Dutch liquorice, known locally as "drop," is a genuinely different thing from the British liquorice most of our customers grow up with, and Van Vliet sits right at the centre of that tradition.
A family name behind a liquorice brand
Van Vliet is the family that has owned the Meenk liquorice brand for years, with production based in Winschoten in the Netherlands. Meenk's own account traces its origins to medicinal recipes created by a Dr. J.B. Meenk, and says the brand moved to fully plant-based ingredients during the Second World War. The range is sold under specific product names rather than one flat label — Honingdrop (honey drop) and Peperdrop (pepper drop) among them — reflecting how varied Dutch drop actually is.
Not the same as British liquorice
This is the detail that trips up a lot of UK shoppers: Dutch drop isn't just a European version of a Liquorice Allsort. It spans sweet, salty and salmiak styles, the last flavoured with ammonium chloride for a sharp, almost savoury edge that British liquorice sweets don't really go near. Van Vliet's range, through Meenk, covers all three rather than specialising in just one.
Do we stock it?
No — we don't currently stock Van Vliet or any other Dutch liquorice brand. If it's liquorice generally you're after, we do stock traditional British styles, including our Pontefract Cakes and Taveners Liquorice Allsorts — a different style of liquorice sweet entirely, but a genuine option if it's the root flavour you're chasing rather than the Dutch salmiak specifically.
Frequently asked questions
What is Van Vliet?
The family behind the Dutch Meenk liquorice brand, producing sweet, salty and salmiak varieties in Winschoten.
What is Meenk?
Van Vliet's main liquorice brand, said to trace back to medicinal recipes from a Dr. J.B. Meenk.
Is it salty?
Some of it is — the range spans sweet, salty and salmiak (ammonium chloride) styles.
Does Supreme Sweets stock Van Vliet?
No, but we do stock traditional British liquorice, including Pontefract Cakes and Liquorice Allsorts.