This is a cautionary tale for the faint of heart grocery shoppers in the Netherlands. There is an unwritten rule here that thou shalt do a big grocery shop on Saturdays. Should you break that rule it is at your peril. Weekdays are for just for popping in, grabbing necessities and popping out again.
Monday Night Supermarket Shopping
My husband went to do our weekly shop on a regular Monday evening; some people have busy weekends with no time for shopping.
He returned rather bemused.
He had been the subject of a verbal attack at the till, as he stood minding his own business packing the shopping into crates.
A middle-aged woman behind him in the queue started moaning to no one in particular about the fact that these ‘type of people’ should not be allowed into the shop on a Monday evening. By these ‘type of people’ she meant people who do their weekly shop.
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She went on to point out that these ‘type of people’ should do their BIG shop on a Saturday so that people popping into Albert Heijn on their way home from work on a weekday evening could do so quickly.
My husband did the polite thing and ignored the batty woman.
However, she then made a fatal mistake and asked him directly if he could hear her.
He let her know in no uncertain terms that whilst he has a few medical ailments every now and then there is certainly nothing wrong with his hearing.
After a mindless discussion about when he should be doing his shopping, he reminded her that they would all actually have been finished and home a lot quicker if the mindless discussion had not taken place. Which she conceded was the case and huffed and puffed until it was her turn to leave the shop.
The customer behind her then commented that she probably had only been let out for the day…. which maybe went some way to explaining her hurry to get out of the supermarket.
Almost Daily Supermarket Trips
Anyone who has lived here more than a few days will have noticed that it is extremely common for the Dutch to visit the supermarket on almost a daily basis.
They are usually on a bike so they grab the few bits and pieces that can be carried.
This trend is also perhaps a reason why fresh produce tends to rot within 24 hours. Or it that just my fresh produce?
Big weekly shops are commonly done at the weekend with the car (when the supermarket is at its busiest I hasten to add).
Tip: Shop When You Like
Do not be fooled into thinking there is an actual Dutch law prescribing when you may do your weekly shop.
So if you fancy doing your big shop on a Monday evening you go right ahead – it’s a great opportunity to hone your ‘Dutch bluntness’ skills. If that doesn’t appeal (and to the Brit in me, it doesn’t) you can simply ignore the mutterings and walk out of the store with your dignity in tact – knowing that in your head you have bludgeoned the complainer with the bananas and the cucumber you have tucked away in your shopping bags.
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