Netherlands Travel

[irish96]

I am traveling to the Netherlands (Amseterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague) for a week in July. It is mostly for work and lots of pre-arranged meals (I told them I need gluten free and sent them a description in both English and Dutch), but I think I should bring some safe food with me or buy some when I'm there just in case the work functions mess things up and I'm left hungry. Any recommendations or advice for safely eating gluten-free in the Netherlands? This is my first major trip since being diagnosed with Celiac, all my other travel hasbeen to friends or family where its easy for them to have stuff for me to eat.

Thanks!

[AlysounRI]

Hi Davey:

I haven't been to the Netherlands since 2003 and I miss it so.

One of the best meal experiences in the Netherlands is to go for a big rijstaffel, which is something akin to an Indonesian smorgesbord, with lots of little tasting portions. You should be able to get a good meal with rice and veggies some safe sauces if you go to an Indonesian restaurant too. Though the rijstaffel might cause a certain amount of problems with everyone sticking chopsticks into little bowls.

Most Dutch cooking is very rich - vla (pudding for breakfast!!) and a trad. Dutch breakfast will be cold cuts and bread and coffee or tea. And vla, too. But you can avoid that too but having an egg.

I think perhaps, Indonesian restaurants might be a good way to go there as long as you know the sauces are safe.

Have a wonderful trip!!

And remember your alstublieft (please) and dankuwel (thank you) and tot ziens (so long).

~Allison

[NJKen]

I posted this in the international forum not too long ago:

I visited The Netherlands in March; my wife and I stayed in a vacation apartment in Scheveningen, near The Hague. We found gluten-free pastas, cereals, baking mixes, etc. in a Reformhuis nearby. (A Reformhuis is a health food store.) We also did a lot of shopping in the local Albert Heijn grocery store. It seems that all of the food products are labeled regarding their gluten content, so it is easy to determine which are gluten-free. (Gluten in Dutch is "Gluten".)

We did not eat out, but you can find information about restaurants at this link:

Open Original Shared Link

Good luck!