Chocolate letters
Welcome to a world full of delicious chocolate letters! For Dutch people, even those living abroad, Sinterklaas isn’t complete without the famous chocolate letter. Discover the history of the chocolate letter, learn about the different varieties, and watch the fun video from Het Klokhuis on how chocolate letters are made. You can order Dutch groceries online at Mr. Dutch Food, so Sinterklaas can be celebrated from afar. Does your mouth already start to water?
Buy chocolate letters at Mr. Dutch Food
Have you emigrated from the Netherlands? Or do you live and/or work in another European country and want to celebrate Sinterklaas with delicious chocolate letters? Can’t find chocolate letters where you live? Want these products where you are now? You can! Order these products through Mr. Dutch Food.
You can order all kinds of chocolate letters, as well as other Dutch products, via Mr. Dutch Food. The selection is enormous. You can choose products on the Dutch store’s website(s). We will collect the products for you from the chosen store(s) and ship them carefully packaged to you, anywhere in the EU.
How to order?
- Go to the website of the Dutch store from which you want to buy chocolate letters. You can find it at Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, and the organic store Ekoplaza.
- Fill your shopping cart on that website with chocolate letters and other groceries of your choice.
- Share your shopping cart with us via the order form on the order page.
- (Instructions on how to complete the order form can be found under the section "Order Instructions." There are instructional videos to make it as easy as possible for you.)
- After submitting the order form with your shared shopping cart, you will receive a quote from us.
- If you agree, you pay via the payment link provided.
- We will buy the delicious products for you from the store.
- We pack your groceries carefully and send them to your address in the EU!
Mr. Dutch Food delivers Dutch products to individuals and businesses.
For larger quantities, you can also count on us. You can order chocolate letters for business purposes, making a warm gesture toward clients and employees. We can also supply from wholesalers such as Sligro and Makro. Contact us for more information.
Popular chocolate letters brands
Chocolate letters are available from various brands. The best-selling brands in the Netherlands include:
Tony's Chocolonely
Tony’s offers fair-trade chocolate letters in exciting flavors like milk-caramel-sea salt and dark-almond-sea salt. They are sustainably produced and committed to fighting slavery in the chocolate industry.
Verkade
Verkade is known for its pure Dutch chocolate and offers a smaller selection of chocolate letters in milk, dark, and white varieties, with an accessible and creamy taste.
Hema
HEMA has a wide range of chocolate letters, from classic to hand-decorated. For example this HEMA’s chocolate letter S pure pecan raisin.
Supermarkt huismerken
Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS each offer their own brand of chocolate letters, with a good balance between quality and price.
The history of chocolate letters
The chocolate letter has a fascinating history dating back to the 19th century. Before chocolate letters became popular, letters were often made from bread dough. Bakers used these dough letters to decorate gifts, especially around Sinterklaas, crafting unique gifts for their customers. Each letter was meant to represent the initials of the recipient, a tradition that still lives on today.
Chocolate letters as we know them today gained popularity only in the 20th century, when chocolate became more affordable and manufacturers like Droste began producing them. Droste, known for the “Droste effect” (the image of a nurse holding a box that depicts herself), played an important role in the commercialization of chocolate letters. Since then, chocolate letters have become an indispensable Sinterklaas gift.
Regulations around chocolate letters have also shaped their development. For example, in the Netherlands, letters cannot weigh more than 200 grams to ensure they can be molded easily and remain evenly shaped. This facilitates the mass production of uniformly shaped letters, available everywhere from Albert Heijn to specialty shops.
Varieties
Chocolate letters come in many forms and flavors. There are dark, milk, and white chocolate varieties, as well as different sizes, from small 40-gram letters to luxury chocolate letters. At Mr. Dutch Food, you can order all types, such as:
Regular chocolate letters
Made from dark, milk, and white chocolate. Hema and Albert Heijn offer all letters of the alphabet (while supplies last).
Special flavors and variations
Think caramel-sea salt, confetti, speculaas, stracciatella, marzipan and "milk chocolate pepper nut foam candy". Jumbo offers a wide range of flavors.
Luxury chocolate letters
Hema, among others, offers hand-decorated chocolate letters weighing up to 200 grams, perfect for enjoying a longer, more intense chocolate experience.
Shoe letters
A smaller version of the chocolate letter, weighing 40 grams. These are almost always available in the letter "S" and are perfect for putting in a shoe as a small gift!
Mini chocolate letters
Can’t decide? Get a pack with various small letters in milk and dark chocolate, like those from Jumbo. Great for sharing and perfect as a snack.
Fair trade chocolate letters
Brands like Tony's Chocolonely offer fair-trade chocolate letters, made with ethically sourced cocoa to support sustainable agriculture and fair trade.
Vegan chocolate letters
For those who avoid animal products, vegan chocolate letters are available, made with only plant-based ingredients, such as these from Albert Heijn.
Some advantages of Mr. Dutch Food
Large assortiment
A large assortment of Dutch supermarkets is available for you. Around Sinterklaas time, a large assortment of chocolate letters is available.
Take advantage of store promotions!
Buy one, get one free at Jumbo? 50% off at Albert Heijn? Most stores have different promotions every week. Take advantage of the store promotions!
Always personal contact
You can call, email, chat or WhatsApp us for all your questions or requests. If there's an issue with your order, we'll personally contact you.
Combine orders of different stores
Do you want products from different Dutch stores or even webshops? We collect them and ship them in one box to you, so you only pay shipping costs once.
How are chocolate letters made?
This fun Dutch speaking video from Het Klokhuis explains how chocolate letters are made in the chocolate factory.
Chocolate letters abroad
Looking for affordable or luxury chocolate letters? Request a quote from Mr. Dutch Food and enjoy this delightful tradition, wherever you are in the EU. Make Sinterklaas complete and keep the chocolate letter tradition alive. Order your favorite chocolate letters today from Mr. Dutch Food and savor this Sinterklaas treat, even abroad!
Frequently Asked Questions
about chocolate letters
From which stores can I order chocolate letters?
You can order chocolate letters from supermarkets like Jumbo, Albert Heijn, Plus, or the organic store Ekoplaza. Click the links below to visit these stores’ websites and fill your cart. Then, you can share your cart with Mr. Dutch Food. See the Order instructions page for details on how to do this.
Buy chocolate letters from Jumbo
Buy chocolate letters from Albert Heijn
Buy chocolate letters from Plus
Buy chocolate letters from Ekoplaza
For larger quantities, we can also assist. We offer chocolate letters from wholesalers like Sligro and Makro as well. Contact us for more information.
What is the origin of the chocolate letter, and why do we give it for Sinterklaas?
Chocolate letters began as a way to personalize gifts, with the letter symbolizing the recipient’s initial. They became popular in the Netherlands in the 19th century and have become an essential part of Sinterklaas celebrations.
Are vegan chocolate letters available?
Yes, many stores now offer vegan chocolate letters, often made with cocoa butter and without dairy. Always check the label, or opt for special vegan options at stores like Albert Heijn and Ekoplaza, which carry an expanding range of vegan products.
For example the vegan letter hazelnut from Albert Heijn:
Are there fair trade chocolate letters?
Absolutely! Various brands and stores, including Tony’s Chocolonely, offer fair trade chocolate letters made with ethically sourced cocoa to support sustainable farming and fair trade practices. These are available at stores like Albert Heijn.
Order chocolate letters and other
Sinterklaas products from:
Chocolate Letters are widely available in the Netherlands during autumn, leading up to Sinterklaas on December 5. As a Dutch expat, finding them abroad can be challenging. Fortunately, Mr. Dutch Food offers a wide selection of Dutch chocolate letters for you to order, wherever you live in the EU.
