Shop for food in NL

– Updated: 4 April 2009 –

When I came to holland some 6 to 7 years ago, getting acquainted to the dutch food scene was one of my first steps in getting around the dutch culture. I am a lazy gourmande after all!

I will always have a hard time comparing the dutch food scene to the holy french gastronomy world. Yet, I’ve come to cherish it truely. The dutch food scene is growing at an incredible speed open to both world influences and ancient traditions.

It was not easy… I didn’t know the secret places; I almost cried in front of the ‘limited’ assortment (I still do sometimes) and ridiculous opening times

of the supermarkets; I thought butchers and bakeries didn’t exist in holland. I didn’t understand the dutch food habits. But I’m curious, and I learn fast! I’ve come to know some of the secret places, ingredients and dishes.

For those who are new or unfamiliar to The Hague’s food scene, here are some of my favourite food shopping places. The list is far from complete yet (I don’t always know the address or the names of the shops I’m going too) and only covers the shops I really know and go to, mostly in the Hague for now. For more adresses in particular in Amsterdam or Utrecht, Marieke shares tons of other great shopping tips on her blog Trifles.
You’ll see, food shopping in the Hague (and in the Netherlands ) is fun!

Here we go:

~ Bakeries, pastry and chocolate shops
~ Butchers
~ Fishmongers
~ Vegetables and fruits
~ Deli’s and food shops from around the world
~ Cheese shops
~ Wine and liquor shops
~ Coffee- and tea- shops
~ Markets
~ Supermarkets

And of course:

~ Cooking accessoires and tableware
~ Flowers

     

Bakeries, Pastry and chocolate shops / Boulangeries, patisseries
Bakkers, taart and chocolade winkels

Het Dessert atelier (from Richard Ophorst)
Westvlietweg 66 F, 2495AA Den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3654155
Open. no fixed openingtimes, call for information.

My all time favourite and, according to me, the only real pastry shop in the Hague (that was until I discovered Philipe Galerne… the real thing too). Richard’s pastries are light-textured, delicate, gorgeous and sooo delicious. Thanks to Richard, I had the wedding cake of my dreams.

Maison Belder
Javastraat 261, 2585 AL Den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3607079
Open. wed-sat 9-5, sun 9-13

The 2nd best croissants in the Hague (a bit pricy though, but you can’t have it all)! Open on sundays and national days (just like in France!), with the sunday news as a bonus. There’s no better way to start a perfect sunday.

Patisserie Philippe Galerne
Art van de Goesstraat 24, 2582 AK Den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3388662
Open. mon-sat ?, sun 9-13

A real french patisserie at the end of the famous Fred! Also open on sundays and national days (just like in France!). There’s often a queue until outside on sunday mornings but it’s all so worth it and while you’re waiting, you can have a peak at the hard working pastry team in action at the back of the shop. Do not hesitate to ask for tips, in french dutch or english. They will always answer you with a smile. Since I’ve discovered them, I have tasted and enjoyed a good deal of their assortment: THE best croissants and pains au raisins I know in the Hague. For the bread ask for their traditionnal baguette and the durum breads… In the pastry department, the Eclair au café, fruit tarts and madeleines are definitely worth a detour. In the weekends you will also find some delicious and beautiful entremets.

Bakkerij Hans en Frans Hessing
Reinkenstraat 50, 2517 CW Den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3451144

Good croissants with real butter! and many other treats. Try their dutch cookies.

Koek & Chocolade Den Haag
Frederikstraat 13, 2514LA Den Haag
phone. +31(0)355335866
Open. wed-fri 10-18, sat 10-17

Mouthwatering and beautiful handmade chocolates with quality ingredients and lovely combinations and shapes. You guys have got to try it! The assortment is always extra fresh and is prepared in the beginning of each week.

 

Butchers
Slagers

Matla Boucherie
Slagerij – belegde broodjes – maaltijden – salades
Bankastraat 48, Den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3504180

Slagerij P.J. van den Broek
Obrechtstraat 177, 2517 VS Den Haag,
Phone. +31 70 3651400
Open. mon 10-18, tue-fri 8-18, sat 8-16

Since short my local butcher. Not that it’s new, it is well established for at least 25 years. I’ve just been a little bit slow on finding that one… They have a large assortment of good quality meat, and kind experienced personnel who really know something about meat. Do not hesitate to ask for tips or a special cut.

 

Fishmongers
Vishandel

Simonis
Visafslag 20, 2583 DM Den Haag
Open.
1 apr./14 oct. mon.-sun. 9-21.
15 oct/31 march sun-thu 9-19; fri-sat 9-21

Always a large assortment of quality fresh fish from all seas. Not cheap, but quality fish isn’t around here. It’s one of the rare places in the Hague where I know I can find several sorts of seashells. It’s open on sundays but many people have found about that so be patient and do not forget to take a ticket at the entrance. Finally they also have a restaurant where locals come and enjoy a ‘hapje’ (snack) after a walk on the beach, It’s always crowded on sunny weekends. My favourites are of course the very dutch ‘haring’ or a half dozen oysters with its glass of wine. The lekkerbek and kibbeling (dutch ‘fish and chips’) are good too, but beware: their servings are enormous! I suggest you share a plate with two or even three.

Vishandel Roeleveld
Dokter Lelykade 158, 2583CN Scheveningen
phone. +31(0)70 3549626
fax. +31(0)70 3555985
e-mail: info@vishandelroeleveld.nl
Open. wed-thu 9-17, fri 8-17, sat 8-15.

Another of the famous fish familybusinesses of Scheveningen. Less ‘touristy’ than Simonis, but limited openingtimes. An extrafresh assortment of fresh fish and smoked specialties

 

Vegetables and fruits
Groenten en fruit

De Groen(t)e Winkel
Reinkenstraat 65, 2517CR Den Haag
phone. +31(0)703648866
fax. +31(0)703608833
Open. mon-fri 8-18, sat 8-16

My local, in the buzzing reikenstraat. I like the two lovely ‘veggie’ ladies and their assortment of quality seasonal vegetables, dutch farm cheeses and homemade specialties (mini-quiches, salads and other treats)

Rutten – Le Spécialiste Du Frais
Groentewinkel
Piet Heinstraat 86/A, 2518 CL, den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3462445

All the vegetables you can dream about. The place to go if you are desperate for jerusalem artichokes, wild mushrooms and old-fashioned vegetables.

 

Deli’s and food shops from around the world
Traiteurs

Casa Bocage
Zoutmanstraat 51,2518GM Den Haag
phone. +31 70 3925088

A treat for the homesick portuguese or brasilian expat and the curious foodie. A good selection of portuguese and bresilian food: from fish to chourizo and local wines, but also homemade specialities. Do not hesitate to enjoy a cup of portuguese coffie before you leave the place!

Chester’s kitchen
Prins Hendrikstraat 54, 2518HT Den Haag
phone. +31 70 3628542
Open. tue-wed sat 12-18, thu-fri 12-20:30

Freshly baked british pies without preservatives or artificial flavourings. My fave so far is the steak and kidney pie. From outside, you might think that the shop could do with a little bit more decoration, but don’t let it stop you: Rob Carter, ‘Head cook and bottle washer’ has known how to seduce the best pubs in the Hague, as well as the nostalgic british community and many more

Gransjean wijnen en delicatessen
Bankastraat 12, 2585 EN Den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3503980

One of my favourite deli’s in the Hague. They are friendly and helpful even when you arrive 5 minutes before closing time as I always do. A large choice of cheeses and delicacies from mediterranean, anglosaxon or dutch origin and a very good selection of wines for every occasion (Try their australian selection). Check their website for wine tastings.

Le Gône, traiteur Lyonnais
Noordeinde 200-C 2514 GS, Den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3625026

THE french traiteur from the Hague! Great products and typical french dishes… French cheeses, charcuterie, pastries, homemade foie gras from Christmas… and the best baguette around! I’ve known them for years and, somehow, a stop at their deli’s always feel like a trip back home.

 

Cheeseshops
Kaaswinkels

De Ruijter Kaasmarkt

Elandstraat 158, 2513GW Den Haag
phone. +31 (0)703465455
Open. still got to check the openingtimes…

Convenientlely located close to one of the Hague’s citycenter largest supermarkets (AH Elandstraat). The owners are charming and will advise you with great care on their large assortment of local and foreign cheeses. And they’ll make you try too.

De Kaasspecialzaak
Fahrenheitstraat 625
phone. +31(0)70 3631819
fax. +31(0)70 3922648
Open. mon-fri 8.30–18, sat 8.30-17.00

THE most famous cheese shop in the hague. And their reputation is far from overdone. An enormous and mouthwatering assortment of perfectly matured cheeses from the region but also from France, Italy, Spain andd much more. A candyshop for the cheeselover!

 

 

Wine shops
Wijnwinkels

Le Bouchon
Valeriusstraat 51, 2517HN Den Haag
phone: +31 (0)703457784
fax: +31 (0)703617946
email: info@bouchon.nl
Open. thu-fri 10-18, sat 9-17, sun 13-17

I discovered this wine specialist thanks to a couple of friends and winelovers who invited me and my dutchie to join them for one of the regular degustations. Over the years, the owner has turned the family deli into a great cave. He has a communicative passion for wines and has put together a great collection of wines. Check the website for degustations. They are worth a detour.

Marius – vintage wines
Piet Heinstraat 93, 2518CD Den Haag
phone. +31 70 3633100
open. wed-fri 10-18, sat 12-17

One of my dutchie’s favorite. Check their website for winetastings and courses.

 

Coffee- and tea- shops
Koffie- en thee- winkels

Betjeman and Barton
Denneweg 25c, 2514 CC Den Haag
phone. +31 70 3623435
Open. tue-fri 10-18, sat 10-17

Famous worldwide for its high quality tea blends for about a century. A bit on the posh side but a true candy shop for the tealovers.

Inproc Koffiebranderij
Denneweg 134, 2514CL Den Haag
phone. +31 70 3461541
Open. tue-fri 10-18, sat 10-17

Since 1792. I love the warm and fragrant coffee smell from the freshly roasted coffee beans that fills the shop and surroundings. A large assortment of teas, homemade coffee blends, asian teapots and coffeepots in a laidback atmosphere… could stay there for hours!

Kaldi
Haagsche Bluf 70, 2511 CP Den Haag
phone. +31 70 4278355

My favourite coffee spot when I go shopping on sunny days. My guy friends love it too, for the coffee… and the strategic location on the Haagse bluf square with many women clothing shops and the Aveda spa shop next door. Perfect coffee with a perfect view!

 

Markets
Markten

De Haagse markt
Herman Costerstraat, Den Haag
Open. mon/wed/fri 8-18, Sat 8-17

Large choice of local and asian vegetables. There’s also a good half dozen of fish stalls (including one from Simonis). And a large choice of north-african and turkish delicacies. There’s not much choice for meat according to me, but there’s a good arabic butcher on the small street along the market (can’t remember the name, I’ll check it next time slagerij Zemzem) who makes very good merguez. In the same street you’ll also find a large bakkery specialised in turkish and north-african pastries and bread. The assortment is quite large, especially during ramadan. I love their flat bread. I’ve tried both the morrocan pancakes and pastries, and although I’m very difficult when it comes to that, I must say they are more than ok, a little bit on the sweet side maybe. Further, you can find a good assortment of flower bulbs (tulips, amarillys…) in the plant stalls. One more things, if you plan to go on saturdays, be sure you won’t be the only one…

Boerenmarkt
Hofplaats, aan de Hofweg, Den Haag
Open. wed 11-18

Small but good quality assortment. Unfortunately, I’ve only been able to make it before closing a couple of times. I love the lady with the mushroom stall and her seasonal assortment of mushrooms.

 

Supermarkets
Supermarkten

Ekoplaza – Biologische supermarkt
115 Grote Marktstraat, 2511BJ Den Haag
Open. mon-fri 9-20, thu 9-21, sat 9-19, sun 11-18

This bio-supermarket opened last year across the V&D (at basement level, just at the exit of the tram & parking). They have a large assortment of bio products and many specialties for gluten-free, vegan or vegeterian diets. That’s were I finally found fresh yeast, and special kind of flours, such as chestnut or chickpea flour.

 

Cooking accesoires and tableware
Kookwinkels

DOK
Passage 19, 2511AB, Den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3469696
open. mon-sun

The latest, trendiest cookshop in the Hague city center, in the ‘Passage’. It’s huge and well assorted (books, cookware, top kitchen equipment). They have workshops and demos regularly on saturdays.

En Garde
Prinsestraat 63, 2513CB Den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3647352
Open. tue/wed/fri 10-18, thu 10-21, sat 10-17

My cave of Ali-Baba. It may be small, but they’ll have all you can dream of in terms of cooking equipment. Always a smile and good tips. I love that place! Check for demos and special sunday openings on their website.

Nynaber van Eyben
Hoogstraat 5, 2513AN Den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3655321
open. mon-sat

Since 1917, in the Hoogstraat in the heart of the city center.
Fine tableware and fancy cookware combined with a delicious tearoom.
One of my favourite for special occasions and gifts.

 

Flower shops
Bloemisten

Blooming Art
Denneweg 8, 2514 CG Den Haag
Phone. +31 70 3603659

Beautiful flowers, always with a smile. A little piece of the garden of eden.