Here’s the best way to get your meat in the Netherlands (and no, it’s not Albert Heijn)

Supermarket meat has always been a bit of a gamble in the Netherlands: limited cuts, inconsistent quality, and very little information about where any of it actually comes from.

No wonder more people are turning to online butchers instead.

Specialised platforms, such as The Butchery, have emerged to fill the gap left by the supermarkets, focusing on meat quality rather than just ticking a box. 

Let’s talk about what quality meat actually looks like when you’re ordering online, and what to watch out for when choosing a platform.

What “quality meat” actually means when ordering online

It’s easy for any website to use the word “quality.” What actually matters is whether they can back it up.

When ordering meat online, quality comes down to a few practical things: clear sourcing and origin information, well-defined cuts with accurate weights, proper handling during delivery, and consistency from one order to the next.

That last one is easy to overlook. Plenty of services get the first order right. The question is whether the fifth is just as good. 

What to look for when choosing an online butcher in the Netherlands

Before you commit to any platform, there are a few things worth checking.

• Transparency about the product: Can you actually find out where the meat comes from, how it’s cut, and what you’re getting? If the website is vague about this, treat it as a red flag.
  
• Flexibility: Some services lock you into subscriptions or preset boxes. If you want to choose your own cuts and quantities, make sure that’s actually possible before signing up.
  
• Delivery and packaging standards: Meat needs to be kept at the right temperature during transport. Flash-freezing and vacuum packaging are both good signs.
  
• Accessibility for internationals: A surprising number of Dutch food platforms are entirely in Dutch, which makes things unnecessarily difficult if you’re still working on your Nederlands. An English-language site is a nice extra.

How ordering meat online in the Netherlands usually works

If you’ve never ordered meat online before, here’s roughly what the process looks like.

You browse the available cuts, select what you want, and choose your quantities. 

Most quality platforms list everything by weight, which gives you much more control than picking up a random package at the supermarket. 

You place your order, and the meat is delivered (typically flash-frozen and vacuum-packed) to your door.

Meet The Butchery

The Butchery ticks all the boxes laid out above (and then some).

The platform is fully available in English, which immediately sets it apart for internationals.

It also works less like a food delivery app and more like an actual butcher: you choose your cuts, you get what you asked for, and there’s no subscription or mystery box standing between you and your dinner.

Our experience using The Butchery

And yes, we’re speaking from experience. Let’s get into it. 👇

The meat itself is excellent

The first thing we noticed was that the burger range was impressive, and the BBQ selection gives you options you simply won’t find at the supermarket. 

If you’re into wagyu, they have that too. And we mean proper wagyu, not the loosely labelled variety that seems to end up everywhere.

For expats especially, The Butchery is a find. Brisket, Sunday roast cuts, proper beef ribs — these are the things that tend to disappear from Dutch supermarket shelves (if they were ever there to begin with). 

At The Butchery, they’re just part of the regular range.

Consistent quality without the guesswork

One of The Butchery’s standout practices is that every single item is individually weighed. You’re paying for a specific weight, and that’s exactly what you get: not an approximation, not “roughly” that amount. 

For anyone who meal preps or cooks to a recipe, this kind of precision actually matters.

Every cut is also triple-trimmed and prepared entirely in-house, so what arrives is 100% grill-ready and ready to cook. No unexpected fat caps, no awkward prep work at your end.

Control over what you order

There are no forced subscriptions, no preset boxes, and no minimum orders designed to move stock. You choose what you want, in the quantity you want. That’s it.

Packaging that goes the extra mile

A standard in the meat packing industry is two or three layers of vacuum film. However, The Butchery uses a custom four-layer vacuum film. 

The extra nylon layer makes the packaging puncture-resistant, so sharp bones won’t tear through it during delivery. 

The film also blocks oxygen completely, preventing drying out and keeping flavour intact. It’s heat-resistant too, which means it’s safe for thawing and even sous vide cooking. A UV filter prevents any discolouration from light exposure.

Flash-frozen for a reason

All The Butchery’s meat is delivered flash-frozen. This means it is frozen ultra-fast at -40 degrees Celsius, which prevents large ice crystals from forming inside the meat. 

This matters because ice crystals damage cell walls, which is what causes quality loss when meat is frozen poorly. Flash-freezing keeps those cell walls intact, preserving the texture and tenderness right up to the moment you cook it.

When your order arrives, you can go straight to the freezer, or defrost and cook immediately — whichever works for you.

Who this works for

The Butchery makes most sense for people who cook regularly, plan their meals, or like to keep quality cuts in the freezer. 

It’s also a strong option for expats and internationals who want specific cuts that Dutch supermarkets simply don’t stock, or who’d prefer a platform they can actually navigate in English without reaching for Google Translate.

FAQ: ordering meat online in the Netherlands

Have you ordered meat online in the Netherlands before, or are you still navigating the supermarket lottery? Tell us in the comments below!