Christmas hamper without food: worthwhile alternatives to edibles

For teams with many dietary requirements or a non-food preference: these are the strongest Alkmaar alternatives.

Sometimes you deliberately don't want to give food: lots of dietary requirements, a health programme within the company, or simply because last year's gift was already edible.

Four strong directions

1. 01A sustainable water bottle or thermos flask from an Alkmaar maker.
2. 02Ceramics: a mug, bowl or vase from a city studio.
3. 03Textiles: a tea towel, bag or blanket with an Alkmaar design.
4. 04An experience: a voucher for a local canal tour, museum or workshop.

Combining with a donation

A smaller non-food gift plus a donation on behalf of the team to an Alkmaar charity works well - and fits the social impact we work with ourselves.

In practice

Tip: don't ask 'why no food', ask 'what instead'

Reasons to skip food vary: allergies, diets, a team already drowning in treats, or sustainability policy. The reason determines the alternative. For allergies, non-food works; for sustainability policy, a donation or a reusable item fits better.

Tip: four strong alternatives

• A good everyday object: water bottle, ceramics, linen textiles.
• Experience: credit for a tour, museum visit or workshop with a maker in the city.
• Time: an extra afternoon off in January, formally confirmed on the card.
• Impact: a donation on the recipient's behalf, with a choice of two or three causes.

Tip: make experiences concrete

A vague voucher rarely gets redeemed. Put a name, an address and an expiry date on the card, and keep the window generous - at least six months. An experience redeemed in March actually extends the gift.

Tip: with a donation, let people choose

Picking the charity yourself quickly feels like your gift to yourself. Offer two or three options, let the recipient choose via a simple link, and report back the total afterwards. That last step is what makes it genuinely shared.

Tip: keep it tangible

Even without food, people want something in their hands. A well-designed card, a small keyring or a print of the city marks the difference between 'we arranged something' and 'we gave something'.

We put together non-food hampers to order from 15 pieces. For inspiration, take a look at our existing boxes or request a non-food proposal.