Holle Dutch Stage 3 is a Dutch-labelled European follow-on formula for babies from 10 months, made from Demeter biodynamic cow's milk, with DHA from microalgae rather than fish oil. One 800 g tin makes about 205 fl oz of prepared formula — roughly 41 bottles at 5 oz. It is the last stage in this line to carry Demeter certification.
That last sentence is the one to hold on to. EU Organic is the baseline every European formula meets. Demeter is the biodynamic tier above it, and it is a rule about the farm rather than the recipe: the herd eats feed grown on its own land, the manure goes back into that same soil, and nothing synthetic goes onto the land at all. Holle's Dutch Stages 1, 2 and 3 all carry it. Stage 4, the toddler milk, does not — so if the biodynamic standard is why you buy Holle, this is the tin to stay on for as long as your child is drinking it.
At ten months the job of the bottle has changed again. Your baby is eating three meals a day plus snacks, and formula has gone from being the meal to being a top-up around it. Holle builds this stage accordingly: 67 kcal per 100 ml, 1.4 g protein, and a carbohydrate blend of lactose, maltodextrin and starch that sits more comfortably alongside solid food than a lactose-only recipe would. Iron sits at 0.58 mg per 100 ml and calcium at 60.1 mg.
It is also the stage where Holle's certification story is at its strongest, because some competitors go the other way. Kendamil's Bio Nature line actually loses its organic certification at Stage 3, because the added vitamins and minerals at this stage make it ineligible under EU organic rules. Holle Dutch Stage 3 keeps both marks. If you have been comparing organic toddler formula across brands and assumed the certification carries through the whole range, this is the stage where that assumption stops being safe.
10+ moFollow-on milk
800 gOne tin · Dutch line
~205 fl oz≈ 41 × 5 oz bottles
DemeterLast Dutch stage with it
Nutrition
What's in Holle Dutch Stage 3 per 100ml?
Prepared as directed, every 100 ml provides 67 kcal, 3.5 g fat, 1.4 g protein and 7.5 g carbohydrate, with 60.1 mg calcium, 0.58 mg iron, 14 mg DHA from microalgae, 1.6 µg vitamin D and 6.9 mg vitamin C. Holle publishes a full nutrition panel for this stage, so everything in the table below is the manufacturer's own figure rather than a category average.
Carbohydrate 7.5 g
Fat 3.5 g
Protein 1.4 g
Per 100ml prepared
Amount
Energy
67 kcal / 280 kJ
Fat
3.5 g
— saturated
1.0 g
— monounsaturated
1.9 g
— polyunsaturated
0.6 g
Linoleic acid (omega-6)
561 mg
Alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3)
56 mg
DHA (from microalgae)
14 mg
Protein
1.4 g
Carbohydrate
7.5 g
— of which sugars
5.2 g
— lactose
5.0 g
— starch
0.8 g
Calcium
60.1 mg
Phosphorus
37.1 mg
Magnesium
5.28 mg
Iron
0.58 mg
Zinc
0.45 mg
Iodine
13.2 µg
Selenium
3.7 µg
Sodium
25 mg
Potassium
86.2 mg
Vitamin A
54.1 µg RE
Vitamin D
1.6 µg
Vitamin E
1.2 mg
Vitamin K
6.5 µg
Vitamin C
6.9 mg
Vitamin B12
0.12 µg
Folic acid
10.8 µg
Biotin
1.7 µg
Prebiotic
None added
Lactose, sugars and starch are itemised above as the manufacturer publishes them; the balance of the 7.5 g carbohydrate total is maltodextrin, which appears in the ingredient list but is not broken out numerically on the published panel. Percentages in the chart are shares of macronutrient grams, not of energy.
How it's farmed
What makes Demeter different from ordinary organic certification?
Demeter is a rule about how the farm runs, not about what goes in the tin. A Demeter dairy grows the feed its own herd eats, returns that herd's manure to the same soil, and uses no synthetic fertiliser or pesticide anywhere on its land — a closed loop with nothing bought in. EU Organic allows a certified farm to source organic feed and inputs from outside suppliers. That single difference is what separates the two seals on this tin.
Demeter biodynamic
Closed cycle — the farm feeds itself
One farm, one closed system
Soil, feed, herd, manure
No synthetic inputs allowed
Nothing bought in, nothing wasted
Standard organic
Open chain — inputs bought in
Feed and inputs bought in
Farm processes them
No closed on-farm cycle
Certified, but not closed
Schematic, not the layout of any particular farm. Both systems are certified organic; the diagram shows only how Demeter's closed-cycle requirement differs from the EU Organic baseline. Demeter certifies the farmed ingredients — like every European infant milk, this formula still carries the vitamin and mineral fortification EU law requires.
Clean label
What is not in Holle Dutch Stage 3?
No fish oil, no GMO ingredients, no artificial colours and no artificial flavours, and the formula is gluten-free. The DHA comes from microalgae, and there is no ARA at this stage — Holle includes it only in Stages 1 and 2 of this line. What it does contain, plainly: palm oil in the organic vegetable oil blend, plus maltodextrin and starch in the carbohydrate, both normal for a follow-on milk at ten months.
Demeter biodynamic milk
Fish-free algae DHA
No GMO ingredients
No artificial colours
No artificial flavours
Gluten-free
Comparison
How does Holle Dutch Stage 3 compare to Holle German Stage 3 and HiPP Dutch Stage 3?
Holle Dutch Stage 3 and Holle's German Stage 3 both carry EU Organic and Demeter certification; HiPP Dutch Stage 3 is EU Organic only. Holle Dutch is the only one of the three with plant-sourced DHA. HiPP is the only one of the three with a lactose-only carbohydrate and a prebiotic plus live cultures, and it makes the most prepared formula per tin.
Stage 3 · 10+ months
Holle Dutch 3
Holle German 3
HiPP Dutch 3
Organic certified
EU Organic + Demeter
EU Organic + Demeter
EU Organic only
Milk base
Skimmed milk + whey
Skimmed milk + whey
Skimmed milk
Carbohydrate
Lactose + maltodextrin + starch
Lactose + maltodextrin + starch
Lactose only
DHA source
Microalgae
Fish oil
Fish oil
ARA
None at this stage
See product page
See product page
Prebiotic / probiotic
Neither
Neither
GOS + lactic ferments
Palm oil
Yes
Yes
Yes
Pack size
800 g tin
600 g box
800 g tin
Prepared yield
~205 fl oz
See product page
~230 fl oz
Being straight with you:HiPP Dutch Stage 3 beats this tin on three counts — a lactose-only carbohydrate with no maltodextrin or starch, a GOS prebiotic with live lactic ferments that Holle does not add at any stage, and roughly 230 fl oz per tin against 205 here. If those are your priorities, buy HiPP. Two notes on the table itself: we have written "see product page" rather than guess where the published data for a competitor is genuinely unresolved, and the pack sizes are not comparable — Holle's German Stage 3 is a 600 g box against 800 g here, so judging the two on shelf price alone will mislead you. What Holle gives you that neither alternative does is the Demeter farming standard and DHA that never came from a fish.
Planning ahead
How many tins of formula will my baby need per month?
About 1–2 tins a month at Stage 3 — a sharp drop from the four to five a month that Stages 1 and 2 use. By ten months formula is a top-up around three solid meals a day rather than the meal itself, usually one or two bottles daily. One 800 g tin makes about 205 fl oz of prepared formula, or around 41 bottles at 5 oz.
This is the point where the monthly formula bill falls off a cliff, and it is worth knowing before you stock up. A tin that lasted a week at Stage 2 can last most of a month here.
Stage 2 · 6+ months
~4–5 tins
Stage 3 · 10+ months — this tin
~1–2 tins
Stage 4 · 12+ months
~1–2 tins
Scale: 0 to 5 tins per month · lighter shading shows the upper end of each range
Estimates taken from the retailer feeding tables published for each stage, assuming formula is a complement to solid food at this age rather than a baby's primary nutrition. Every baby feeds differently — use these for planning, not as a target.
Preparation
How do you prepare Holle Dutch Stage 3 formula?
Sterilise everything, boil fresh water and let it cool to 40–50 °C, pour the measured water into the bottle first, add one level scoop (about 4.5 g) for every 30 ml of water, shake until fully dissolved, then cool to about 37 °C and test a drop on your wrist before feeding. Once the tin is open, use the powder within three weeks.
40–50 °CWater temperature
1 : 30 mlOne level scoop per 30 ml
≈4.5 gScoop size in this tin
3 weeksUse within, once opened
1
Sterilise everything
Wash your hands, then sterilise the bottle or cup, teat, cap and ring following the manufacturer's instructions.
2
Boil, cool to 40–50 °C
Boil fresh drinking water and let it cool to 40–50 °C, the temperature Holle specifies for this stage.
3
Water into the bottle first
Pour the measured water into the sterilised bottle before you add any powder — never powder first.
4
Add level scoops
Use only the scoop supplied in this tin: one level scoop for every 30 ml of water, levelled with a straight edge.
5
Cap and shake well
Shake until the powder has fully dissolved, with no lumps left around the base of the bottle.
6
Cool, test, feed
Cool to about 37 °C, test a drop on the inside of your wrist, and give it straight away.
Never use artificially softened water, or water that has been boiled more than once. Prepare a fresh bottle for every feed, never reheat, never microwave, and throw away anything your baby does not finish.
A note on water temperature. Holle specifies water at 40–50 °C for this formula, and that is the instruction printed on your tin. It is set deliberately — hotter water damages the heat-sensitive vitamins this formula is built around.
Many health authorities, including the NHS and WHO, advise 70 °C or hotter for any powdered formula, because powder is not sterile and that temperature kills bacteria that can occasionally be present. The difference matters most for newborns, premature babies, and babies with weakened immunity. If your baby is in one of those groups, ask your paediatrician or health visitor which to follow for your situation.
Please read before buying
This formula is for babies from 10 months and is a complement to solid food, not a sole source of nutrition at this age. It is made from cow's milk and is not suitable for a baby with a diagnosed cow's milk protein allergy. Breastfeeding is best for your baby — talk to your health visitor or doctor before starting or changing a formula.
Store tins in a cool, dry place and keep the lid firmly closed. Holle states the powder should be used within three weeks of opening, which is shorter than the four weeks several other European brands allow — go by this tin's own label. Never reheat or microwave prepared formula.
Dutch line vs German line
Holle sells two cow-milk ranges and they are not interchangeable on the shelf. The Dutch line on this page comes in 800 g tins and runs Stage 1 to Stage 4, with no PRE stage. The German line uses 400 g boxes for PRE and Stage 1 and 600 g boxes for Stages 2 to 4, and adds a PRE stage below Stage 1. Check the weight before you compare prices across the two.
Questions parents ask
Holle Dutch Stage 3: frequently asked questions
Is Holle Dutch Stage 3 Demeter certified?
Yes. Holle Dutch Stage 3 carries both the EU Organic leaf and Demeter biodynamic certification. It is the last stage in the Dutch line to do so — Stage 4, the toddler milk from 12 months, carries EU Organic certification only. Demeter is a farming standard requiring a closed-cycle farm: feed grown on site, manure returned to the same soil, and no synthetic fertiliser or pesticide anywhere on the land.
Is Holle Dutch Stage 4 Demeter certified?
No. This is a question worth answering directly because the answer surprises people and because it is stated incorrectly in a number of places online, including, until recently, on our own Stage 4 listing. Holle's Dutch Stages 1, 2 and 3 carry Demeter biodynamic certification. The Dutch Stage 4 toddler milk carries EU Organic certification only. If biodynamic certification is the reason you buy Holle, Stage 3 is the last tin in this line that has it.
When should I move my baby from Stage 2 to Stage 3?
From ten months, once your baby is eating three solid meals a day and formula has become a top-up rather than the main event. There is no urgency about it — staying on Stage 2 a little longer does no harm, and plenty of families do. The practical difference you will notice is cost: monthly usage drops from roughly four to five tins at Stage 2 to about one to two at Stage 3, because your baby is simply drinking far less of it.
Does Holle Dutch Stage 3 contain fish oil or ARA?
Neither. The DHA comes from microalgae oil at 14 mg per 100 ml, so there is no fish allergen in the tin. ARA is not present at this stage — Holle includes it only in Stages 1 and 2 of the Dutch line, which is a common pattern across European formula, where ARA is generally added in the earlier stages when a baby is relying on formula for most of their nutrition.
How many bottles does one tin of Holle Dutch Stage 3 make?
One 800 g tin makes approximately 205 fl oz of prepared formula, which works out to about 41 bottles at 5 oz each. Because a ten-month-old typically has only one or two bottles a day alongside solid meals, a single tin often lasts most of a month at this stage — a very different picture from Stage 1, where the same tin covers roughly a week.
Does Holle Dutch Stage 3 contain a prebiotic or probiotic?
No. Holle adds no GOS, no HMOs and no live cultures at this stage or anywhere in the Dutch line. HiPP's Dutch Stage 3 carries a GOS prebiotic plus natural lactic ferments and is the better choice if gut-health ingredients are what you are shopping for. Holle's case rests on the Demeter farming standard behind the milk and on DHA that is sourced from algae rather than fish.
Why do some organic formulas lose their certification at Stage 3?
Because EU organic rules limit what can be added to a product that still claims the organic seal, and the fortification levels required at later stages can push a formula over that line. Kendamil's Bio Nature range is a live example: it is EU Organic at Stages 1 and 2 but loses organic certification at Stage 3. Holle Dutch Stage 3 keeps both EU Organic and Demeter, which is why it is worth checking the certification stage by stage rather than assuming it carries across a whole brand.
What is the difference between Holle's Dutch Stage 3 and the German Stage 3?
Pack size and DHA source. The Dutch version is an 800 g tin yielding about 205 fl oz; the German Stage 3 is a 600 g box, so comparing the two on shelf price without adjusting for weight will give you the wrong answer. The Dutch line takes its DHA from microalgae, the German line from fish oil. Both carry EU Organic and Demeter certification, and both use a lactose, maltodextrin and starch carbohydrate blend at this stage.
Explore the range
Related formulas at Bonpek Baby
Holle Dutch Stage 4The toddler milk from 12 months — EU Organic, but not Demeter certified.
Holle Dutch Stage 2The stage before this one, from 6 months, also Demeter certified.
HiPP Dutch Stage 3Lactose-only, with a GOS prebiotic and live lactic ferments.
Holle Dutch Stage 1Where this line starts, from birth, with lactose as its only carbohydrate.
All baby formulasBrowse every European formula we stock, by brand and stage.
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Product information last reviewed by the Bonpek Baby team in September 2026 against the manufacturer's current published ingredient and nutrition data. Always check the label on your tin, as manufacturers reformulate from time to time.
* from organic agriculture
** Demeter (from biodynamic agriculture)
1100 g of infant formula powder are made from 181 mlskimmed milk2contains DHA (omega-3, as required by legislation for all infant formula)
3from sustainable farming
