Food delivery in the Netherlands has changed a lot in the past few years. Deliveroo has gone. Gorillas has gone. Getir has gone. The quick-commerce boom of 2020–2022 went through a shakeout, and what remains in 2026 is a leaner, more stable market.
Which is actually better for you as an expat. The apps that survived are the ones that figured out how to be sustainable, and that generally means better service.
Here is what you actually have access to in the Netherlands in 2026, how they compare, and when to use each one.
Quick Comparison: Restaurant Delivery
| App | Coverage | Delivery fee | Min. order | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thuisbezorgd | All NL cities + many towns | EUR 1–4 (varies by restaurant) | Usually EUR 10–15 | 30–50 min | Widest restaurant selection |
| Uber Eats | Major cities + suburbs | EUR 0.99–3.99 | EUR 10 | 25–45 min | International chains + quality restaurants |
Quick Comparison: Grocery & Quick Delivery
| App | Type | Delivery fee | Min. order | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picnic | Scheduled grocery | Free (min EUR 35) | EUR 35 | Next day/scheduled | Best grocery prices |
| Flink | Quick grocery | EUR 1.80–2.50 | EUR 10 | 15–30 min | Urgent grocery top-ups |
| Crisp | Premium grocery | EUR 3.50–5.95 | EUR 35 | Next day | Quality, organic, specialty |
| Albert Heijn | Supermarket delivery | EUR 4.49–7.99 | EUR 30 | Same/next day | Wide selection, reliability |
Restaurant Delivery
Thuisbezorgd — The Dominant Platform
Thuisbezorgd.nl is the Just Eat Takeaway brand in the Netherlands, and it is the biggest food delivery platform in the country by a significant margin. If a restaurant delivers in your area, there is a very high probability it is on Thuisbezorgd.
What works well: The restaurant selection is simply unmatched. In Amsterdam, you are looking at thousands of options. Even in smaller Dutch cities — Eindhoven, Tilburg, Groningen, Breda — Thuisbezorgd has enough coverage that you will find something you want. The app and website work in English. The order tracking is reliable. The customer service is responsive when things go wrong.
What to watch out for: Delivery fees vary by restaurant and can feel arbitrary — you will sometimes see EUR 3.50 delivery on a EUR 12 order, which stings. Many restaurants on Thuisbezorgd have minimum order requirements of EUR 20–25. At peak times (Friday and Saturday evenings from about 18:00 to 21:00) delivery times stretch noticeably, and the estimated time shown in the app is often optimistic.
Tips for expats:
- Use the filter system to find restaurants near you with low minimums
- Check whether the restaurant’s own website offers delivery cheaper — some do
- The “Thuisbezorgd+” subscription (EUR 7.99/month) gives free delivery from participating restaurants if you order regularly
- Dutch cuisine options are less prominent than you might expect — the Netherlands has a very strong culture of ordering Indonesian, Chinese, Turkish, and pizza
Coverage: Nationwide. Available in every Dutch city and most towns over 15,000 inhabitants.
Uber Eats — The International Alternative
Uber Eats launched in the Netherlands in 2016 and has built a strong presence in the major cities, particularly Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht. It has not reached Thuisbezorgd’s nationwide coverage, but in cities where it operates it offers genuine competition.
What works well: Uber Eats tends to attract higher-quality restaurants and international chains that want a premium brand association. You will find restaurants on Uber Eats that are not on Thuisbezorgd, particularly newer openings and more upmarket spots. The app is polished and works entirely in English. If you already use Uber for taxis in other countries, you have one less app to manage.
What to watch out for: In smaller Dutch cities and towns, Uber Eats is simply not available. Coverage is concentrated in the Randstad (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht) and a handful of other large cities. Delivery fees and service charges can add EUR 4–6 to your order before you have chosen anything.
Comparison with Thuisbezorgd: For restaurant selection, Thuisbezorgd wins nationally. For quality and variety in Amsterdam specifically, they are comparable. Many expats I know have both apps and use whichever has what they want that evening.
Grocery Delivery
Picnic — The Best Value Option
Picnic is a Dutch company and it has become one of the quiet success stories of Dutch retail. The model is simple: no physical stores, electric delivery vans, and a selection focused on a well-curated range of about 7,000 products rather than the 30,000+ you find in a full supermarket.
What makes Picnic different: Picnic does not charge delivery fees. If your order is over EUR 35 (and sometimes lower), delivery is free. They manage this by running planned routes with electric vehicles rather than on-demand dispatch. You choose a delivery time slot from the options available in your area — typically a one-hour window, one to two days out.
Prices are competitive with Albert Heijn and Jumbo. Picnic’s own brand products are notably cheap. For simple, planned weekly grocery shopping, Picnic is hard to beat on cost.
What to watch out for: The selection is more limited than a full supermarket. Specialty items, international ingredients, and niche products are often absent. The scheduled delivery model means you cannot use Picnic for same-day needs. And coverage, while expanding, does not yet reach all Dutch addresses.
Who Picnic suits best: Expats who plan their weekly shop in advance and prioritise value. Families with predictable shopping lists. People who want grocery delivery without paying delivery fees.
Flink — Quick Grocery Top-Ups
After the exit of Gorillas and Getir from the Dutch market, Flink has become the main surviving player in the quick grocery delivery space. The model: order from a dark store (a small warehouse in your city) and receive groceries within 15–30 minutes.
What Flink does well: Speed. If you have run out of milk at 8pm, you need wine for a dinner you have just decided to host, or you want snacks for a movie night without leaving the house, Flink delivers. The app is in English. The selection covers about 2,000 essential products.
What Flink does not do well: Flink is not a weekly shop service. The selection is limited to basic and convenience items. Prices are higher than supermarkets — you are paying for the speed, and the premium is real. A basket that costs EUR 30 at Albert Heijn might cost EUR 38 at Flink.
Coverage: Flink operates in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen, Tilburg, and a growing number of Dutch cities. Rural and suburban areas are generally not covered.
Delivery fee: EUR 1.80–2.50 per order, plus a minimum order of about EUR 10.
Crisp — For Quality and Organic Grocery
Crisp is positioned at the opposite end of the market from Picnic. Where Picnic competes on price, Crisp competes on quality. Crisp focuses on fresh, often organic products, specialty foods, artisan bread, quality meat and fish, and items you would find in a delicatessen rather than a discount supermarket.
What Crisp does well: The quality of fresh produce is noticeably high. If you care about where your food comes from, want organic options without hunting through the organic section of a supermarket, or want specialty items that Albert Heijn does not stock, Crisp is worth exploring. The app has good English support. Customer service is responsive.
Pricing: Crisp is more expensive than Albert Heijn or Picnic for equivalent items. The delivery fee is EUR 3.50–5.95. Minimum order is EUR 35. Consider it a premium service with premium pricing.
Coverage: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, and a few other major cities. Less coverage than Picnic.
Albert Heijn Online — The Reliable Workhorse
Albert Heijn is the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, and its online delivery service is the most dependable all-round option for expats who want the full supermarket range delivered at home.
Advantages over specialist delivery apps: Albert Heijn Online gives you access to the full supermarket range — all 30,000+ products, including Albert Heijn house brands, international foods section, specialty items, and full fresh produce range. For expats who have not yet mapped out their local neighbourhood, having the same familiar range as the physical store is reassuring.
Same-day delivery is available if you order before noon. The delivery slots are reliable.
Costs: Delivery fees are EUR 4.49–7.99 depending on slot and order size. There is an Allerhande Bezorgpas (delivery subscription) for EUR 10.95/month that gives unlimited free delivery for orders over EUR 35, worth it if you order more than twice per month.
The Platforms That Left the Netherlands
A brief note on what has disappeared, since you may have read about these:
Deliveroo: Exited November 2022 after a Dutch court ruling that its couriers were employees, not independent contractors. The company calculated that operating under employment law would make the business unviable in the Dutch market and withdrew entirely. If you were a Deliveroo user in a previous country, this is the app you will notice is absent.
Gorillas: The German quick-grocery startup launched in Amsterdam in 2020 and for a while seemed to be everywhere. It was acquired by Getir in 2022.
Getir: The Turkish delivery giant expanded aggressively across Europe, then ran into severe financial difficulties. It exited the Netherlands and most European markets in 2024 in a series of rapid shutdowns. Former Getir customers in the Netherlands lost any remaining credits on their accounts.
The lesson from these exits: be cautious about loading significant credits onto any delivery app’s prepaid balance.
Practical Tips for Expats
Set up multiple apps: It takes five minutes and means you can always find what you need. Most Dutch expats I know have Thuisbezorgd and one grocery app as a minimum.
iDEAL works everywhere: All major apps accept iDEAL. If you have set up a Dutch bank account (ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank) or Wise, you have no payment barrier.
Lunch delivery: Dutch food culture generally means you do not order lunch delivery the way you might in London or New York. Lunch at most Dutch offices is either brought from home or from a local broodjeszaak (sandwich shop). Delivery for lunch exists but is less common than in some other expat cities.
Tipping culture: Tipping food delivery drivers is not standard in the Netherlands the way it is in the US. The apps allow tips but there is no social pressure to tip. A round EUR 1–2 is appreciated but entirely optional.
English language of drivers: Do not assume. Many delivery drivers in the Netherlands speak Dutch only. Keep the delivery instructions simple and your address clear. Most apps let you add delivery notes — use these for any specific entry codes or building instructions.
Dietary apps: Thuisbezorgd and Uber Eats both have good filter systems for dietary requirements — vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher. Worth using rather than reading individual menus.
Recommended Setup for Most Expats
For a newly arrived expat, I would suggest:
- Thuisbezorgd — for restaurant delivery nationwide
- Uber Eats — optional, for restaurant variety in major cities
- Picnic — for weekly grocery planning if you order in advance
- Albert Heijn Online — for same-day grocery needs
- Flink — for urgent top-ups
You do not need all five. The combination of Thuisbezorgd for restaurant delivery and either Picnic or Albert Heijn for groceries covers most situations comfortably.
Regional Coverage: What Works Where
Food delivery in the Netherlands is geographically uneven. The Randstad (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht) and major cities like Eindhoven, Groningen, Tilburg, Breda, and Nijmegen are well-served. Smaller cities and rural areas have significantly less coverage.
| City | Thuisbezorgd | Uber Eats | Picnic | Flink | Crisp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rotterdam | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| The Hague | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Utrecht | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Eindhoven | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Groningen | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | No |
| Maastricht | Yes | Limited | Partial | No | No |
| Rural areas | Partial | No | Partial | No | No |
If you are moving outside the four largest Dutch cities, check coverage for each app at your specific address before relying on any of them. Picnic’s coverage map is expanding steadily and is worth rechecking every few months if you were initially outside the service area.
Ordering in Dutch: Useful Vocabulary
All major apps work in English, but a few Dutch words are useful for delivery notes and restaurant communications:
- Geen = no / without (as in “geen uien” = no onions)
- Allergie = allergy
- Bezorging = delivery
- Vertraagd = delayed
- Belbericht = doorbell notification / ring bell
- Intercom = buzzer (often needed in Dutch apartments)
- Achterdeur = back door
Dutch apartment buildings frequently have coded entry systems. Always include your intercom number or entry code in the delivery notes field — delivery drivers unable to enter the building will often leave orders at the entrance, which is inconvenient in Dutch weather.
What Does Delivery Actually Cost Per Month?
If you order restaurant delivery twice a week via Thuisbezorgd, your extra annual cost from delivery fees and service charges is approximately EUR 200–400, depending on which restaurants you use.
For grocery delivery:
- Picnic: Free delivery — no additional cost above supermarket prices
- Albert Heijn Online delivery pass (EUR 10.95/month): Roughly EUR 131/year, worthwhile at 2+ orders per week
- Flink at 3 orders/month: Approximately EUR 65/year in delivery fees, plus a small price premium on items
These costs are manageable. Most expats find delivery fee spending well worth the time saved. The highest value habit: a weekly Picnic order covers most grocery needs at no delivery cost, with Flink as backup for urgent items and Thuisbezorgd for weekend meals.
Subscriptions Worth Considering
Thuisbezorgd+ (EUR 7.99/month): Free delivery from participating restaurants. Worthwhile if you order 3–4 times per month from participating restaurants in your city.
Uber Eats Pass (EUR 5.99/month): Free delivery on orders over EUR 15, plus 5% discount. Worth it for regular Uber Eats users.
Albert Heijn Allerhande Bezorgpas (EUR 10.95/month): Unlimited free delivery on orders over EUR 35. Breaks even at two orders per month.
Final Verdict
The Dutch food delivery market in 2026 is smaller than it was in 2022, but more stable. The apps that remain have figured out their economics — which means better reliability, better coverage, and less risk that the service you depend on disappears overnight.
Thuisbezorgd is the restaurant delivery platform for the Netherlands. For groceries, the right choice depends on whether you prioritise price (Picnic), speed (Flink), range (Albert Heijn Online), or quality (Crisp). For most expats, some combination of Thuisbezorgd and Picnic covers the vast majority of delivery needs without any monthly subscription costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thuisbezorgd the same as Just Eat?
Yes. Thuisbezorgd.nl is the Dutch brand of Just Eat Takeaway.com, one of Europe’s largest food delivery companies. Just Eat Takeaway.com also owns Grubhub in the US. In the Netherlands the service operates under the Thuisbezorgd name and is far and away the largest restaurant delivery platform, with more restaurants listed than any competitor.
Did Deliveroo leave the Netherlands?
Yes. Deliveroo exited the Netherlands in November 2022. After an employment court ruling that Deliveroo’s couriers were employees rather than self-employed contractors, the company decided to withdraw from the Dutch market entirely rather than restructure its operations. Several other European countries where similar rulings threatened the gig economy model also saw Deliveroo scale back. If you used Deliveroo in the Netherlands, Thuisbezorgd or Uber Eats are the main alternatives.
What is the cheapest food delivery option in the Netherlands?
For grocery delivery, Picnic is typically the cheapest — they match competitive supermarket prices and charge no delivery fee on orders over EUR 35. For restaurant delivery, it depends more on the restaurant. Thuisbezorgd and Uber Eats have broadly similar pricing; the platform fees are comparable. Using the restaurant’s own website or calling directly often saves the delivery platform commission (typically 20–30%) which sometimes gets passed on to you as slightly lower prices, though this varies.
Can I use food delivery apps if I only speak English?
Yes, all major food delivery apps operate in English. Uber Eats and Flink are fully English. Thuisbezorgd has an English version of its app and website. Picnic and Crisp have English interfaces though product descriptions are sometimes in Dutch. You will manage perfectly well with any of them as an English speaker.
Is Gorillas still operating in the Netherlands?
Gorillas was acquired by Getir in 2022. Getir then went through significant financial difficulties and exited most European markets including the Netherlands in 2024. As of 2026, neither Gorillas nor Getir is operating in the Netherlands. The main quick grocery delivery option remaining is Flink, which has weathered the consolidation wave better than its competitors.
Do Dutch food delivery apps accept iDEAL?
Yes. All major food delivery apps operating in the Netherlands accept iDEAL, which matters greatly in a market where iDEAL is the dominant payment method. Thuisbezorgd, Uber Eats, Picnic, Flink, and Crisp all accept iDEAL. They also accept credit and debit cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thuisbezorgd the same as Just Eat?
Yes. Thuisbezorgd.nl is the Dutch brand of Just Eat Takeaway.com, one of Europe's largest food delivery companies. Just Eat Takeaway.com also owns Grubhub in the US. In the Netherlands the service operates under the Thuisbezorgd name and is far and away the largest restaurant delivery platform, with more restaurants listed than any competitor.
Did Deliveroo leave the Netherlands?
Yes. Deliveroo exited the Netherlands in November 2022. After an employment court ruling that Deliveroo's couriers were employees rather than self-employed contractors, the company decided to withdraw from the Dutch market entirely rather than restructure its operations. Several other European countries where similar rulings threatened the gig economy model also saw Deliveroo scale back. If you used Deliveroo in the Netherlands, Thuisbezorgd or Uber Eats are the main alternatives.
What is the cheapest food delivery option in the Netherlands?
For grocery delivery, Picnic is typically the cheapest — they match competitive supermarket prices and charge no delivery fee on orders over EUR 35. For restaurant delivery, it depends more on the restaurant. Thuisbezorgd and Uber Eats have broadly similar pricing; the platform fees are comparable. Using the restaurant's own website or calling directly often saves the delivery platform commission (typically 20–30%) which sometimes gets passed on to you as slightly lower prices, though this varies.
Can I use food delivery apps if I only speak English?
Yes, all major food delivery apps operate in English. Uber Eats and Flink are fully English. Thuisbezorgd has an English version of its app and website. Picnic and Crisp have English interfaces though product descriptions are sometimes in Dutch. You will manage perfectly well with any of them as an English speaker.
Is Gorillas still operating in the Netherlands?
Gorillas was acquired by Getir in 2022. Getir then went through significant financial difficulties and exited most European markets including the Netherlands in 2024. As of 2026, neither Gorillas nor Getir is operating in the Netherlands. The main quick grocery delivery option remaining is Flink, which has weathered the consolidation wave better than its competitors.
Do Dutch food delivery apps accept iDEAL?
Yes. All major food delivery apps operating in the Netherlands accept iDEAL, which matters greatly in a market where iDEAL is the dominant payment method. Thuisbezorgd, Uber Eats, Picnic, Flink, and Crisp all accept iDEAL. They also accept credit and debit cards.
