Additional Information
Independent auditors' report
Introduction
Scope
Opinion
198
Ahold Annual Report 2003
Additional Information
We have audited the financial statements of Koninklijke Ahold N.V. ("Royal Ahold"), Zaandam, for the year 2003.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in The Netherlands. Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial
statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of Royal Ahold as
at December 28, 2003 and of the result for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in The Netherlands and comply with the financial reporting requirements included in Part 9 of Book 2 of
The Netherlands Civil Code.
The accounting principles used can vary in significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States. The effect of the principal differences in the determination of net income (loss) and shareholders'
equity is set out in Note 31 to the consolidated financial statements.
Deloitte Accountants
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
April 24, 2004
