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Organic Food Shopping in Amsterdam
Finding healthy organic ("biologisch") food in Amsterdam and Netherlands is quite straight forward. There are a good number of natural food/health stores around the city as well as a few farmer's markets. The major supermarkets also stock a limited range of organic foods. |
 | When buying organic you should look for the "EKO" symbol which is granted to products containing over 95% organic ingredients by 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 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 combi fruit + veg (€7.95), large combi fruit + veg (€14.95). The fruit and veg is sourced both locally and (for more variety) from the Mediterranean - mainly Italy and Spain - transported by road and not by air. You have to go to your local health store each week to pick up the package (given to you in a strong paper bag). You then pay for the following week in advance. It is possible to skip week(s) if you are away on holiday. |
If you live in Netherlands and want to shop for organic food then this scheme should be considered - you will be supporting local producers and smaller local shops - and eating healthy, quality 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 Hugo de Grootstraat 9-11 De
Twee Gebroeders Molenwijk, Molenwijk 42 Biolicious
Aalsmeerweg, Aalsmeerweg 8 Kaasboerderij
a/d Molensloot, Akersluis 6 | Be
Fresh, Hageland 99-101 Krits,
Amstelveenseweg 176-178 Scharrelslagerij
C. de Bouter, Hogeweg 60 Daily
Delis eet & drinkwinkel, Christiaan Huygensplein 36 C1000
Gein 7351880, Wisseloord 126 Groentewinkel
Tanisha, Dorpsplein 52 Odin is available in many other towns and cities in Netherlands. |
Farmer's Markets in Amsterdam
There are regular organic farmer's markets (known as "Boerenmarkt") held at the following:
Noordermarkt
(Jordaan) - Saturdays 0900 to 1600
Nieuwmarkt (centre) - Saturdays
0900 to 1700
Haarlemmerplein (west) - Wednesdays 1000 to 1700
The markets have a friendly, pleasant atmosphere.
De Pure Markt - Large monthly farmer's market event which takes place in Frankendael Park (near Amstel station) the last Sunday of the month.
2010 dates: March 28th / April 25th / May 30th / June 27th / August 29th / September 26th / October 31st / December 19th (Xmas market) Time: 1100-1800
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 T:+31(0)20 6935909
van
Woustraat 80-82 T:671 4719
Scheldestraat 53 T:470 1350
JP Heijestraat 105-
109 T:689 5109
Haarlemmerdijk 160-164 T:626 6310
Constantijn Huygensstraat
49-55 T:685 1536
Elandsgracht 23 T:412 4696
Marathonweg 118 T:670 5881
Osdorpplein
620 T:610 2120
Waterlooplein 129-131 T:624 1765
Organic Food For You is an up-market health food store with 2 shops in Amsterdam - one at Vijzelstraat 129 (not far from Muntplein, T: 330 1812), the other at Cornelis Schuytstraat 26/28 (T: 330 1812).
Estafette is another good organic food store with 2 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, T: 423 0391) which specialises in macrobiotic foods.
If you are looking for specialist organic teas and coffees then consider the Simon Lévelt chain - they have 6 stores in Amsterdam (Bijenkorf at Dam 1, 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.
Organic Restaurants in Amsterdam