Hints and Recipes

     Moving to The Netherlands?
    Get hints on what to bring from the members
    who have made the move!

Need to know where to buy "hard-to-find" American
products? Find all that and more here!

Any questions? e-mail us:

Where can I find........?
If you live in a large city in The Netherlands then you are lucky! Most of the larger cities have import shops
galore where you can find baking soda, pure vanilla extract or other hard-to-find products.
Some of the stores frequently mentioned in our discussions are Tokos, the larger Albert Hein stores, and
A&P Hypermarkt. We have found American style bagels, Philadelphia brand cream cheese,
Betty Crocker box cake mixes and ready-made frostings, marshmallows, French's mustard and more!

Here is a list of some recommended websites to visit for ideas.

Food Shopper’s Guide to Holland
A useful food dictionary and comprehensive review of the finest food products in the Dutch market place.
This highly recommended book is available from:
ACCESS (Administrative Comittee to Coordinate English-Speaking Services) is an
independent not-for-profit organization providing a free information helpline and
other services for the English-speaking community in the Netherlands. ACCESS
aims to help you make living in the Netherlands an easy and happy experience

Other recommended reading:
The UnDutchables
"The official UnDutchables Web Site, inspired by the highly popular book, is here for anyone interested in
learning about Dutch quirks, character and customs."

Here are some comments and hints from Cooking Dutch members:

From Sarah
Gebakken Uitjes are the same as French Friend Onions
In the foreigner section of any store. Normally close to the rice and other
oriental noodles. At Albert Heijn I know they carry them in little plastic
containers and in HUGE plastic sacks. :-) C1000 carries them, Super De Boer
and Edah too.

From Susan
Recently, I found a wonderful butter vanilla flavoring along with
another one for Rum, almond, etc. They are by a German company Dr. Oetker,
which has products widely available here in Holland. You get a small pack
with four small bottles in it. It doesn't look like much, but it's potent
and it works wonderfuly in baking. I substitute half of the required amount
of vanilla with it, and the other half with vanilla aroma. It works pretty
well. It also gives a nice rich buttery hint.
So, look for it sometime in the baking section.

From Natasha
-RITZ CRACKERS - Schipol Airport (in the Deli), Spain and UK

-CHEDDAR CHEESE - the kaas shop in Hoog Catherijne which is the
shopping mall attached to Utrecht's Centraal Station. Here I mean
the real American-type chedddar - bright orange and everything!

-CAMPBELL'S SOUP - I have found Campbell's at several small
delicatessans in Amsterdam and Utrecht.

SPICES
basilicum = basil
dille = dill
oregano = oregano
zout = salt
peper = pepper
paprika = paprika
knoflook = garlic
marjolein = marjoram
kurkuma = kurkuma
koriandar = coriander
kervel = chervil
tijm = thyme
bonenkruiden = summer savory
salieblaadjes = sage leaves
rozemarijn = rosemary
selderij = celery
kruidnagel = clove
kaneel = cinnamon
laurierblad = bay leaf
suiker = sugar
dragon = tarragon