GROCERY SHOPPING abroad in the Netherlands as an American

Have you ever experienced grocery shopping abroad? When I first moved from the US, I found the supermarkets and the grocery shopping experience in the Netherlands so confusing! Now I really appreciate what the Dutch supermarkets have to offer. In this video, I talk about the differences in grocery shopping between the US and the Netherlands and the differences between Dutch supermarkets and American supermarkets.
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I like to share my experiences of an American expat in the Netherlands. I describe both the unique and everyday aspects of Dutch culture, and life in Holland while enjoying every bit of it!
Blog website: www.dutchamericano.com
Instagram: DutchAmericano
Get in touch: [e-mail]
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[@MrJuzam]

If you want a good explanation on why we take more trips to the grocery stores to buy less items, it's all down to infrastucture. If you look at the youtube channel 'Not just bikes' you'll find a few lovely vids on this subject. It's has to do with walkable neighbourhoods.

[@patypami16]

I watched that video yesterday. Love having the grocery store within 5 min walking, but sometimes I miss a bigger supermarket with more variety of brands and products.

[@just2000ofme]

not just bikes is awesome, I am fascinated by the US (and Canada) once again proving their stupidity :P

[@grammatikaat4329]

@@patypami16 Try AH XL, those are bigger, maybe a little out of your way but probably at biking distance. Also Jumbo has a few bigger stores but they are a bit harder to find.

[@patypami16]

@@grammatikaat4329 Thanks for the tip! I had no idea. The one in Utrecht is a little far from home, but I'll take a look

[@mikepictor]

I honestly sounds like heaven. I hate doing the big weekly shop, because I always second guess myself and think "Well, I am a bit low on this, better get more", leading me to have backup supplies of stuff I haven't finished yet. If I can just get peanut butter when I am OUT of peanut butter...that would be much nicer. Just get a few things I need. Need more? Go back tomorrow or the next day. I love the sound of that.

[@markoftheilluminati6817]

"This video is not sponsored by Albert Heijn" 2 seconds later the algorithm puts a jumbo commercial in LOL!

[@raivanalphen2071]

Eggs are different in the US compared to the EU in general. In the US the eggs are washed with chlorine against salmonella. It effects the natural protection of eggs against bacteria. That is why they have to be stored refrigerated. In the EU the chickens are vaccinated and the eggs keep their natural protection against bacteria and so they do not have to be stored refrigerated. Salmonella is also transmitted through chicken poop. It is sometimes found on the eggshells. In the EU that would not be such a problem because of the vaccine, in the US it should not happen because of the washing of the eggs. If it does happen in the US the risc of salmonella infection is reasonably high.

[@Deniecee]

Great explanation👍 didn’t know that

[@DenUitvreter]

Funny thing is that the Dutch prefer brown eggs over white eggs because they feel it's more natural. It isn't, and it has turned out the chicken that produce the brown eggs produce more CO2.

[@hcjkruse]

@@DenUitvreter You can tell by the colour of the earlobes what the colour of the egg will be. Forgot what coulour matches with what

[@hcjkruse]

I Always pull white eggs from the bottom shelve when not using an online supermarket

[@2Fast4Mellow]

Even organic eggs needs to be stored refrigerated because it is classified as a dairy product. All dairy products (no exceptions) needs to be stored refrigerated between 40F and 45F. Fish always needs to be frozen, is fresh fish for sushi for example. FDA is very *nal about this.. On the plus side, I also knows where to find eggs and fish in every supermarket.

[@clusterpain2000]

Hiding the eggs is a Dutch tradition. Come Easter the whole country joins in.

[@DutchAmericano]

😂😂😂

[@MeesdeFilmliefhebber]

The Dutch book "3 ei is een paasei" from Jacques Vriens is a wonderful and charming introduction to the Dutch version of Easter, told from the POV of two young kids. Highly recommended!

[@tiemenbosma5793]

Lol I have never done that ever.

[@donder91]

@@tiemenbosma5793 same, never hid eggs or as a kid try to find eggs. May depend on the region you live in.

[@endthisnonsense7202]

That tradition is just as Dutch as the tradition to put up Christmas trees is Dutch...

[@melvinvanhaperen9555]

As a Dutch person myself, I'm not gonna lie I have never noticed the sings above the aisle either

[@boomer4629]

As a Dutch person i relate to the "omg the aisles have signs above them" moment, they were also invisible to me for the longest time lol

[@arthurkortekaas7357]

ill have to check in my store lol, i've been coming there for over 20 years and even worked there but i don't think i've ever looked at the ceiling :D

[@rexmedorum]

Glad I'm not the only dutchie;

[@harmdoornbos]

Dear Eva, there is one big difference between supermarkets in the US and NL. In the US supermarkets are often situated outside the city with huge parking facilities. That’s why people in the US go shopping once or twice a week, the have to go by car. It takes a long time before you get to the supermarket, find a parking lot and do a lot of shopping in a huge shop. I think it may take you 2 hours. In NL there is a supermarket in every area, often close by. You go there walking or by bike. The shops are nog that huge, it probably takes you a quarter of an hour to do the shopping. In total it takes you maybe half an hour. That makes in pretty convenient to go shopping every few days. I think that’s the biggest difference between grocery shopping in the US and NL.

[@reiniervenhuizen1407]

I did have this kind of experiance when I was in the US. drinking Coors light expecting that the light means low on alcohol, to find out after 5 beers that it was low on calories, not low on alcohol

[@GuusJanssen]

Supermarkets are named after people, because they all started as a single local grocery store, which over decennia (Albert Heijn started his first store in 1887) grew into big nationwide chains. So, it's not "the least creative way of naming a store", it was just the name of the man behind the counter.

[@Righteous0ne]

Exactly. Just like Heineken was the last name of the founder of the brewery somewhere in the eighteen hundreds. Which is now sold in 190 of the 195 countries of the world.

[@LuiePool]

Ironically, _Just the name of the man behind the counter_ makes it sound even less creative.

[@florisvansandwijk6908]

It's off topic, but congrats on your 5 year anniversary with your girl friend

[@jasper265]

I'll assume you meant girlfriend. Girl friend can be interpreted as platonic, which in the context can be a micro-agression. None of it is hard rules and different people will interpret it differently, but I'd avoid it in the context.

[@Charlz1980tv]

I think your comment is quite a perfect example of micro agression... He just wanted to say something nice, being friendly- and you (obviously looking for a non-existing problem) jump into it, accusing him of something that clearly was not his intention. I bet you feel all warm and fuzzy now, don't you...?😡

[@jasper265]

@@Charlz1980tv 1. You're wrong about my intentions. 2. You clearly do not know what the term micro aggression means. 3. By being offended on someone else's behalf you're needlessly picking a fight. (I can hear you think that I did 3 as well, but you're plain wrong. I'm not offended and I'm not assuming it being intentional, the latter you would have known if it wasn't for 2.)

[@Charlz1980tv]

@@jasper265 well, you are clearly well educated in sjw-newspeak....😆😆😆

[@mourlyvold7655]

@@jasper265 My goodness, the stuff people spend their energy on. He congratulated her. Rejoice! (and relax)...

[@RookieAssassin]

That most supermarkets here now all have selfscanners is a dream come true for introverts 🙃

[@jwenting]

yeah, and apparently shoplifters. One supermarket I shop regularly did away with them because they noticed a sharp increase in missing stock the moment the self checkout opened.

[@MultiArrie]

Depends on were you are in the Netherlands. I have nearby Deka Jumbo and Plus, an only the plus has self checkouts. I like to have small talk to the staff.

[@sandrogattorno4962]

Every self-service mean more unoccupy ppl, we have also in Italy in the ipermarket and in the supermarket big and average (not in the smalls) but I prefer wait in que where is a real cashier, and also, say hello and small talk with the cashier ;)

[@milamia2056]

Having your groceries being delivered is a dream come true to introverts.

[@TheSimArchitect]

Amen! And people who have a hard time packing things. I learned to always get the shopping carts and to bag my groceries in the corner later, though, so people don't get angry at me in the cashier. Missed the "full service" I got in America (baggers etc) when I was new here, but self scanning is awesome and solve the problem (I currently order all my groceries, though).

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

Love grocery shopping in the Netherlands. What stands out for me as well is that a lot of them are super easy to use by bicycle. Some even have a bicycle parking facility indoors at the front, inside the shop window.

[@RoosMaria01]

Do you mean the Albert Heijn at Witte Vrouwen in Utrecht?

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

@@RoosMaria01 Yes, and the Albert Heijn on de Langestraat in Hilversum, although I believe they have changed that again at some point.

[@Doubleranged1]

Even the Dutch people don't know where to find the eggs.

[@DutchAmericano]

I think this explains a lot 😂

[@Ssarevok]

Can confirm: they are wherever your local store has some extra shelf space. :)

[@TheViperMan]

@@DutchAmericano Protip: find a local farmer that has a egg-machine. The quality of the eggs are just better and sometimes cheaper. :)

[@elenaaristova1003]

ha ha

[@komkwam]

@Doubleranged 1 If you are a regular customer of a supermarket you know for sure where the products are, including the eggs. Often the products you rarely use are the ones that are hard to find.

[@TrickyD]

For tofu and other Asian products you should go to the Chinese supermarket like Amazing Oriental or other tokos. I dunno if it's necessarily cheaper, but at least the quality is much better. I always buy my rice & Hot Spicy noodles there.

[@bledig]

Amazing oriental is amaaaazzinnggg

[@Bianca_Toeps]

A new one just opened a while ago in Hoog Catherijne, across Media Markt.

[@eelke29]

The aldi and lidl are different because they go for being the cheapest. One of the ways they safe cost is by not unpacking the boxes the products come in. So this gives the mess of empty and half full boxes as customers take individual items out of the boxes.

[@dutchgamer842]

Lidl is getting more expensive towards a regular grocery store. Aldi and Lidl are Food Discounters, but Lidl is letting this concept go bit by bit and are becoming regular supermarkets

[@bastiaan4129]

I hate the Aldi, i prefer paying 10 cents extra at the AH just so i don't have to deal with that Aldi mess. The Aldi isn't actually that cheap anyway.

[@dutchgamer842]

@@bastiaan4129 You can get better or groceries for the same price at every other supermarket anyway

[@khulhucthulhu9952]

I recently went to aldi, and not only was it very unorganized and did they just not have a lot of things (I couldn't find fresh fruits...) but they weren't even that cheap!

[@passantNL]

@@khulhucthulhu9952 In part, it's marketing. They make the store look cheap to convince people that prices must be really low. It seems counter intuitive to make stores look unpleasant, messy and cheap, but apparently it works well.

[@silphonym]

Aldi is a German chain that operates under the "discounter" system. It's basically cutting costs on all fronts, to deliver the cheapest good (or at least decent) quality product. So they don't invest much in the "shopping experience" or convenience, as that would drive prices up. They even display the products in the boxes and packets used to transport, so the staff doesn't need much time to stock the shelves, further reducing staff and therefore employment costs. I don't know how good their products really are, but they are really cheap.

[@williamgeardener2509]

Aldi products are very good and they have an outstanding customer service which makes sure that if you bought something that's faulty you get refunded. When you buy non food articles like computers or tools from Aldi you can be sure your warranty is at least 3 years. If a manufacturer refuses to grant you a warranty claim, just contact Aldi and they'll sort the problem.

[@AnnekeOosterink]

The products are great. Most of the costs of regular supermarkets is because of the employees. People stocking the shelves cost money, and it really makes a difference if you have to hire 30 people to stock the shelves every day or just 2 people who only have to drop a box onto a shelf or drive over a pallet with a large box on it. So that's how they cut costs mostly. That and they have mostly their own brands, no name brands. But honestly, for lots of products the factory of origin is the same place, they just stick a different label on it.

[@nienke7713]

@@AnnekeOosterink Same factory does not mean it's the same recipe, the machinery can typically adjust for different recipes, and the big brands are typically very protective of their recipes precisely because they don't want competition to be able to produce something that's the same but at a cheaper price. Of course, different doesn't have to mean it's any better or worse necessarily, but ultimately that's up to the individual to decide.

[@AnnekeOosterink]

@@nienke7713 sure, but the differences are so small that it hardly matters imo. Unless it is a truly independent brand, hand made or something, most things will taste more or less the same. :)

[@nienke7713]

@@AnnekeOosterink depends on the product for me, for some products I don't really notice a significant difference between brands and just go for the cheapest option, for others, such as Coca Cola, I really do notice the difference and I dislike other cola brands I've tried. most independent organic stuff tastes mediocre to me, and organic is more of an ideology about naturalness than actually being about the environment or whatever, so I'm not going to bother spending extra for a worse product.

[@erictaylor5462]

14:50 They do the same thing in the States, only you don't have an actual stamp book. You're probably too young to remember, but before reward cards became popular you would collect stamps. In effect they are the same thing.

[@Just-A-Little-Magic]

Actually, Walmart is also named after a person: Sam Walton's market ;)

[@RobertKhoe]

Albertson?!

[@nikkikamstra1671]

Tip for expats.. Jumbo and Aldi accept AMEX.. to help you bridge the time until you get a debit card

[@HughJass1156]

Really appreciate your videos. I'm moving to The Netherlands next week from Michigan. Your videos have been extremely helpful

[@kenttaylor2568]

i remember the local grocery store here in Iowa had S & H green stamps were you could get bowls, plates etc. back in the '60's and early '70's.

[@LuiePool]

Thank you, Eva. Your videos are always fun and interesting.

[@coolcassy12]

Hello Ava, I would like to thank you for your videos! We are about to move to the Netherlands (Utrecht to be exact) and there are so many worries and uncertainties, and somehow your videos are preparing me for our journey, and brought me some comforts ❤️ Learning so so so much from your videos too! Thanks again and keep with with the good work! Keep cool 🌻

[@RoosMaria01]

Utecht is THE best city in the Netherlands

[@jette4216]

Welcome!

[@SamyasaSwi]

Check out the channel Not Just Bikes. It's a really fun channel about Dutch infrastructure

[@evab1410]

I had no idea about the coupon/stamp thing being typically Dutch haha. I have complete sets of plates, cups, bowls, pans, chef's knives, towels etc. All from high quality brands for a very good price because of the points we got at the grocery story. We started saving up when I was about 16 and there is so much I didn't need to spend money on anymore when I moved out hahah

[@mirjamvond1731]

Tbh I have been grocery shopping in the Netherlands my whole life, and one thing I struggle to find in an unknown supermarket, is the eggs 😄

[@MaschaClaessens]

No one knows where the eggs are. I was born and raised in NL and even after 30 years, I'm still looking for the eggs in the supermarket. (Really, EACH supermarket puts them in another aisle!)

[@jwenting]

and then changes that place every few months just when you have remembered the previous spot

[@hansreynders6853]

I'm still trying to figure out the logic of the location where they store the eggs. Born and raised in the Netherlands till the age of 24, then left abroad to never return until now, 50 years later, thanks to Corona (😐). After the first supermarket visit I asked my daughter if small supermarkets don't sell eggs. Turned out I just didn't see them.

[@RosesAndIvy]

@@hansreynders6853 Am I the only one who has no trouble finding eggs? They're almost always with the baking products and/or breakfast products

[@hansreynders6853]

@@RosesAndIvy Hah ok, I'll check it out. After 6 months here of course I know the spot now in the local supermarket but am still not aware of the surrounding products.

[@picobello99]

I'll tell you a secret: every grocery store has a label that says "eieren" above the aisle with the eggs. It's usually with the baking or breakfast products.

[@Dutchbelg3]

Hey Ava, I love your style of presenting. I am always happy to see you posted a new video ! :-) The Belgians always mock the Dutch for being stingy but the stamp collecting thing is also popular overhere! (Overhere = Antwerp)

[@DutchAmericano]

Thank you, and haha, that's fun to hear!

[@rheinhartsilvento2576]

Yeah, exactly these stamps are everywhere in Belgium😄

[@TheSimArchitect]

I don't bother with those stamps. I am here for more than three years and I never saw a good deal. I usually select "no stamps" when I order or I give my stamps away. When recently arrived I started collecting them only to find out I would still have to pay cash for those items that I could get cheaper from Action instead 😂 I'd rather get a cash discount instead. We also must be careful with sales because most of the time they give you a discount on items that are already more expensive than the generic brand to start with, but there's very good deals on items that are 50% off depending on the season/week (AH is good, Jumbo is lousy). Sometimes you get items that aren't previously inflated there, then it's worth it.

[@groetjesuitverweggistan]

The stamps are basically a loyalty program which they use to have you go back to the same supermarket each time. There are so many options, so they do it to get customers to choose them 😉

[@kimvandermolen5407]

The best stamps (zegeltjes) action in my eyes is the one from Dekamarkt where you can collect stamps for a free zoo ticket. It’s a great action for people with less money to spare. When they do there shopping they are also saving for a day out with (grand)kids or friend.

[@rpfs2691]

Oh and I'm quite impressed with your pronunciation of Dutch words.

[@yamuis]

Nice video, Ava. I don't know where to find the eggs either, the same for something like sugar, flour or salt, which I rarely use. 1 kilo easily lasts for over a year. BTW, congrats on your 5 year anniversary.🍾👋🍾

[@jdv943]

i happen to check; the local appie carries 8 different brands of canned tuna, with on average 9 flavors/ingredients/different sizes the difference is that cans of tuna are stacked BEHIND eachother, we dont need a 10x10ft wall of THE EXACT SAME CANS

[@ApemanMonkey]

"Supermarkets named after people is the least creative thing you can do" **The Waltons would like to know your location**

[@matthijsbouma]

sometimes you can request certain products at your grocery store, and if it runs well it will be a standard product

[@realatomizer]

When I moved on my own, I would go every saturday shopping in albert heijn for hours. Meeting neighbors with a cup of coffee. it was very gezellig always

[@wesley3507]

Eggs are often in the back of the supermarket. They do this because almost everyone needs them and therefore has to walk through the entire store

[@komkwam]

That is why, not long ago the first row, while entering the store, was the row with sweets/candy etc, because people often go shopping while hungry and then it was a clever way to seduce people into bying sweets etc. Also if parents went shopping with the kids, last they wanted was a nagging/crying kid so they bought some sweet to keep the kids quiet. There is/was a real thoughtout marketing strategy behind all that. Nowadays the healthier stuff is the first thing you see when entering the AH or Jumbo.

[@MrAronymous]

That goes for bread in the Netherlands. Albert Heijn designs their stores in a way (probably with vents and ducts) that the scent of freshly baked bread travels all the way to the front of the store.

[@ShaunCheah]

@@komkwam What's funny is that starting with the healthy stuff first is still a marketing move, except instead of a short-term win of selling more snacks and candy, it's a long-term win of associating the store and the brand with health and freshness.

[@raoul9181]

@@ShaunCheah Starting with the healthy food also makes people feel more comfortable buying unhealthy food, because after all they already purchased their vitamines and the like and thus can reward themselves with unhealthy snacks. Those marketeers are sneaky! 😄

[@jwenting]

@@ShaunCheah and that's why most supermarkets now start you off in the fruits and vegetables section, then bread, meat and dairy, and then after you've walked through half a store of wide open aisles of fresh products come to the tightly packed aisles of processed foods, all within very easy reach without having to slalom left and right. And of course the candy piled up at the checkout counters.

[@alejandrayalanbowman367]

Hi Eva from Spain. The stamps idea started in the US. When going somewhere different on holiday, one of our 'must go to' places is always a supermarket or two, to see what they have, the quality and how much they pay.

[@perpetual4958]

Indeed that's where Albert Heijn got the idea, in the 60s it was for seriously unaffordable items though that required saving in a post war economy that slowly got wealthier, it got Holland sold on the Refridgerator. Now you're generally better off waiting for a sale.

[@Schwello.]

Why didn't you just ask the employees where the eggs were?

[@albertlay8927]

I've been doing grocery shopping for decades now. A year ago I noticed the signs for the first time.

[@AppleCore360]

Aldi... no one has a clue what's going on, but we all go there for the cheap elecronics 🤣

[@Ulrich.Bierwisch]

Aldi has the concept to reduce the number of different products in store to something like 10%. While others have 10 brands of coffee, Aldi has 1, buys 10 times more at a lower price and just dumps it on a palette on the ground, let the customers open the boxes and grab what they need. Aldi is the master of cost reduction. Same with electronics. They don't have a large number of different devices you can buy when you need them, each week they put some in large numbers in the store and you buy them when Aldi thinks it's time to get a new one. Typically, Aldi has cheap products with a low to mid range level of quality but not trash. This seems to work. It made the Albrecht Family to the richest in Germany.

[@abrahamcusters2987]

Never been there.

[@RookieAssassin]

The Aldi also isn't Dutch, it's like that in other countries too

[@juloedtb1420]

@@RookieAssassin In America there's also aldi with the same concept. And what about the save-a-lot, it also has everything displayed on pallets.

[@erikmulder2574]

Aldi is German in origine I believe.

[@bananarama1]

I've lived in 6 cities/villages in the netherlands, and everywhere a supermarket is maximum 5 minutes on bike. So it's no problem to go every day. Gets you out of the house now in corona-times, and when you go to work at location it's just on route on the way back. Or on the way to work take some fresh lunch with you.

[@problu9586]

During my globetrotting years, gave up on buying milk abroad. Every country seemed to offer varieties of milk that offended my taste buds.

[@weeardguy]

When I was in Kyiv, Ukraine, the hotel had something that (by the sign next to the container) was 'Yoghurt': it was drinkable thin but it was soooo nice! I wish I could have taken it home with me ;)

[@CJ-nd9gg]

weeardguy was it buttermilk perhaps?

[@problu9586]

@@CJ-nd9gg Visited a friend's family farm in Austria. They offered me a cup of milk direct from a cow's udder. It was warm and bitter. Tried another cup of milk after it was run through a chiller. It was cold and bitter. Wondered what calf would drink that stuff? LOL.

[@weeardguy]

@@CJ-nd9gg I had to look up what that is, but nah, tasted that once at my grannies place and absolutely disliked it ;) It also had a slight fruity flavour to it. But countries are different: I also found out that McDonalds in Ukraine will get you square bread with your hamburger, while in the Netherlands, you get circular. Explanation from my Ukrainian friend (who invited me to her country): 'Yeah well, that's from Soviet times. We would feel betrayed if not the whole cardboard box would be filled.'

[@CJ-nd9gg]

@@weeardguy that's hilarious :p

[@paul.van.santvoord1232]

Indeed, the coffee is ment to give you a happy and cozy feeling. Most buy more or not needed things in that mood. Guess you already thought that was the meaning. And I really loved your text on sponsering.

[@33lex55]

It's like the smell of freshly baked bread; it stimulates sales...

[@shadeblackwolf1508]

dutch grocery shopping is focussed on go in for the 3 items you need today, and be out in 5 minutes. Aldi is a foreign brand who opened a ton of budget stores here.

[@DrQuatsch]

Paying with cash isn't all that much longer than paying with a bankpas. I actually find most people paying with cash to be quicker, because they are prepared to pay. They have their cash on hand, whereas a lot of people paying with their card have to still search it. For me it depends on how much I buy. If it's not that much, I pay with cash, but I also already know how much I have to pay, so I have it at hand as close to the cost as possible. I understand this doesn't happen all that much in the US, because you do not have tax included in the prices, it's only added at the cash register.

[@richardvanromunde4188]

I'm dutch and even I can't find my way around a supermarket. Also, we do our basic grocery shopping at the Lidl, where they don't have to much choice within products and for the things we like specific brands of we go to the Jumbo or Albert Heijn. It saves a lot of money.

[@zaired]

We had the same stamp thing here in Quebec, Canada But we had the stamp thing for like 70 years There is actually a very popular theatre play based on stay at home women collecting stamps to get utensils

[@makkie211175]

Things i love about Dutch Supermarkets is the distance, almost everywhere in the Netherland you have supermarkets. You don't need a car to get there, a bicylce would be sufficient. I love the huge assortiment, oke you have sometimes one of each, but still you have them all in one store. I have seen supermarkets abroad that has almost no assortiment at all. And i love the variaty in supermarkets for such a small country, every decent town has a AH, Jumbo, Plus, Spar, Lidle, Aldi, De boer/Plus, poiez/deka. etc, etc,

[@nannejandejong7112]

That is a policy. Supermarkets at the edge of a town like in a industrial are forbidden. Supermarktes are there where people live, so that you don't need a car, but can walk or cycle.

[@chubbymoth5810]

The self service payment is just much cheaper than a person working at the cash register. You can also increase turnover. The slight increase in theft that probably will arise from it still is outweighed by the increased profit.

[@neilgurling8666]

There is the problem and why i don't use self service, by encouraging it you are costing people jobs

[@TestTest-eb8jr]

@Chubby Moth , that is just plain BS

[@madamnicknack]

@@TestTest-eb8jr Good argument... 😉 It saves the supermarket space (which they can use for profitable things) and f.e. if they have 4 self service check outs, it saves them 3 cashiers on busy moments. They 4th will incidently check the groceries of customers, but can combine that with being a host and answering general questions from customers.

[@bararobberbaron859]

The thing I like about zegeltjes is that they're not restricted to the person that did the shopping. For example, a new pan or a set of pans may cost a lot of zegeltjes. In the 2 or 3 months the action runs, I know how much I shop, and I know I won't get enough zegeltjes to really do anything with them. So I can give them away to like a mom that's walking with a cart and a child, or when they are offered at the register you ask the person behind you in line 'spaart u de zegeltjes?' and if they say 'ja' you can just kind of nod or gesture to the cashier and they will give them to the person behind you. I feel like I essentially for free get to brighten someone elses day a little bit. That's a gift in my eyes.

[@janvandensteen]

go Ava,love your stuff, I am from Amsterdam but been in South Africa since 1952 !

[@elenaaristova1003]

Thanks and dank je wel

[@Mrevolva]

must agree , they have alot of choice in the supermarkets, and i love self checkout

[@ottot3221]

Did you know you can make a grocery list for your AH store at home and format it so it's matching the walking route trough your supermarket? It prevents you for having to go back and front in the store.

[@SDA704]

Thanks!

[@erlendvanderhaegen1670]

The cream thing gets even more confusing than that! Here in Belgium, we often call whipped cream "crème fraîche", which has French origins. But to the French, "crème fraîche" is quite literally just fresh cream!

[@SamyasaSwi]

It's the same in the Netherlands. Though maybe whipped cream is just creme fraiche with added sugar?

[@hnkspring]

You are a pro!

[@nomadgigi4051]

Thank you for another fun video. I always look forward to your new videos. When my cousins visited us here in Australia from the Netherlands they found groceries here very expensive, we're used to it so don't know any better. We have Aldi here as well, I like it as they sometimes have Dutch products so we can stock up. Shops are comfortable here not freezing but no coffee on tap, pity that. Self checkouts everywhere, actually not Aldi, but all supervised by one person for several checkouts. We have loyalty cards you scan with your groceries and occasionally get a $10 credit and cheaper fuel.

[@jbird4478]

Many US banks actually do allow you to get a debit card which works in Dutch shops as well, but you have to specifically order that, and they'll usually charge a transaction fee. Credit cards won't work at all in Dutch supermarkets.

[@arnoldhilberink]

i had the same culture shock when i went grocery shopping in Chicago for the 1st time :)

[@ralphb7401]

There are some supermarkets where you can pay with creditcard (Mastercard or VISA). A regular Alber Heijn isn’t one of them though. Some do offer it but you have to go to the service desk. Some supermarkets where you can pay with a creditcards are: Jumbo, Aldi, Lidl, Dirk, Dekamarkt and AH to Go

[@2Fast4Mellow]

Most American creditcards can only be used in the US (or it's territories). You actually need to specify that you want an international creditcard. In most of the world there is just one standard for paying with plastic (maestro, part of Mastercard). However in the US most creditcards are issued for the Cirrus network. Cirrus cards cannot be used with payment terminals if it does not support Cirrus. You can use the card with most ATM's.. This was something my girlfriend also noticed when we visit the Netherlands for a quick visit just before Christmas (2019). Luckily I was able to pay with my card. But it also happens the other way around. Most US stored don't accept Maestro cards because they have Cirrus terminals. Most (larger) supermarkets in the US accept pretty much anything. Checks and carbon paper creditcard processing are also still a thing here. And I live 15 minutes from Washington DC. Northern Virginia claims to be progressive, but it is often also very conservative.. I usually go shopping at Amazon Fresh. They have fully automated shopping carts. You start the buying process with scanning a QR code from your phone. You can then select a (Alexa) grocery list (you can make those at home) and it will automatically calculate the fastest route through the store. You don't have to scan a barcode or anything. Camera's on the cart will recognize all the items you put into the shopping cart or even remove from your cart. It is also very fast too. Price tags at Amazon Fresh stores are digital and are always showing the current price, I like that. It even tells you when you put items in your cart that are not on your shopping list, I think this is more a precaution to prevent claims that items are charged with your put in your card by others.. No checkout is necessary, as once you leave the store, Amazon will charge your creditcard automatically the moment the cart leaves the store..

[@SatumangoTheGreat]

Not all cards are accepted by all supermarkets though. I forgot my debit card once so I tried to pay with my Visa card at a Jumbo store. They only seem to support Maestro cards.

[@markboele1176]

Never found a jumbo i could pay with a creditcard.

[@ralphb7401]

@@2Fast4Mellow Thank you for your reaction. With my Dutch creditcard (Mastercard) I can pay in every country as long as a payment terminal had a Mastercard logo. But maybe that's a source of confusion as well, most people I know here in Holland see creditcard and Mastercard as one and the same thing. This of course, as you point out, isn't always the case.

[@ralphb7401]

@@markboele1176 According to their website they do, but maybe not all stores?

[@FredtheFrisian]

Thanks again Ava, fun to watch as always! I do love shopping in the supermarket. By the way do you have the other german supermarket, Lidl, over there? I prefer it to the Aldi. Cheesy greetings from Duiven!

[@errolparker5095]

We had S&H Green Stamps back in the day. It went out of style in 2000. A few supermarkets had it.

[@TheViperMan]

At least we have proper bread. :) American vs Dutch bread is so different.

[@DutchAmericano]

The bread in the Netherlands is indeed so much better!

[@tom.jacobs]

funny fact about American bread: a court in Ireland ruled that subway has to pay extra taxes because their bread is not considered bread in EU regulations (too much sugar), kind of embarrassing for a chain that has an image of having healthy food..

[@2Fast4Mellow]

Since we have children and therefor have a family breakfast 'we' are freshly baking our own (sour dough) bread every day..

[@MarcoSwart]

The Germans have even better bread and the Latvians have the best.

[@TheSimArchitect]

So true!

[@petervanwijmen]

You can pay with your credit card at Jumbo and even at Aldi in The Netherlands. At AH generally not.

[@hanfranssen]

You can find a floor plan from every Alber Hein as soon as you log on to the store, so if you are looking for eggs or something else you search the floor plan. Or you just ask someone who works, they will bring you to your product 😉

[@RoosMaria01]

Most coffee places are closed due to covid at the moment but indeed there is literally a coffee place in every supermarket (except Aldi and Lidl) in the Netherlands where you can get a free coffee or tea or even hot chocolate to drink while you are shopping.

[@RFGfotografie]

Great video :)

[@Helleuw123]

the big reason for the mroe daily maller grocery trips is msotly commute, in the usa the stores are generally father away (esp in west usa) with the super big parket ltos etc, we dont have that like that in the netherlands. here its on a walk/bike distant away which makes it easier to jsut quickly pick something up

[@rexmedorum]

Dutchie living in the UK: we have electronic points. They get you money off your next shop but some allow you to exchange for things like restaurant vouchers at 3x value which is what we do (hey love korting)

[@richardbrinkerhoff]

When I lived in the US stamps in supermarkets were very common, we had drawers full of S&H or Plaid stamps

[@jimjungle1397]

Basic (cheap) bread and milk have price controls in the Netherlands. The boutique bread and special milk have their own, uncontrolled high prices. The bread and milk prices are kept low by the government, that's the reason they are so cheap. Stamps used to be popular is US supermarkets when I was growing up. My parents collected stamps, but never traded them for anything.

[@nienke7713]

For more choice of tofu, you might want to find a toko (type of small Indonesian/Asian grocer) or Amazing Oriental supermarket (Chain of supermarkets with focus on Asian foods and also some other global foods including a small selection of stuff from the US) near you

[@Name-ui9oc]

i've lived in the netherlands almost my whole life and I have never seen these labels O.O mind blown!!

[@locowolfie]

Regarding the stamps they’re more akin to loyalty points. Its meant to make customers come back. And secondly its often used to entice parents to shop at the store with the “thing” currently in with the kids(think football stuf,pokemon etc.)

[@khulhucthulhu9952]

Fun fact: Albert Heijn is the 4th biggest Supermarket operator in the US

[@Baska311]

Could you please elaborate? I thought the only places with Appies were the Netherlands, Belgium and some Caribbean islands belonging to the Dutch Kingdom. Both me and my mum work at Albert Heijn (different stores, same city though) and this interests us greatly.

[@khulhucthulhu9952]

@@Baska311 Albert Heijn has bought several stores in the Netherlands (etos, gall&gall e.d.), and together they then formed Ahold. Ahold has bought, started or fused with many overseas companies, so that now a considerable supermarkets are owned and operated by them. Since Ahold fused with Belgian Delhaize to form Ahold-Delhaize that number has grown even more, so that now they're number 4 in the US with their Food Lion, Giant Food and the sorts.

[@perpetual4958]

@@Baska311 Ahold Delhaize

[@joostvm4350]

Always looking forward to your videos, it’s really interesting and fun to see a different view from The Netherlands. Are you only a year and a half in The Netherlands? Hopefully the COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted all so you can fully and properly enjoy The Netherlands!

[@elseline98]

I'd like to point out that although the stamp collecting can be convenient, it isn't always cheaper. I usually do the math myself before deciding if i should get those stamps. I regularly find the stamp thing more expensive.

[@TheSimArchitect]

Same!!! I just buy that stuff from Bol or Action instead, and I don't go to events anyway, so I don't need discounts on tickets (they are unlikely giving those if you want to watch Celine Dion or the likes anyway, it seems to be more content for family with children).

[@JasperJanssen]

The thing about milky/creamy dairy products is that for a very large section of them, they’re basically all the exact same thing (skimmed milk/magere melk) with more or less of the cream put back in. So skim/semi/whole aka mager/halfvol/vol are the 0/2/4 percent products, and that’s pretty common everywhere. But the types of heavier cream that are available and what they’re called vary a lot (single cream, double cream, half and half, slagroom kookroom koffieroom koffiemelk, etc etc). Best way is just to go by the fat percentage (this will probably require googling what the ones you’re used to actually are, so you can compare).

[@Cool_Goose]

Bunq is pretty sweet to get a card quickly. But yea, same shock coming from Romania where we only have mastercard and visa. In does work in Aldi :)

[@rebeccacarter1914]

I grew up in the 60's and each grocery store had their own stamps. Some of my Christmas presents came from stamps. I used to tease my mother and ask her if that was how she got me!

[@doosenco]

I've been a couple of times in the US and for me the biggest difference in grocery shopping is the huge amount of plastic bags you get in the US with your groceries. Really shocking.

[@TheSimArchitect]

Plus free ketchup and water when you visit the restaurants, and bathrooms are FREE!!!! 🤩

[@AssBlasster]

Many states and big cities are starting to introduce plastic bag bans or only allow 10 cent 40% renewable plastic bags. California has had it for years and everyone just brings their own bags now.

[@AssBlasster]

@@TheSimArchitect You pay for water at most restaurants? That's an insane notion here.

[@frankhooper7871]

I got caught out at the Albert Heijn in Etten-Leur when there on holiday - joined the queue for "chip & pin' only and, of course, my UK debit card wasn't acceptable. I didn't realise that as I'd used it previously at the Albert Heijn in Amsterdam Centraal Station - I guess the railway station is geared up more for tourists!

[@seauwen6691]

safeway or albertsons here in the US has similar to stamps. Instead its a game of monopoly. Not sure how it works cause I dont go to either and havent seen it since i was a kid

[@CuriouzComedian]

Thank you for this video with / on 'labels'. I have lived my whole life in the Netherlands (I'm borne here), but I never noticed those labels. I don't believe every supermarket has those, but I will check the next time.

[@picobello99]

As a grocery store employee I can tell you that you're not the only customer not noticing those labels. I don't think I've ever seen a store without them though. I use them all the time. When you ask "where is ...?" many employees (especially newer ones) don't know either, they just read the labels to find the right aisle.

[@CuriouzComedian]

@@picobello99thank you! Well, isn't there something wrong with the design of the shops? If many people don't see those labels, they probably miss also to see some stuff that the shop likes to sell to everybody.

[@loes6801]

The Aldi (and the Lidl) does That Thing because it allows them to keep the prices low because they need less employees to empty all the boxes and put everything neatly in the racks. Very nice if you want to save some money.

[@janneman7710]

that collecting points/stamps and things like that, is a attempt to get customer loyalty that apparently works. because almost all supermarkets do that sort of thing.

[@jasper265]

I'm Dutch and it usually takes me about a month of going to a new supermarket before I know the layout. Except if it's an Albert Heijn as they use the same layout across all stores.

[@tabestorm5339]

I think the couponing is typically american actually. There was even this tv-show on TLC: Exteme couponing. Here in the Netherlands there's no way you can get all your groceries for free, no matter how creative you get with all your stamps. Shops and supermarkets know what discounts to give you ;)

[@broodjebamibal]

I always pay with cash, easy to keep up with budgetting. No cash left? No roze koeken.

[@TheViperMan]

Ik gebruik een app, elke cent word er in gezet. Daarnaast elke week een budget voor boodschappen. Zo kom ik elke maand zonder te wachten op salaris rond. :)

[@TestTest-eb8jr]

Ik heb de laatste jaren steeds vaker aan het eind van m'n geld nog een stuk maand over....

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

Always cash.

[@MinecraftIndiana]

I had a hard time finding butter when I got to the Netherlands a few months ago. Partially because it is packaged differently in the Netherlands compared to the US.

[@Alvvays667]

'butter' is protected. Only 'roomboter' is real butter. All others like 'halvarine' and 'margarine' have less than 80% butterfat.

[@MinecraftIndiana]

@@Alvvays667 I wasn't referring to the types of butter. I had no problem with that. It was specifically how butter is packaged in stick form in the US compared to large blocks here.

[@stanrutten6921]

I got a commercial from the Albert Heijn just after you said that they should sponser the video.

[@JohnMulhall1]

Supermarket trick - Eggs are hard to find and as far from the entrance as possible, so you pass more shelves and buy more things even if you only went in for eggs.

[@thedeicide]

also a different in shops in general in the Netherlands. (well all/most of Europe I believe) is that all the prices in the store have the tax included. (BTW) So no need to bring a calculator to figure out how much tax you need to pay later.

[@juloedtb1420]

Aldi is also doing business in the US and the "Save A Lot" has the same concept of displaying everything on pallets

[@perpetual4958]

It owns the mentioned premium chain Trader Joe's, as well. You'll find the Dutch Aldi using the brand for its packaged nuts.

[@7slaper]

It already might have been mentioned, but Aldi doesn't unpack because it saves time, employees and money (--> also your money). At the moment they even explain that in the TV commercials. 💚 Love your vids - as a Dutchie it's good to hear expat's opinions and experiences.

[@ijustreallylikeramenokay7626]

Safeway definitely does the stamps thing

[@therealcleany]

In some Dutch supermarkets the eggs are near the dairy section. Which "small stores" have self checkout units?

[@Korilian13]

Probably the To Go shops.

[@user-gr2mq8ku9z]

Nice video

[@macmartin86]

Aldi is a German store (just like Lidl) and is basically designed this way that they save on staff to "fill up the shelves", it saves costs which is why Aldi and Lidl are generally cheaper than store like Albert Heijn and Jumbo. That's why the store looks like that.

[@Genashi1991]

Aldi is a specific kind of shop. It's like that by design. I'm not dutch myself so take it with a grain of salt. But in where I'm from that type of shop is for when you intend to get big packs of things. As opposed to single pack of milk, rice etc.