Herring Festival in the Netherlands

Traditionally main festivities are organized in harbours. All comers will be generously treated with delicatessen Hollandse Nieuwe - new herring crop. There is a cash prize for the vessel which is the first bringing this sea delicacy to port.

Then fish is cleaned and cut up, salted under special recipe. First crate of the fish used to be presented to the Queen, this year, due to the change of monarch in the country, the King Willem-Alexander will receive the gift.

The next cask is sold at auction, its price can reach 30 000 euros. Remaining herring is sold out to all comers and sent to banquets organized all over the Netherlands.

Herring Day is celebrate with kaleidoscope of events: numerous concerts, equestrian competitions directly on the quays and firing into the air from ancient rifles. The harbour is teemed with sightseeing ancient sailboats and modern ocean-going vessels. In addition, all festival-goers regale holiday sea delicacy following a certain ritual: consumers dip fish into finely chopped onion, throw back their heads and holding the tail, pop fish into mouth. Experienced eaters manage to chew the whole fish in one go. All that is followed by grey Dutch bread and washed down with beer.

Until the 15th century the herring was not considered food for decent people. It was not eaten due to strong smell and bitter fish oil. The title of food for the poor and the monks stuck to the fish. King Louis IX sent it as alms to lepers. Once the Dutch fisherman Willem Jacob Beykels had the idea: before salting he removed from herring its gills and gallbladder due to which it is, in fact, bitter. The resulting fish Beykels packed in barrels in neat layers and evenly poured salt. He did it all right in the sea, and while the ship was heading to the coast, the fish got ready for consumption.