The Dutch love to do “window shopping” and are always looking for a “bargain”.

In supermarkets a deposit must be paid for a cart. Remember that people do not buy in such large quantities as we do here. Often food is bought daily for what will be eaten that day. The reason for this is that there is no one to help you pack your items in a bag (you have to do it yourself) and no one helps you carry your packages to the car. You often see women who go shopping on their bicycles and then everything has to go into the carrier bags that hang next to the bicycles. When you get to the checkout, the most familiar words are: “dag” (good day) and “zegels?” These are the savings coupons like the ones we get here. Never ask for the “serpje”, because it has a completely different meaning. Ask for the “bon Heijn”.

The supermarkets are also not as big as the Pick ‘n Pays here. The most famous supermarkets there are Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Edah, Aldi, Lidl etc. You can just stare at the products inside these supermarkets. The different types of bread take your breath away! You don’t see such beautiful and fresh vegetables and fruit here. Not to mention their delicious cakes and tarts!!

In every town and city there is a market once a week on the square, usually in the middle of the city/town. Each place has its own specific market day. Here there are stalls with anything you want to buy. The best part of such a market is usually the cheese stall where you can taste a variety of cheese. There is also usually a fish stall and don’t forget about the stalls that make the traditional “croquettes”, or the “herring stalls”. You won’t have experienced the country if you haven’t eaten both. Croquettes are also served in restaurants.