:00, depending on the region and location.
| Pros | Cons |
| -Variety of own brand products -Competitive prices | -Fewer high-quality products -Variable offers across different branches. |
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3. Aldi
Aldi operates as a discount supermarket where you can find all the necessary items for weekly shopping. At Aldi, you can buy fruits, vegetables, groceries, baby and pet products.
Some of the groceries are aimed at customers who prefer a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, and you can easily spot them due to the special labelling in their more than 500 locations nationwide. This supermarket focuses on distributing a wide variety of local food products.
Here are some of their products and their prices:
- 1 L milk €0.79 ($0.86)
- 10 kg potatoes €2.19 ($2.38)
- 175 g fresh melon €1.49 ($1.62)
- 175 g watermelon €1.49 ($1.62)
- 175 g pineapple €1.49 ($1.62)
- 200 g leeks €0.99 ($1.07)
- 150 g carrots €0.99 ($1.07)
- 400 g minced meat €6.79 ($7.37)
- 700 g beef rib-eye steak €9.99 ($10.88)
- 100 g lettuce €0.79 ($0.86)
- 450 g macaroni with vegetable spaghetti €1.69 ($1.84)
- Personal care products
- 1 L liquid detergent €2.49 ($2.71)
- 750 ml multi-surface cleaner €1.79 ($1.95)
- 1 L fabric softener €1.59 ($1.73)
- 500 ml shower gel €1.29 ($1.41)
| Pros | Cons |
| -Good quality own-brand products. -Low and competitive prices | -Less variety of products. -No loyalty programs. |
4. Ekoplaza
The largest selection of organic products in a supermarket can be found in any of Ekoplaza’s more than 70 locations. This store was one of the pioneers in offering sustainable products and food grown without pesticides and with a biological focus.
Additionally, in this store, you can shop online and then have your items delivered to your home or pick them up at a time that suits you. Below are some products you can find in this store, including fruits, vegetables, and personal care products:
- Food
- 500 g mandarins €2.49 ($2.71)
- 600 g Santana apples €2.59 ($2.83)
- 1 mango €2.99 ($3.26)
- 1 kg carrots €2.99 ($3.26)
- 125 g blueberries €4.99 ($5.44)
- 250 g chestnut mushrooms €2.59 ($2.83)
- 500 g lemons €3.45 ($3.77)
- 100 g mozzarella cheese €2.39 ($2.61)
- 150 g soft cheese slices €5.29 ($5.77)
- 200 g organic chicken €8.32 ($9.07)
- Personal care products
- 250 ml organic shampoo €8.99 ($9.80)
- 30 ml facial moisturiser €17.90 ($19.53)
- Pack of 12 sanitary towels €3.99 ($4.34)
- 1 natural toothpaste €5.39 ($5.88)
The opening hours are variable, but generally, they are from 8:00 to 20:00 Monday to Friday, and Sundays tend to have shorter hours.
| Pros | Cons |
| -Great variety of organic and sustainable products. -Physical and online stores with effective operations. | -Higher prices due to production and operation costs. -Less presence in cities. |
5. Dirk van den Broek
This supermarket is one of the oldest in the Netherlands and currently has over 130 locations. It’s ideal for those looking for products at good prices on a weekly basis. The types of products available include vegetables, fruits, meats, prepared meals, frozen foods, some technology products, and cleaning items.
They also offer a balanced selection of organic and sustainable products at moderate prices compared to other brands. Vegetarian products are part of their commercial identity, attracting many customers who prefer food free from animal-based ingredients.
Here are some of their products:
- Groceries
1 kg mandarins €1.69 ($1.84) - 400 g Chinese vegetables €1.69 ($1.84)
- 1 kg fresh potatoes for frying €1.99 ($2.17)
- 150 g organic oyster mushrooms €1.79 ($1.95)
- 1 kg tomatoes €1.58 ($1.72)
- 1 bell pepper €0.49 ($0.53)
- Personal care products
- 1 L liquid detergent €2.49 ($2.71)
- 500 ml shower gel €1.79 ($1.95)
- 750 ml multi-surface cleaner €2.19 ($2.38)
- 1 cleaning sponge €0.99 ($1.07)
| Pros | Cons |
| -Good value for money. -Good promotions | -Some stores are small. -Limited online selection and functionality. |
Other notable stores and warehouses in the Netherlands
In addition to the well-known supermarkets mentioned earlier, we want to introduce you to other stores where you can find multiple products for your home and different occasions, appliances, and clothing.
This time, we’ll present HEMA, MediaMarkt, and Scotch & Soda, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages below.
HEMA
HEMA is a store offering a wide range of useful products for the home and for all family members. You can find miscellaneous items such as stationery, gifts for any occasion, event decorations, and souvenirs.
Additionally, you can get bedding, towels, rugs, thermal blankets, and size organizers. Along with clothing for children, women, and men. They even offer photography services and some desserts for your celebrations with friends and family.
HEMA has a presence throughout the Netherlands with over 700 locations, where you can shop between 7:00 and 20:00 at most of their stores. However, if you’re short on time, you can opt to shop online.
| Pros | Cons |
| -Wide variety of items and special products for the home. | -Some prices are slightly higher than other stores. |
MediaMarkt
In the late 90s, this German brand arrived in the Netherlands to offer technology and appliance products. Today, it has both online and physical stores with 55 locations nationwide.
This store is ideal for purchasing televisions, computers, washing machines, fridges, headphones, mobile phones, tablets, printers, and exercise machines.
Additionally, MediaMarkt offers services such as trading in old technology for new devices or repair services as part of their sustainability policy.
| Pros | Cons |
| -Large physical stores with product testing before purchase. | -Some new items have high prices. |
Scotch & Soda
This fashion brand has about 30 stores in the Netherlands. Within Dutch fashion retail, it is one of the most visited and appreciated by locals, as its quality has earned the trust of customers.
Although it is not a high-end store, it is considered to offer quality similar to luxury stores but with great accessibility for different audiences. They offer clothing for children, women, and men as well as accessories for various occasions such as bags, scarves, belts, and hats.
| Pros | Cons |
| -High-quality clothing and accessories. | -High prices compared to other stores. |
Frequently Asked Questions about the best supermarkets in the Netherlands
No, supermarkets in the Netherlands generally prefer payment by debit card or cash. Credit cards are less frequently accepted, though this varies by store type and chain.
Lidl, Dirk van den Broek, and Aldi tend to offer the best prices on many of their products. One reason is their own brands and well-priced imports.
Yes, most supermarkets are open on Sundays, though with reduced hours.
Stores like Albert Heijn and Jumbo generally offer a wider range of international products compared to other stores. However, these items tend to be more expensive due to import costs.
The most common opening hours for supermarkets in the Netherlands are from 8:00 AM every day. Closing times are more variable than opening times.
