A Dictionary of Dutchness

Voedselbank

The voedselbank (food bank) is a relatively new phenomenon in the Netherlands. It is a place where people on poverty- line incomes (maximum of €200 in disposable cash a month) can pick up groceries donated by local shops. There were 110 food banks in the country at the beginning of 2009. The food bank umbrella group SVN has called for tougher rules on the way food banks are operated following several cases of fraud.