Supermarkets in the Netherlands: where to shop and how to save money

Sources checked on 17 October 2026 · Translated from the Spanish original

Saving on groceries in the Netherlands depends less on finding the “cheapest” supermarket and more on how you shop: compare the price per kilo, choose own brands, use only the offers you need and waste less food. Here is how each chain, its cards and apps, the deposit scheme and the useful vocabulary work.

Dutch terms in this guide: aanbieding, korting, huismerk, kiloprijs, Bonuskaart, statiegeld, THT, TGT, weekmarkt, toko

Who this is for

Newcomers and anyone who wants to spend less on the weekly shop.

The main chains

We do not publish a price ranking: prices change every week and depend on what you buy. Compare your own list in two or three shops near you.

Chain	Good to know	Discounts
Albert Heijn (AH)	Supermarkets of several sizes, including small “AH to go” shops at stations.	Weekly “Bonus” offers with the free Bonuskaart (card or app). In the app there is also the “Bonus Box” with personal offers.
Jumbo	Supermarkets with a wide range.	Jumbo Extra's: weekly personal offers in the app, which you activate before paying, and points.
Lidl	Discount supermarket: smaller range and many own brands.	Lidl Plus: free app with coupons you activate before paying and scan at the till.
Aldi	Discount supermarket with a small range, mostly own brands.	Weekly offers in its leaflet and on its website.
Dirk	Chain with shops mainly in the Randstad (the west of the country).	Weekly offers in its leaflet and on its website.
PLUS	Neighbourhood supermarkets across the country.	Weekly offers in its leaflet and on its website.
Others	Vomar, Hoogvliet, Coop, Spar or Ekoplaza (organic), depending on the area.	Check the weekly leaflet (“folder”).

Own brands and price per kilo

The shelf label shows the price and, in small print, the kiloprijs or literprijs (price per kilo or per litre). It is the fair way to compare different pack sizes.

Worked example (made-up figures, not real prices): a 500 g pack at €1.20 costs €2.40/kg; a 750 g pack at €1.65 costs €2.20/kg. The bigger one is cheaper per kilo, but only worth it if you will use it.

The supermarket's own brands (huismerk) are usually cheaper than branded products (A-merk) and, according to Voedingscentrum, are often on the bottom shelves. A brand on offer can still cost more than the own brand.

What to compare	Where to look	Ask yourself
Price per kilo or litre	Shelf label: kiloprijs / literprijs	Which is cheaper per kilo?
Own brand or branded	Bottom shelves: huismerk	Would you notice the difference?
Offer	Signs such as “1+1 gratis”, “2e halve prijs”	Do you need two? Is it still dearer than the own brand?
Pack size	Rice, pasta, potatoes, frozen food	Will you use it before it expires?
Date	THT / TGT on the pack	Will you eat it in time?
Deposit	Separate from the drink price	Will you get it back by returning the bottle?

Cards, apps and weekly offers

Albert Heijn: the Bonuskaart is free; get it in the shop or when you create a “Mijn AH” account. With it (or in the app) Bonus discounts apply. The “Bonus Box” is only in the app: each week you choose a few personal offers.
Jumbo: with Jumbo Extra's you get personal offers every week in the app; activate them before paying, not afterwards.
Lidl: Lidl Plus is the free digital card; activate coupons before shopping and scan the app code at the till.
Others: check the weekly leaflet (“folder” or “aanbiedingen”) on each chain's website or app.
These cards and apps record what you buy to give you offers. Read their privacy policy and decide whether it is worth it.

Conditions change: check them on each chain's website before counting on a discount.

Products close to their date

Many supermarkets put a discount sticker on meat, bread, fruit and vegetables that expire soon. Voedingscentrum advises not to buy more of them than you will use; meat or bread can go in the freezer the same day.

Know the two dates: THT (“ten minste houdbaar tot”, best before) and TGT (“te gebruiken tot”, use by: do not eat it after that date).

The Too Good To Go app sells surprise bags with surplus food from shops and restaurants near you.

Municipal markets

Almost every municipality has a weekly market (weekmarkt or markt). According to Voedingscentrum, fruit and vegetables are often cheaper there, especially at the end of the day. Search for “weekmarkt” and your town on your municipality's website for days and times.

International shops

Turkish (Turkse supermarkt), Asian (toko or Aziatische supermarkt), Surinamese, Polish or Latin American shops are good for spices, pulses, big bags of rice, flours, fruit and vegetables, and products you miss from home. Compare per kilo there too: they are not always cheaper.

Statiegeld: get your bottle deposit back

Some drinks carry a deposit that you get back when you return the empty bottle or can. Current amounts (Rijksoverheid and Statiegeld Nederland):

Container	Deposit
Small plastic bottle (under 1 litre)	€0.15
Large plastic bottle	€0.25
Can with the deposit logo	€0.15

Look for the deposit logo on the pack. Cans must not be crushed so that the machine can read them.
Return them in the machine (inleverautomaat) at supermarkets and shops that sell those drinks, and at some motorway petrol stations, train stations, sports clubs and other places.
The machine gives you a ticket (bon) that you redeem at the till; many let you donate it to a good cause.
In September 2026 the government proposed extending the deposit to more bottles from 2028. It has not been approved yet.

Useful words when shopping

Dutch	English
aanbieding	offer
korting	discount
1+1 gratis	buy one get one free
2e halve prijs	second item half price
huismerk	own brand
kiloprijs / literprijs	price per kilo / per litre
THT (ten minste houdbaar tot)	best before
TGT (te gebruiken tot)	use by
statiegeld	deposit
bon / kassabon	receipt
pinnen	pay by card
zelfscankassa	self-checkout
tasje	bag (you pay for it: bring your own)
groente / fruit	vegetables / fruit
vlees / vis	meat / fish
zuivel	dairy
diepvries	frozen
brood	bread

A cheap weekly shop

Voedingscentrum's tips, in order:

First check what you have in the cupboard, fridge and freezer.
Plan the week's meals and make a list with quantities, ordered by aisle.
Shop once or twice a week, not every day.
Use an offer only if it fits your plan, or swap an ingredient for one that is on offer.
Buy rice, pasta, potatoes and frozen food in large packs; cheese by the piece rather than sliced; whole loaves.
Choose seasonal, uncut fruit and vegetables, and frozen ones when it makes sense.
Drink tap water: Voedingscentrum recommends it as your main drink.

Steps

Check what you have at home and plan the week's meals.
Write the list with quantities.
Check this week's offers in the apps or leaflets of the shops near you.
In the shop, compare per kilo and try the own brand.
Look at discount stickers on products expiring soon, if you will use them that day or freeze them.
Keep deposit bottles and cans and return them on your next shop.

Common mistakes

Buying an offer you do not need.
Comparing the pack price instead of the price per kilo.
Forgetting to activate app coupons before paying.
Throwing deposit bottles in the bin.

Ruta NL has no agreements with any supermarket and is not paid to mention them. Card and app conditions belong to each chain and may change.

Official sources

Deadlines, amounts and requirements change. Always check them with the source.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the cheapest supermarket?

It depends on your list and on the week. Compare your usual shop in two or three supermarkets and look at the price per kilo and the own brands.

Do I need a card for Albert Heijn discounts?

For Bonus discounts, yes: the Bonuskaart (card or app) is free. The personal Bonus Box is only in the app.

Where do I return bottles and cans?

In the machines at supermarkets and shops that sell those drinks, and at other points such as some stations and petrol stations.

Can I drink tap water?

Yes. Voedingscentrum recommends tap water as your main drink.

Do you have a tip for saving on groceries in the Netherlands? Share it with the community. Go to the community