Hagelslag in LA? Here's where

US equivalent: Real-chocolate sprinkles; American 'jimmies' are waxy and sweet.

Brand names: De Ruijter (import) · Trader Joe's Chocolate Sprinkles · Guittard

Where in LA: Trader Joe's, European / international specialty store, Online (World Market, Trader Joe's)

💡 World Market (West LA, Pasadena) often stocks De Ruijter.

US equivalent: US 'black licorice' is sweeter and softer; salty licorice barely exists here.

Brand names: Klene (import) · Venco (import) · Panda · Kookaburra

Where in LA: European / international specialty store, Online, Trader Joe's (World Market, Trader Joe's)

💡 Scandinavian web shops sell salmiak; or have someone bring a bag.

US equivalent: Surprisingly available: Trader Joe's and Costco carry their own versions.

Brand names: Daelmans · Trader Joe's · Rip van Wafels · Gouda's Glorie

Where in LA: Trader Joe's, Regular supermarket, Online (Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Costco)

💡 Rip van Wafels is a US brand founded by Dutch guys in San Francisco.

US equivalent: US peanut butter is sweeter and saltier. 'Natural' or 'no sugar added' is closest to Calvé.

Brand names: Smucker's Natural · Trader Joe's Organic · Teddie · Justin's

Where in LA: Regular supermarket, Trader Joe's (Trader Joe's, Whole Foods)

💡 Stir the oil in well, 'natural' separates.

US equivalent: No true equivalent; gingersnaps come closest in flavor.

Brand names: Bolletje (import) · Trader Joe's Triple Ginger Snaps

Where in LA: Online, European / international specialty store, Trader Joe's (Trader Joe's)

💡 Bake them: speculaas spice mix is sold online.

US equivalent: Biscoff (Lotus) is everywhere: cookies and spread.

Brand names: Lotus Biscoff · Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter

Where in LA: Regular supermarket, Trader Joe's (Trader Joe's, Target)

💡 Trader Joe's Cookie Butter is a cult product.

US equivalent: Real aged Gouda is available; avoid US-made 'Gouda'.

Brand names: Beemster · Old Amsterdam · Trader Joe's Aged Gouda · Reypenaer

Where in LA: Regular supermarket, Trader Joe's, European / international specialty store (Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Costco)

💡 Costco sells big wedges of Beemster at a good price.

US equivalent: Kielbasa (Polish) is closest; coarser grind.

Brand names: Hillshire Farm Kielbasa · Continental Gourmet

Where in LA: Regular supermarket, European / international specialty store (Continental Gourmet (Glendale))

💡 Continental Gourmet in Glendale makes European sausages.

US equivalent: Doesn't exist. Closest: a skinless hot dog or making your own from ground meat.

Brand names: Dutch Expat Shop (import)

Where in LA: Online

💡 Frozen import via online Dutch shops; shipping is pricey.

US equivalent: No US equivalent; Dutch-run bars in LA sometimes serve them.

Brand names: Zelf maken (ragout)

Where in LA: Online

💡 At Dutch meetups (see Community) they're often on the table.

US equivalent: US chocolate milk is thinner and sweeter; Fairlife or Horizon come closest.

Brand names: Fairlife · Horizon Organic · Trader Joe's

Where in LA: Regular supermarket, Trader Joe's

💡 Hot cocoa: buy 'Dutch process cocoa' (Droste is available!).

US equivalent: US 'pudding' is thicker; Kozy Shack comes closest.

Brand names: Kozy Shack · Jell-O pudding

Where in LA: Regular supermarket

💡 Making it with custard powder (Bird's) works great.

US equivalent: No direct counterpart; 'gingerbread loaf' is similar.

Brand names: Peijnenburg (import)

Where in LA: Online, European / international specialty store (World Market)

💡 World Market sometimes carries it around the holidays.

US equivalent: 'Apple butter' is the American cousin: thicker, with cinnamon.

Brand names: Musselman's Apple Butter · Trader Joe's Apple Butter

Where in LA: Regular supermarket, Trader Joe's

💡 Great on cheese, just like home.

US equivalent: Zwieback (German) or 'rusk' from Russian/European stores.

Brand names: Bolletje (import) · Brandt Zwieback

Where in LA: European / international specialty store, Online (World Market)

💡 Bring muisjes from home for baby visits; you really can't get them here.

US equivalent: Readily available in Latin American and Asian supermarkets (Maggi Jugo).

Brand names: Maggi Jugo · Maggi Würze

Where in LA: Regular supermarket, European / international specialty store (Vallarta, 99 Ranch)

💡 The Mexican version tastes nearly identical.

US equivalent: Go to an Indonesian or Asian market: Indofood bumbu pastes.

Brand names: Indofood Bumbu · ABC Kecap Manis

Where in LA: European / international specialty store (99 Ranch, Indo Ranch)

💡 Kecap manis (ABC) is in every Asian supermarket.

US equivalent: Not available; Spanish croquetas are smaller, Japanese korokke are potato.

Brand names: Zelf maken · Dutch Expat Shop (import)

Where in LA: Online

💡 Make a big batch of ragout and freeze.

US equivalent: Silver dollar pancakes are similar, but not buckwheat.

Brand names: Poffertjespan via Amazon · Bob's Red Mill boekweitmeel

Where in LA: Online, Regular supermarket

💡 A cast-iron poffertjes pan is easy to order in the US.

US equivalent: Thai peanut sauce is sweeter; Indonesian 'bumbu kacang' is closest.

Brand names: Indofood · Trader Joe's Satay Peanut Sauce

Where in LA: Trader Joe's, European / international specialty store (Trader Joe's, 99 Ranch)

💡 Make it: peanut butter, kecap manis, sambal, lime.

US equivalent: Sambal oelek (Huy Fong) is in every supermarket.

Brand names: Huy Fong Sambal Oelek · ABC Sambal

Where in LA: Regular supermarket, European / international specialty store

💡 Sambal badjak is at Indonesian markets.

US equivalent: US 'rainbow sprinkles' taste of sugar; the Venco version is an import.

Brand names: Venco (import)

Where in LA: Online, European / international specialty store

💡 Put it on the list for your next trip to NL.