Hagelslag (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦaːɣəlˌslɑx]) are small, oblong, sweet-tasting chocolate granules, which are sprinkled on slices of buttered bread or rusks. The name refers to hail, hagelslag meaning hailstorm.
Hagelslag is traditionally eaten by the Dutch for breakfast or lunch.[1] Hagelslag can be difficult to find in other countries, with the exception of Suriname, Belgium, the former Netherlands Antilles and Indonesia (all of which were former Dutch colonies), where one can buy Hagelslag in stores.[1][2] In those regions, customers generally use Hagelslag to decorate desserts and cakes. Hagelslag is also available in the ethnically Dutch communities of New Zealand, such as Foxton in the Manawatū, where it is widely available.[3][4]
Another variant is vlokken ("flakes"), chocolate flakes to sprinkle on sandwiches. There is a variety of flavors of Hagelslag, such as pure hagelslag (dark chocolate), witte hagelslag (white chocolate) and melkchocolade hagelslag (milk chocolate), and even vruchtenhagel (fruit flavoured).[1]