Herring season to open on 14 June
The new herring season in the Netherlands will this year open on 14 June.
Because of the unusual cold spring weather, the fish were not fat enough on the planned date of 31 May. It was the first time in history that the traditional auction of the first keg of Hollandse Nieuwe (New Dutch) herring, to raise money for charity, had to be postponed.
The price of the herring is expected to vary between EUE 1,75 and EUR 2.
Raw salted herring is regarded as something of a delicacy in the Netherlands. It is generally served with diced raw onions. The fish’s head is removed before it is sold. The most traditional way of eating a herring is holding it by its tail, tilting your head back and devouring from the other end.
Herring is available at most fish stands now but the Hollandse Nieuwe (New Dutch) herring is particularly sought after.
Sources: Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch), 30 May 2006 and Expatica Netherlands, 23 May 2006
