What is Holle Dutch Stage 2 formula?
Holle Dutch Stage 2 is a Dutch-labelled European follow-on formula for babies from 6 months, made from Demeter biodynamic cow's milk, with DHA from microalgae rather than fish oil. One 800 g tin makes about 200 fl oz of prepared formula — roughly 40 bottles at 5 oz.
The two seals on this tin are not the same thing. EU Organic is the baseline every European formula meets. Demeter is the biodynamic standard layered on top, and it governs the farm rather than the recipe: the herd eats feed grown on its own land, the manure from that herd goes back into that same soil, and no synthetic fertiliser or pesticide touches any of it. A Demeter farm has to be self-sufficient in a way an organic farm does not, and Holle is one of the very few infant milk brands anywhere that meets it.
Holle has held that certification longer than anyone in this category — the world's first Demeter processing contract, in 1951, and the whole formula range converted to Demeter quality in 2009. What changes at Stage 2 is not the farming but the recipe. From six months a baby eats solids, feeds less often and takes more at a time, so Holle adjusts the carbohydrate: alongside organic lactose, this stage adds maltodextrin and starch, which make a bottle more filling between meals. That is normal across the industry for a follow-on formula — it is not something Holle does differently — but it does mean Stage 2 is no longer the lactose-only recipe Stage 1 is.
This is the tin for a baby who has passed six months and is somewhere in the middle of weaning: still on several milk feeds a day, with solids doing a little more of the work each week. It is the direct step up from Holle Dutch Stage 1, and Holle Dutch Stage 3 follows it at ten months. The DHA stays plant-sourced at 14 mg per 100 ml, from microalgae rather than fish oil, and ARA is still present at 7.7 mg.
6+ moFollow-on milk
800 gOne tin · Dutch line
~200 fl oz≈ 40 × 5 oz bottles
DemeterBiodynamic + EU Organic
What's in Holle Dutch Stage 2 per 100ml?
Prepared as directed, every 100 ml provides 68 kcal, 3.6 g fat, 1.4 g protein, 14 mg DHA from microalgae and 7.7 mg ARA, plus 574 mg linoleic acid, 57 mg alpha-linolenic acid, 88.2 mg potassium, 1.6 µg vitamin D and 7.0 mg vitamin C. We have deliberately left the total carbohydrate figure off the table below — the note underneath explains why.
| Per 100ml prepared | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 68 kcal / 287 kJ |
| Fat | 3.6 g |
| — saturated | 1.0 g |
| — monounsaturated | 1.9 g |
| — polyunsaturated | 0.7 g |
| Linoleic acid (omega-6) | 574 mg |
| Alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) | 57 mg |
| DHA (from microalgae) | 14 mg |
| ARA | 7.7 mg |
| Protein | 1.4 g |
| Carbohydrate, total | See product page |
| — lactose | 5.2 g |
| Potassium | 88.2 mg |
| Vitamin D | 1.6 µg |
| Vitamin C | 7.0 mg |
| Prebiotic | None added |
Why one row says "see product page": the published carbohydrate total for this stage does not reconcile with the ingredient list, which names maltodextrin and starch ahead of milk powder. We would rather point you at the panel on your own tin than print a number we cannot stand behind. Everything else in this table is the manufacturer's published figure. If the exact carbohydrate breakdown matters for your baby, message us and we will read it off a current tin for you.
Why does Demeter certification matter on a follow-on formula?
Because milk is still the largest single ingredient in the tin. Demeter is a farming standard rather than a recipe standard: it requires the dairy to grow its own feed, return its own manure to its own soil, and use nothing synthetic on the land. EU Organic permits a farm to buy organic feed and inputs in from elsewhere. Demeter does not, and that is the difference between 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.
What is not in Holle Dutch Stage 2?
No fish oil, no GMO ingredients, no artificial colours and no artificial flavours, and the formula is gluten-free. The DHA is from microalgae. Two things it does contain, and you should know before you buy rather than after: palm oil in the organic vegetable oil blend, and maltodextrin and starch in the carbohydrate. Both are standard in European follow-on formula, and neither is present in Holle's Stage 1.
- Demeter biodynamic milk
- Fish-free algae DHA
- No GMO ingredients
- No artificial colours
- No artificial flavours
- Gluten-free
How does Holle Dutch Stage 2 compare to Holle German Stage 2 and HiPP Dutch Stage 2?
All three are certified organic and all three contain palm oil. Holle Dutch Stage 2 and Holle's German Stage 2 both add Demeter biodynamic certification, which HiPP does not hold at any stage. HiPP Dutch Stage 2 is the only one of the three that is lactose-only and starch-free, and the only one with a prebiotic and a live culture — but its DHA comes from fish oil.
| Stage 2 · 6+ months | Holle Dutch 2 | Holle German 2 | HiPP Dutch 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic certified | EU Organic + Demeter | EU Organic + Demeter | EU Organic only |
| Milk base | Skimmed milk + whey | Skimmed milk + whey | Skimmed milk + whey |
| Carbohydrate | Lactose + maltodextrin + starch | Lactose + maltodextrin + starch | Lactose only, starch-free |
| DHA source | Microalgae | Fish oil | Fish oil |
| ARA | 7.7 mg | See product page | See product page |
| Prebiotic / probiotic | Neither | Neither | GOS + L. fermentum CECT5716 |
| Palm oil | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pack size | 800 g tin | 600 g box | 800 g tin |
| Prepared yield | ~200 fl oz | ~130 fl oz | ~204 fl oz |
Being straight with you: on the carbohydrate, HiPP wins this one. HiPP Dutch Stage 2 is lactose-only and starch-free where Holle adds maltodextrin and starch, and it carries GOS plus the Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 culture that Holle does not include at any stage. If a starch-free follow-on or a probiotic is what you came for, buy that tin instead. Check the weights before comparing prices, too: Holle's German Stage 2 is a 600 g box making roughly 130 fl oz, against 800 g and about 200 fl oz here, so the two lines are not comparable per ounce without adjusting. Holle's case at this stage is the Demeter farming standard and the algae DHA — not the carbohydrate.
How many tins of formula will my baby need per month?
About 4–5 tins a month at Stage 2 — the same as Stage 1. A six-month-old feeds less often but takes more at a time, so the monthly total barely moves. It drops sharply at Stage 3, to roughly 1–2 tins a month, once solids are doing most of the work. One 800 g tin makes about 200 fl oz, or around 40 bottles at 5 oz.
That flat stretch across Stages 1 and 2 is the expensive part of the first year, and the cliff at ten months catches most parents by surprise. If you buy in bulk, this is the stage to do it — not Stage 3.
Estimates for exclusive formula feeding, taken from the retailer feeding tables published for each stage. Every baby feeds differently — use these for planning, not as a target.
How do you prepare Holle Dutch Stage 2 formula?
Sterilise everything, boil fresh water and let it cool to about 50 °C, pour half the measured water into the bottle first, add one level scoop (about 4.5 g) per the feeding chart on the tin, shake until dissolved, add the rest of the water and shake again, then cool to about 37 °C and test a drop on your wrist before feeding.
≈50 °CWater temperature
1 scoopPer the tin's feeding chart
≈4.5 gScoop size in this tin
Every feedMake fresh, discard leftovers
1
Sterilise everything
Wash your hands, then sterilise the bottle, teat, cap and ring following the manufacturer's instructions.
2
Boil, cool to 50 °C
Boil fresh drinking water and let it cool to approximately 50 °C, the temperature Holle specifies for this stage.
3
Half the water first
Pour half 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, following the feeding chart on the label, and level each scoop with a straight edge.
5
Shake, top up, shake
Shake until the powder has fully dissolved, add the remaining water, then shake once more.
6
Cool, test, feed
Cool to about 37 °C, test a drop on the inside of your wrist, and feed 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 about 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.
A note on water temperature. Holle specifies water at about 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
Follow-on formula is for babies from 6 months only and is not suitable before then. This formula 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 between feeds. 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.
Holle Dutch Stage 2: frequently asked questions
Is Holle Dutch Stage 2 Demeter certified?
Yes. Holle Dutch Stage 2 carries both the EU Organic leaf and Demeter biodynamic certification, the same pairing as Stages 1 and 3 in this line. Demeter is a farming standard requiring a closed-cycle farm: feed grown on site, manure returned to the same soil, no synthetic fertiliser or pesticide anywhere on the land. Worth knowing for later: Stage 4 in this Dutch line carries EU Organic only and is not Demeter certified.
Why does Stage 2 contain maltodextrin and starch when Stage 1 does not?
Because the job of the bottle changes at six months. A newborn feeds little and often, so lactose alone is the right carbohydrate. An older baby feeds less often and needs a bottle that holds them longer between solid meals, so most European follow-on formulas add maltodextrin and starch for satiety. Holle is following the standard industry pattern here rather than doing something unusual — but if you specifically want lactose-only, Holle's own Stage 1 and HiPP's Dutch Stage 2 both offer it.
When should I move my baby from Stage 1 to Stage 2?
From six months, and only from six months — EU labelling law does not permit follow-on formula to be marketed for younger babies. In practice most parents switch when solids are genuinely under way rather than on the birthday itself, and there is no harm in staying on Stage 1 longer if your baby is settled on it. Talk to your health visitor or pediatrician if you are unsure, and change one thing at a time so you can tell what is causing what.
Does Holle Dutch Stage 2 contain fish oil?
No. The DHA comes from microalgae oil at 14 mg per 100 ml, and ARA is present at 7.7 mg. Neither is fish-derived, so there is no fish allergen in the tin. This is a real point of difference from HiPP's Dutch range and from Holle's own German cow-milk line, which both use fish oil as their DHA source, and it matters to families who are vegetarian-leaning or simply fish-averse.
How many bottles does one tin of Holle Dutch Stage 2 make?
One 800 g tin makes approximately 200 fl oz of prepared formula, which is about 40 bottles at 5 oz each. At this stage most exclusively formula-fed babies get through roughly four to five tins a month, so a single tin covers around a week. Actual yield depends on bottle size and on following the feeding chart printed on the label rather than estimating scoops.
Does Holle Dutch Stage 2 contain a prebiotic, probiotic or HMO?
No to all three. Holle does not add GOS, human milk oligosaccharides or any live culture at this stage or anywhere in the Dutch line. HiPP's Dutch Stage 2 carries GOS plus a Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 culture, and Kendamil's Bio Nature Stage 2 is HMO-fortified, so if gut-health ingredients are your priority those are the tins to compare. Holle's argument is the Demeter farming standard and the algae-sourced DHA instead.
What is the difference between Holle's Dutch Stage 2 and the German Stage 2?
Pack size and DHA source are the two that matter most. The Dutch version is an 800 g tin yielding about 200 fl oz; the German Stage 2 is a 600 g box yielding roughly 130 fl oz, so comparing shelf prices without adjusting for weight will mislead you. The Dutch line's DHA comes from microalgae, while the German line uses fish oil. Both carry EU Organic and Demeter certification, and both add maltodextrin and starch at this stage.
Can I use Holle Dutch Stage 2 alongside breastfeeding?
Yes. Follow-on formula can be used as part of a mixed feeding routine alongside breast milk and solid food from six months, and many families use it for one or two feeds a day rather than all of them. Breastfeeding is best for your baby, so if you are combining the two it is worth talking it through with your health visitor or pediatrician first, particularly if you are reducing breastfeeds to make room for formula.
Related formulas at Bonpek Baby
- Holle Dutch Stage 3The next step at 10 months — the last Dutch stage with Demeter.
- Holle Dutch Stage 1The stage before this one, from birth, with lactose as its only carbohydrate.
- HiPP Dutch Stage 2Lactose-only and starch-free, with a GOS prebiotic and a live culture.
- Holle German Stage 2 (600 g)Same brand and Demeter tier, smaller box, fish-oil DHA.
- Holle Dutch Stage 4The toddler milk at the end of this line, from 12 months.
- All baby formulasBrowse every European formula we stock, by brand and stage.
Why parents buy from Bonpek Baby
- Authentic from Europe for 8+ years
- US stock — no shipping or customs delays
- Same-day pickup & delivery for locals
- Always fresh — receiving weekly
- Best prices, or we'll match and add a free gift
- Trusted by 9,000+ parents in the US
- Prompt customer support text line
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.
You may also like
More from Holle
More from Holle Cow
Recently viewed