Lekkernijen

Lekkernijen is a Dutch term that refers to foods considered tasty or indulgent, often described as delicacies or treats. The singular form is lekkernij and the plural is lekkernijen. The word derives from lekker, meaning tasty, with a suffix that marks a category of things enjoyed for their flavor.

Lekkernijen cover a broad range of foods, both sweet and savory. They are typically small or individually packaged and eaten as snacks, desserts, or gifts. Common examples include Dutch confections such as stroopwafels and speculaas, gevulde koek, marsepein and chocolade pralines, as well as nuts, dried fruit, and savory bite-sized items like borrelnootjes or kaasstengels.

In everyday use, lekkernijen are encountered in bakeries, confectioneries, markets, and supermarkets across the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking regions. They are associated with celebrations, holidays, and hospitality—often given as gifts or offered to visitors. Seasonal lekkernijen include items tied to holidays like Sinterklaas and Christmas, as well as regionally specific specialties.

The term does not denote a fixed category with strict criteria; rather it serves as a flexible label for any tasty food that people enjoy as a treat. It is common in consumer language and marketing to refer to a broad assortment of products as lekkernijen.