In this guide
Dutch supermarkets differ by chain, store size and area. This guide covers the main chains, the statiegeld deposit system, Sunday opening and everyday practicalities, using each chain’s own information where it publishes it. We do not rank the chains or give price comparisons, because prices change weekly and differ by store: compare your own basket on the chains’ websites and apps.
💡 Looking for a complete banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026, which covers ABN, ING, bunq, Wise, Revolut and others by expat use case.
The main chains
| Supermarket | What the chain says about itself |
|---|---|
| Albert Heijn | Large chain with weekly Bonus offers and online delivery (ah.nl) |
| Jumbo | Dutch chain; the first Jumbo supermarket opened in 1996 in ’s-Hertogenbosch (jumbo.com) |
| PLUS | About 440 supermarkets, the only supermarket cooperative in the Netherlands (plus.nl) |
| Dirk | More than 130 stores across the country (dirk.nl) |
| Lidl | Discount chain with an app and a webshop (lidl.nl) |
| Aldi | Discount chain |
| Coop | Now part of PLUS: coop.nl opens the PLUS website |
How to choose a supermarket
Choose by what is near you and what you need:
- Check the weekly offers. Chains such as Albert Heijn publish weekly Bonus offers on their sites. Read the conditions to see whether an offer needs an app or loyalty card.
- Compare your own basket. Prices differ per chain and per store. Put the same list of items in two or three chains’ online shops to compare.
- Check delivery. Albert Heijn and PLUS offer online ordering. Check fees, delivery windows and your postcode on the chain’s site.
- Specialist ingredients. No supermarket covers everything. For specific cuisines, look for dedicated shops in your city, for example a toko (Asian grocery) or a Turkish or Moroccan supermarket.
Practical tips for expat shoppers
Understand statiegeld
Statiegeld is a bottle and can deposit scheme. According to Statiegeld Nederland, large plastic water and soft-drink bottles carry €0.25 deposit, small plastic bottles €0.15 and drink cans €0.15. The deposit is shown on the packaging logo.
Return empties at a return machine (retourautomaat) and you get a voucher (bonnetje) with your deposit. You can return empties at any supermarket, and supermarkets larger than 200 m2 and staffed motorway petrol stations pay the deposit out. The return machines recognise which packaging carries a deposit: anything the machine accepts earns a deposit.
Sunday shopping
Shops may be open from 6.00 to 22.00 on weekdays and Saturdays. Whether a shop may open on Sunday differs per municipality: each municipality sets its exemptions in its local bylaw (APV) (ondernemersplein.overheid.nl). In a new place, check your local store’s Sunday hours in the first week.
Bags and packaging
Bring your own bag if you can. Check at the checkout what a bag costs in your chain.
Online grocery delivery
For delivery, compare the chains that serve your postcode. See the grocery-delivery guide for current options and postcode checks.
Supermarkets in your city
Your city determines your options. See our guides to moving to Rotterdam, moving to The Hague, moving to Utrecht and moving to Eindhoven for neighbourhood details. Use each chain’s store locator to see which stores are near you.
Planning your budget
Grocery costs depend on where you shop, what you buy and your household size, so we do not give a standard figure. If you are planning your finances before moving, the housing budget checker and the cost of living guide are the better starting points.
Learning Dutch makes shopping and daily life easier. If you want to start before you move, you can try lessons with a tutor:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statiegeld system and how does it work?
Statiegeld is a deposit-refund system for bottles and cans. According to Statiegeld Nederland, large plastic water and soft-drink bottles carry a deposit of €0.25, small plastic bottles €0.15 and drink cans €0.15. Supermarkets larger than 200 m2 and staffed motorway petrol stations pay the deposit back, and you can return empties at any supermarket. At the return machine you get a voucher (bonnetje) with your deposit.
Can I do grocery shopping on Sundays in the Netherlands?
It depends on your municipality. Under the Winkeltijdenwet shops may be open from 6.00 to 22.00 on weekdays and Saturdays, and whether a shop may open on a Sunday differs per municipality, which sets its exemptions in its local bylaw (APV). Check the opening hours of your own store.
Which Dutch supermarket chains exist?
The main chains include Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl, Aldi, PLUS and Dirk. PLUS says it has about 440 supermarkets and is the only supermarket cooperative in the Netherlands, and Dirk says it has more than 130 stores across the country. Coop stores have become part of PLUS, and coop.nl now opens the PLUS website.
Do Dutch supermarkets deliver?
Several chains offer online ordering with delivery, for example Albert Heijn and PLUS. Delivery options, fees and areas differ by chain and address, so check the chain's website with your postcode.