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Organic Food Shopping in Amsterdam
Finding healthy organic ("biologisch") food in Amsterdam and Netherlands is quite straight forward. This article takes a look at natural food / health stores and farmer's markets in Amsterdam. Note that the major supermarkets also stock a limited range of organic foods. |
If you are looking for a listing of organic restaurants then go here: Organic Restaurants in Amsterdam
| When buying organic you should look for the "EKO" symbol which is granted to products containing over 95% organic ingredients by Dutch inspection-certification body SKAL (roughly equivalent to the Soil Association in the UK). There is also the orange "demeter" symbol which signifies bio-dynamic products. |  |
In the natural food stores in Netherlands you will find a wide range of organic food products available - from fruits and vegetables, fish, meat and dairy products, fair trade coffee and teas, breads, pastas and grains, sweet items, drinks (including organic wines and beers) - in fact anything you need for a complete meal! They also sell household and personal care products as well.
 | If you wish to have a regular organic (fruit and veg) package there is a national scheme run by an organisation called Odin. You have the choice of the following weekly packages: vegetable small pack (€7.95), veg large pack (€10.95), fruit small pack (€7.95), small "1 person" combi fruit + veg (€7.95), large "family" combi fruit + veg (€14.95). The fruit and veg is sourced both locally and (for more variety) from the Mediterranean - mainly Italy and Spain - which is transported by road and not by air. |
The package can be ordered from any participating health food shop. You pick up the package weekly on a specific day and you always have to pay a week in advance. It is possible to skip week(s) if you are away on holiday.
If you live in Netherlands then this scheme should be considered - you will be supporting local producers and smaller local shops - as well as eating healthy, quality organic produce. The following stores in Amsterdam are participants in the Odin collection scheme:
BioMarkt, Weteringschans 133-137 Het Zonnemeer, Nieuwe Kerkstraat 8 Estafette Zeeburg, Oostelijke Handelskade 1043 Estafette Westerpark, 2e H. de Grootstraat 9-11 Estafette Amsterdam Zuid, Ceintuurbaan 220 Kaasboerderij a/d Molensloot, Akersluis 6 Bezorgservice THIJL, J. v. Was. Obdamstr. 34-3 | Biolicious IJburg, Joris Ivensplein 56/58 Be Fresh, Hageland 99-101 Krits, Amstelveenseweg 176-178 Scharrelslagerij C. de Bouter, Hogeweg 60 Daily Delis, C. Huygensplein 36 C1000 Gein 7351880, Wisseloord 126 Groentewinkel Tanisha, Dorpsplein 52 |
Odin is available in many other towns and cities in Netherlands (see odin.nl).
Farmer's Markets in Amsterdam
There are regular organic farmer's markets ("boerenmarkt") held in Amsterdam.
Noordermarkt
(Jordaan)
- Saturdays 0900 to 1600 The markets have a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. |
De Pure Markt - Large Sunday farmer's market event which takes place at 2 locations every month in the south of Amsterdam although it is not so active during the winter. Some stalls sell organic produce. Locations are at Frankendael Park (not far from Amstel station) and George Gershwinplein at Amsterdam Zuid.
Natural Health Food Stores in Amsterdam
De Natuur Winkel is a franchise chain of organic stores located throughout Netherlands. They have 10 outlets in Amsterdam:
1e
van Swindenstraat 30-36 | C.
Huygensstraat 49-55 |
Organic Food For You is an up-market health food store with 2 shops in Amsterdam - one at Vijzelstraat 129 (not far from Muntplein), the other at Cornelis Schuytstraat 26/28
Estafette is another good organic food store with 3 locations in Amsterdam (listed above in Odin scheme).
Biomarkt is a health store (also listed above) on Weteringschans, quite close to Leidseplein. On the same street there is Deshima Freshop (Weteringschans 65) which specialises in macrobiotic foods.
Marqt is a high-end supermarket which sells some organic goods. Locations at Overtoom 21 and Utrechtsestraat 17 - strangely they will not accept cash.
If you are looking for specialist organic teas and coffees then consider the Simon Lévelt chain - they have 5 stores in Amsterdam (Ferdinand Bolstraat 154, Prinsengracht 180, Stationsplein 15, Kinkerstraat 109, Jodenbreestraat 20).
Major supermarkets (such as Albert Heijn) sell a limited range of organic products although you get the feeling this is more a marketing strategy to sell higher margin produce rather than from a pure ethical stance.