Blog
Stories from the city, tips for your hamper
About local makers, smart purchasing and the tax side of giving. Written by the Rotterdam in a Box team.
Guide · 8 min
Christmas hamper Rotterdam: the complete guide for employers in the city
Everything about Christmas hampers in Rotterdam: budgets, quantities, delivery, personalisation, WKR and why local wins every time.
Read the articleInspiration
Christmas hamper ideas 2026: 12 ideas that always work in Rotterdam
From drinks box to breakfast hamper: twelve Christmas hamper ideas, plus why a hamper filled locally in Rotterdam scores best with your team.
22 August 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Original Christmas hamper: how to give something that won't end up in a cupboard
Why standard hampers disappoint, and how local makers, personalisation and a story make a real impression.
21 August 2026 · 3 min
Makers
Hoeksche Chips: crisps from the growers' own potatoes in the Hoeksche Waard
Just around the corner from Rotterdam grow the potatoes that end up in our boxes as crisps: pure, sustainably grown and no-nonsense.
20 August 2026 · 3 min
Impact
Sustainable Christmas hamper Rotterdam: local, plastic-free and with social impact
What actually makes a Christmas hamper sustainable - from transport miles and packaging to packing via a social employment workshop.
20 August 2026 · 6 min
Makers
Rotterdammertjes: the sweet that puts the city in your mouth
Hard-boiled sweets from Rotterdam, with natural colours and flavours and a name that needs no explanation.
19 August 2026 · 3 min
Comparison
A Kerstpakkettenplaza alternative in Rotterdam: local instead of mass-produced
Large national suppliers deliver volume. Looking for a hamper with city identity and personal service instead? Here's what the alternative looks like.
19 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Maasstroompjes: Rotterdam's own biscuit since 1934
Butter biscuits with a stripe of almond paste, baked to the original recipe from almost a century ago.
18 August 2026 · 3 min
Tips
Putting together a Christmas hamper: the step-by-step plan for Rotterdam employers
Budget, numbers, dietary requirements, personalisation and delivery - a hamper that works, in seven steps.
18 August 2026 · 7 min
Comparison
A Rituals hamper alternative: a Rotterdam gift with character
Beauty gifts are a safe choice, but rarely a surprising one. Here's what to give instead of the well-known fragrance set.
17 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Brouwerij Noordt: clean beer from an old fire station
Since 2015 Noordt has brewed approachable craft beers in Rotterdam-Noord. Our favourite: the Blondt.
16 August 2026 · 3 min
Inspiration
Rotterdam Christmas hamper for women: why we don't think in pink boxes
Splitting gifts by gender rarely works well. Here's what does: taste profiles, freedom of choice and Rotterdam makers.
16 August 2026 · 2 min
Makers
De Rotterdamsche Oude: cheese that gets the time it needs
Cheese maturing is a craft of patience. De Rotterdamsche Oude lets every cheese rest as long as it takes - and you can taste it.
15 August 2026 · 4 min
Business
Original Christmas hamper for staff: what Rotterdam teams really appreciate
From conversations with dozens of Rotterdam employers: this is what separates a dutiful hamper from a genuine thank-you.
15 August 2026 · 6 min
Inspiration
Rotterdam Christmas hamper for men: beer, drinks and something with a bit of bite
After something sturdier? These are the Rotterdam compositions chosen most often - without falling into cliché.
14 August 2026 · 2 min
Makers
Hottie Sambal: spicy, fresh and layered from Rotterdam
A Rotterdam sambal brand with sambals from pap laos to Yellow Peppers and lime. In our boxes: the Yellow Peppers.
13 August 2026 · 3 min
Inspiration
XL Christmas hampers Rotterdam: giving big without waste
For anniversaries, farewells or a standout year: how to put together an XL hamper that impresses and still gets fully used.
13 August 2026 · 2 min
Trends
Christmas hamper 2026 trends: what Rotterdam employers are asking for this year
Hyperlocal, diet-friendly, less packaging and more story. The five trends shaping the 2026 season.
12 August 2026 · 6 min
Makers
Zeemansboter: peanut butter from Katendrecht
Organic peanut butter with two ingredients: peanuts and sea salt. Born on Katendrecht in Rotterdam.
11 August 2026 · 2 min
Inspiration
Christmas gift inspiration for companies: from small gesture to grand thank-you
Inspiration for employees, clients and suppliers - with budgets, do's and don'ts, and Rotterdam examples.
11 August 2026 · 2 min
Comparison
Kerstpakket Makro: the Rotterdam alternative without the wholesaler feel
Wholesaler hampers are fast and keenly priced. Here's what a local alternative looks like that actually tells a story.
10 August 2026 · 5 min
Comparison
Kerstpakket Sligro alternative: buying local instead of from the catalogue
Why more and more Rotterdam employers are sourcing their Christmas hamper from local makers instead of the foodservice wholesaler.
9 August 2026 · 5 min
Business
Printing end-of-year gifts: logo and card without the kitsch
How to get your logo onto an end-of-year gift tastefully - and where it's better not to put a brand name at all.
8 August 2026 · 5 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with coffee: Rotterdam beans as the heart of your hamper
From freshly roasted beans to the right grind: here's how to build a coffee hamper that keeps delivering every morning.
7 August 2026 · 2 min
Inspiration
Rotterdam Christmas hamper with a game: a gift that starts the conversation
Add a city game or quiz to your hamper and turn a box of treats into a team activity.
6 August 2026 · 2 min
Tips
How to put together a 2026 Christmas hamper that Rotterdam can be proud of
From budget and quantities to local makers and personalisation: a practical step-by-step plan for the perfect Rotterdam Christmas hamper.
5 August 2026 · 5 min
Business
End-of-year gift for clients: stand out without going over the top
Timing, tone and size determine whether your corporate gift lands well. Plus: what's handy to know about tax.
5 August 2026 · 6 min
Tips
Halal Christmas hamper in Rotterdam: an equally good gift for everyone
Here's how to put together a hamper with no alcohol and no pork that looks every bit as good as the standard version.
4 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Join the Pipe: a bottle that delivers clean water somewhere else
Reusable bottles made of sugar cane and water taps with a buy-one-give-one model to fight plastic waste.
3 August 2026 · 4 min
Tips
Gluten-free Christmas hamper: a great gift without the exception feeling
Which Rotterdam products are naturally gluten-free, and how to put together a fully-fledged gluten-free box.
3 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
010 Vodka: a city translated into a bottle
Distilled and bottled on the Maas at the Onder de Boompjes distillery: unfiltered vodka with a raw Rotterdam edge.
2 August 2026 · 3 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with a drinks platter: the Rotterdam borrel as a gift
Sausage, cheese, nuts, salsa and a good drink - here's how to build a drinks platter that rounds off the year nicely.
2 August 2026 · 2 min
Makers
City Gin: the gin you make together with the city
A characterful gin and a refreshing Gin Blond beer, developed with local makers. Bottled Rotterdam craftsmanship.
1 August 2026 · 3 min
Inspiration
Non-food Christmas hamper: gifts that last, without plastic gadgets
Sustainable water bottles, ceramics and textiles from Rotterdam makers - non-food that actually gets used.
1 August 2026 · 2 min
Budget
Christmas hamper for 20 euros: what's possible in Rotterdam?
With a small budget you can still give something good - if you choose fewer products of better quality.
31 July 2026 · 4 min
Makers
Kaapse Brouwers: the beer of Katendrecht
From 'de Kaap' to the Fenix Food Factory: Rotterdam's craft brewer with beers like Karel, Dennie, Nada and Maria.
30 July 2026 · 4 min
Business
Ordering a Christmas hamper online: how it works with us, from box to doorstep
Choose online, personalise, pay or order on invoice - sorted in five steps.
30 July 2026 · 4 min
Business
Christmas hamper with logo: your brand on the box, not on the food
Where should your logo go (and not go), what file do we need, and what does it cost? Everything about branded Christmas hampers.
29 July 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Leanne's Bakery: artisan granola from the heart of Kralingen
Freshly baked every day in Kralingen - from Christmas Apple Pie to Speculaas. Granola the way granola was meant to be.
28 July 2026 · 3 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper without food: worthwhile alternatives to edibles
For teams with many dietary requirements or a non-food preference: these are the strongest Rotterdam alternatives.
28 July 2026 · 2 min
Budget
Cheap Christmas hamper: buying sharply without it looking cheap
Seven ways to lower the price per hamper while quality and the gesture stay intact.
27 July 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Mixblik: world dishes with a Rotterdam heart
A social enterprise helping newly arrived Rotterdam women move forward with plant-based dishes, like Eritrean silsi.
26 July 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with cheese: keeping a cheese hamper fresh and surprising
Which cheeses work in a hamper, how does the cooling and delivery time work, and what do you add to it?
26 July 2026 · 2 min
Budget
€50 Christmas hamper: the most popular budget in Rotterdam
What you get for €50 per hamper, and why this bracket gives the best ratio between impact and cost.
25 July 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Pineut: DIY with pride, from the social workshop
Liqueur, hot chocolate and mulled wine to make yourself - proudly produced in social workshops.
24 July 2026 · 4 min
Budget
Small Christmas hamper: giving compactly with maximum impact
For large teams, business relations, or as an addition to a bonus: here's how to make a small hamper that still feels complete.
24 July 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Luxury Christmas hamper Rotterdam: refined giving with local top makers
What makes a hamper luxurious? Not the price, but the rarity of the products and the finish of the packaging.
23 July 2026 · 2 min
Makers
Pinkyrose: lemonade syrup the way a chef imagined it
Gastronomic syrups, handmade with real citrus and spices. Our favourite: Dark Caramel Vanilla.
22 July 2026 · 3 min
Inspiration
Large Christmas hamper: giving generously without anything going to waste
Putting together a large hamper requires choices. Here's how to make sure volume doesn't come at the expense of quality.
22 July 2026 · 1 min
Budget
€100 Christmas hamper: what to give with a generous budget?
For anniversaries, board members or top clients. Here's how to spend €100 per hamper on something truly special.
21 July 2026 · 5 min
Makers
ROTT. Brouwers: bold beer that doesn't take itself too seriously
Since 2017 they've been brewing sessionable beers with a no-nonsense attitude. In our boxes: ROTT.dusk and ROTT.droom.
20 July 2026 · 3 min
Budget
€25 Christmas hamper: the best starting point for large teams
What you can give for €25 per hamper, and why a compact Rotterdam box works better than a stuffed cheap one.
20 July 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with wine: 010 wine with a Rotterdam label
Why a bottle with a Rotterdam label makes more of an impression than an anonymous bottle, and what to add to it.
19 July 2026 · 2 min
Makers
The makers behind our boxes: five Rotterdam crafts in the spotlight
Coffee roasters, distillers, bakers and chocolate makers. Meet the people who fill our hampers.
18 July 2026 · 6 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with chocolate: bean-to-bar from Rotterdam
From cacao shipped by sailboat to bars with character: why chocolate from the city can be the heart of your hamper.
18 July 2026 · 2 min
Tips
Christmas hamper filling: what to put in (and what not to)
The ideal balance between sweet, savoury, drinks and non-food - plus the filling materials we do and don't use.
17 July 2026 · 5 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with beer: Rotterdam breweries in one box
Kaapse Brouwers, ROTT. Brouwers and more: how to put together a beer hamper that surprises without overdoing it.
16 July 2026 · 5 min
Business
The Dutch WKR explained for HR: what can you give tax-free in 2026?
Free allowance, final levy and VAT deduction without the tax jargon, with a worked example for a team of 60.
30 June 2026 · 4 min
Impact
Giving sustainably: less plastic, more impact
How we package without plastic, pack via a social employment workshop, and donate surplus to the food bank.
22 May 2026 · 3 min
Trends
Christmas hampers 2025: which trends stuck (and which didn't)
Looking back on the 2025 season: local won, plastic lost, and choice portals proved less popular than expected.
10 February 2026 · 5 min