FAQs
General:
How do you pronounce Van Leeuwen?
Since we are in America “Van (like the car) Lou (like the name) Inn (like the hotel).” If we were in the Netherlands “Von (the von Trapp Family) Lei (Like the Hawaiian flower necklace) Vin (Like French for wine).”
Is Van Leeuwen a Dutch company?
Not exactly, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream was founded in NYC by brothers Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen (American with a Dutch Dad) and Laura O’Neill (an Australian living in America).
How did Van Leeuwen Ice Cream get started?
Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen and Laura O’Neill started Van Leeuwen Ice Cream out of a yellow truck on the streets of NYC in 2008, with the mission to make good ice cream, from good ingredients, that makes you feel good. Learn more about our story and mission here.
Where can I find Van Leeuwen Ice Cream?
You can find us in our scoop shops, grocery stores and via our online store. Our scoop shops are located in New York, New Jersey, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Pennsylvania, Boston and Texas. We are in many major grocery chains such as Whole Foods and Sprouts. Click here to locate the nearest store to you. Lastly, you can shop online and have our ice cream and vegan ice cream delivered straight to your front door.
Why is the dairy ice cream called French Ice Cream?
Eggs. Plenty of ’em. Turns out, when you use twice as many egg yolks as the standard ice cream you have to call it French Ice Cream. Fine by us. Because whether it’s using more eggs or having to legally change our name, we’ll do anything to make the best ice cream on Earth.
Was that really Ben Van Leeuwen on Deal or No Deal!?
It was! Ben had a ton of fun meeting Howie.
Where do you come up with the flavors?
All of our ice cream flavors are dreamed up in our Research & Development kitchen, led by Ben Van Leeuwen, in Greenpoint Brooklyn, the neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY where it all began in 2008.
Does the yellow scoop truck still vend in New York City?
While we no longer vend out of a truck in NYC, you can find us at festivals and events. Our trucks are available to rent for private events, birthday parties, weddings, film sets, offices, you name it. If you’re interested in having the Van Leeuwen scoop truck at your event, please reach out to us. We still vend in Los Angeles on Abbot Kinney each week. Keep up with our instagram for the latest schedule.
Can I work at Van Leeuwen?
Maybe! Our team is always growing. Click here to apply for a position.
Which grocery stores can I buy Van Leeuwen Ice Cream in?
You can find our pints and ice cream bars on the shelves of many grocery stores across the country. Click here to find Van Leeuwen Ice Cream near you.
Where are the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Scoop Shops?
Our scoop shops are located in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Connecticut, Texas, Boston, DC and California. Stay tuned since we’ll be in more new cities in 2024. You can find your local scoop shop here.
Do you have gift cards?
We offer gift cards and e-gift cards, which can be purchased online or in our scoop shops, and can be redeemed in our scoop shops. (Excluding our Union Square, NYC location)
Products:
Where can I find ingredient and nutritional information?
The most up to date information can be found on the back of each product.
I have an allergy. Can I eat your ice cream?
The most up to date allergen information can be found on the back of each product.
All of our products are made in a facility that handles dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy and egg. We take extensive precautions to keep our allergens separate from one another and from our other ingredients, however, if you have a life-threatening allergy, please take precaution when eating our product.
Are your products certified kosher?
Our ice cream bars are certified kosher. Our ice cream pints are in the process of being certified kosher.
Are your products certified gluten-free?
While we have many flavors that do not contain gluten, our products are not certified gluten-free and all of our ice cream is made in the same factory. For this reason, we advise anyone with an allergy to keep this in mind when choosing to enjoy our product.
Is your ice cream pasteurized?
Yes. All of our dairy products and eggs are pasteurized.
Events:
Are you available for events?
Yes! We offer the following event options:
NYC: ice cream truck, ice cream cart, tabletop service, drop off catering
LA: ice cream truck, tabletop service
Please fill out this form to learn more.
Do you travel outside of NYC/LA?
Yes! Travel outside of our designated area is subject to a travel fee.
Can you be a vendor at our event, festival, street fair, etc.?
We’d love to hear more! Please fill out this form to learn more.
Nationwide Shipping & Gifting:
Does Van Leeuwen ship ice cream?
We sure do. Please visit our online store here to ship ice cream nationwide.
How do you ship ice cream?
Our ice cream is packaged in an insulated box with plenty of dry ice to keep it frozen hard right to your doorstep.
When will my order ship?
We do our best to ship your order out within 5 business days, however there may be some delay during holidays and sales. You’ll receive an email confirmation when your order has been placed. You will receive another email with tracking information when your order has shipped.
How much does shipping cost?
We offer flat-rate shipping in the United States based on the state of your shipping destination.
CA, CT, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NV, NY, PA – $15
AL, AZ, CO, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, OH, OR, RI, SC, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV – $20
AR, KS, LA, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY – $35
AK, HI – $70
Why do you have a $60 minimum on online orders?
This is industry standard for shipping ice cream. In order for your ice cream to arrive as intended, there is a lot of packaging material required, including coolers and lots of dry ice.
Do you deliver to a PO box?
No, not at this time.
Can I make changes to my order once it has been placed?
All ice cream orders are final. We are unable to make any changes to your order once it has been submitted. If you contact us shortly after placing your order, we will do our best to accommodate you but we cannot guarantee any changes.
Do you accept returns?
We are not able to accept returns.
Can I specify a delivery date?
We are not able to take requests for delivery on a specific date.
Do I need to be home to receive my delivery?
We ship with signature release, so you do not have to be home to receive your order. Please make sure that you move the contents of your package into the freezer as soon as possible!
Van Loot Coins:
What can I get for my Van Loot Coin?
Each Van Loot Coin is redeemable for 1 kid’s scoop.
Where can I redeem my Van Loot Coin?
Van Loot Coins are redeemable at any Van Leeuwen scoop shop.
What if I want to add a topping or upgrade to my kid’s scoop?
Any menu item other than a kid’s scoop is full price. Any upgrades including toppings, waffle cones and waffle bowls are full price.