While most matzes they make are “normal”, they also make a portion of their production koosjer (kosher), so that it abides to Jewish food rules.

Therefore their slogan reads niks is zó lekker! (Nothing is this yummy!). They have a proud history of producing the popular delicacy, and even admit themselves: er zit eigenlijk niks in (there is really nothing in it) – what makes them so great is that you can combine them with so many things. This Dutch bedrijf (company) was founded in 1933 in Enschede, in the east of the country. The Dutch know matzes usually from the orange boxes or larger packages of Hollandia Matzes. These days, matzes are eaten more by non-Jews than Jews in the Netherlands. There are other varieties, but in most cases, the beleg (topping) is zoet (sweet). They are especially popular with some boter (butter) or margarine (margarine) and suiker (sugar) sprinkled on top. They come in large and small (see above) and even mini sizes, as volkoren (whole grain) variant or biologisch (organic). During passover, they would gift matzes to their Dutch buren (neighbors). In Jewish tradition, it is not allowed to have any leavened bread during the Pesach period – you cannot even buy it in Jewish stores!īefore the Second World War, many Joden lived in the Netherlands. There was not even time to let the bread rijzen (leaven)! And that is where this unleavened bread, consisting only of water and flour, comes from.

Under the leiding (lead) of Mozes, the Joden had to vluchten (flee) very snel (quickly).

It is eaten in memory of the slavernij (slavery) of the Joden (Jews) and the uittocht (exodus) from Egypte (Egypt). The matze, also spelled matzah, matza or matzo, is ongerezen plat brood (unleavened flat bread) that comes from the Jewish Pesach (passover) celebration. Why? And why is it so popular in the Netherlands? You can get them throughout the year, but consumption definitely peaks during Pasen. During the Paasontbijt (Easter breakfast), which is usually quite extensive, the Dutch eat these flat crackers a lot.

Flat jewish bread