DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Lifestyle
Dutch news & articles
Meat substitutes becoming increasingly popular in Dutch food service industry
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Meat substitutes becoming increasingly popular in Dutch food service industry

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Dutch herring: The ultimate guide to the traditional snack in the NetherlandsDutch herring: The ultimate guide to the traditional snack in the Netherlands
8 best food delivery apps in the Netherlands8 best food delivery apps in the Netherlands
Dutch supermarkets: The ultimate guide to grocery shopping in the NetherlandsDutch supermarkets: The ultimate guide to grocery shopping in the Netherlands
14 most romantic restaurants in Amsterdam14 most romantic restaurants in Amsterdam
Two Dutch pizza restaurants named among best in EuropeTwo Dutch pizza restaurants named among best in Europe
Haribo recalls cola sweets in the Netherlands after cannabis traces foundHaribo recalls cola sweets in the Netherlands after cannabis traces found
Leiden introduces special recycling bins for pizza boxesLeiden introduces special recycling bins for pizza boxes
Dutch parliament wants to scrap extra costs on plastic takeaway containersDutch parliament wants to scrap extra costs on plastic takeaway containers
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Aug 23, 2024
Simone Jacobs

Editor at IamExpat Media

Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training. Read more

The popularity of plant-based dairy and meat substitutes in the Dutch food service industry has soared in the past two years. According to an analysis by ProVeg, total sales of meat alternatives in particular have more than doubled between 2021 and 2023. 

Meat substitutes used more often in the Netherlands

The government considered introducing a meat tax to encourage Dutch residents to eat less meat, and it appears establishments in the food service industry are already doing their part to encourage a more plant-based diet. By the end of last year, sales of meat substitutes rose by 111 percent in hospitality, catering and other food establishments compared to 2021 - amassing almost 3 million kilograms of plant-based meats. 

It may seem like a lot, but meat substitutes only make up 4,3 percent of the volume share in the Netherlands when compared to animal equivalents in food services. Even with this, the sale of meat replacements is higher in the food service industry than the amount sold in Dutch supermarkets for the first time ever. The sale of animal meats in the food service sector has also decreased by 2 percent. 

Plant-based alternatives are new standard instead of dairy

From 2021 to 2023, sales of dairy alternatives grew by 82 percent. Plant-based butter and margarine have been popular for years now, making up 63 percent of market sales. 

Alternatives for frothed milk are also being used more frequently, with 19,7 percent of frothed milk used being protein-based - most often oat milk. This occurs most noticeable in fast service which includes cafes, sandwich shops and snack bars. Based on the percentage, it is a reasonable estimate that one in five coffee drinks in these establishments is made with plant-based milk.

Caterers in the Netherlands use high volumes of plant-based foods

In catering to companies and educational institutions, there have been high volumes of plant-based products used compared with other food services. Plant-based cooking creams are used 21 percent of the time in corporate catering and 37 percent of the time in educational catering. 

Mayonnaise and French fries sauce have also become increasingly plant-based, but the most surprising is the use of plant-based bitterballen, which are used 26 percent of the time in corporate catering and 22 percent in schools. This means that about one in four bitterballen when having drinks at events for work are plant-based.

According to food service expert at ProVeg Netherlands, Martine van Haperen, it is easier for caterers to offer only plant-based options. “What these products have in common is the high one-on-one replaceability with the animal alternative. More and more caterers only offer vegetable cream, mayonnaise or bitterballen,” said Van Haperen. “That is much easier and more environmentally friendly than offering animal and vegetable options separately, especially because the consumer hardly tastes the difference."

By Simone Jacobs