Supermarkets
The Netherlands has many Supermarket branches. The most popular is Albert Heijn, but there are many others including Jumbo, Aldi, Lidl, Digros, Plus and Hoogvliet. Check your local store for opening hours, but most of them are open in the evening, during the week. Some Albert Heijn and Jumbo shops also have a dry-cleaning service. Many supermarkets will provide free self-service coffee to their customers and most have a selection of fresh flowers on sale. You are also able to buy phone cards, upload OV chip cards, and use ATM machines. Be aware that most of the supermarkets don’t take credit cards, you need to pay with a debit card or cash.
Some supermarkets also offer home delivery services. You can also check their handy shopping apps.
Opening hours in The Netherlands*
For expats coming from a 24/7 service location, adapting to the typical Dutch opening hours might be challenging.
| Days | Shops opening time | Department stores opening times |
| Monday | 13:00 – 18:00 | 11:00 – 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 9:30 – 18:00 | 9:00 – 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 9:30 – 18:00 | 9:00 – 18:00 |
| Thursday | 9:30 – 21:00 | 9:00 – 21:00 (long shopping night in The Hague, Groningen) |
| Friday | 9:30 – 18:00 | 9:00 – 18:00 (long shopping night in Assen) |
| Saturday | 9:30 – 17:00 | 9:00 – 17:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00 (Only stores in City Centres) | 12:00 – 17:00 |
*Check your local store for opening hours via Google maps