When friends of mine visit from abroad and they’ve never been in Holland there are always a few things that we have to do. If we’re in Amsterdam, of course we have to visit the red-light district, although for me, this is definitely not a place I like to visit. Then of course, we always have to drop by at a so-called coffee shop (where strangely enough, you can’t get coffee). Some find it weird that *not* everybody in Holland is addicted to weed and are surprised to learn that there are still people (such as me) that do not smoke a joint every day 
.
One other thing that’s a tradition in Holland is raw herring which, according to Wikipedia is the Dutch fast food. The herring is actually not entirely raw anymore. It’s been cleaned, its head removed and conserved a little with salt. It’s a typical Dutch delicacy, often eaten with raw onions and/or pickles. The typical way of eating it is first picking it up by the tail and then letting it slide into your mouth gradually. We actually have one day a year we call ‘Vlaggetjesdag’ (Little Flag Day in English) which is when the first catch of the year is sold at a big auction. The proceed of this auction go to a charity. Generally, the first bit of fish (several kilos) are sold for several 10s of thousands of euros. I believe the record is at 40k EURO or something.
Anyway, I’m very pleased that my brother has kept this tradition alive and does not only eat herring himself by letting it slide into his mouth, but has also taught his little kid and my nephew to eat it like that. This is how Mas ate his herring yesterday 
!!!
Hey! It’s a very lovely story. Could you please help with the names of the most famous fast-food chains that sell this kind of herrings. I live in Moscow and planning to visit Amsterdam in september or october. Thnx.Anna
Hey Anna,
Although Wikipedia calls it fast-food, the fast-food chains absolutely do not sell herring, it’s a typical Dutch thing you will find only in authentic fish stands. I just found this, on one of my favorite squares in Amsterdam:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Netherlands/Provincie_Noord_Holland/Amsterdam-463377/Restaurants-Amsterdam-Seafood_Herring-BR-1.html
good luck and have fun in Amsterdam!!!
Anna,
I live in Amsterdam and can give you several addresses for stalls where you can find good herring (especially in the center). I am planning to go to Moscow in October with my boyfriend so I would appreciate some tips from you. Can you send me an email dekokeva@gmail.com thanks
Eva de Kok
Thank you very much for your article – this is very useful. I just came back from Sheveningen via Amsterdam and at the airport I bought the cured herring (frozen then, now ready to eat in my fridge). I ate about five yesterday but was wondering whether I should have cooked them. Now I know that I did the right thing – only I did not know how to pop it in the Dutch style!
Tasted wonderful. Eh? Yes, I am British but my parents are Japanese -I love fish!
Hi, when I was a child in London we used to go to Jewish food shops and purchase what we called Dutch herring,they were dark brown and very salty, quite delicious. I have been searching for the method of creating these, would you help as no such shops exist where I now live. Thank you
hey i loved the artical it helped me on my report for school thank you so much
Hey there i think it is really kool wht u guys eat. my dad is from holland but moved here when he was young. My dad is doing this thing now where 2 nights a week we are going to be making a dutch meal. i cant wait. Because i cant speek dutch very well he is going to speek dutch those 2 night every week…. so maybe by the time i grow up and move out i will know a little about where my dad is from and what i am looking forward to be learning in the furture.. Later and peace Chantelle
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Alef,
Hello my name is Renate, Born in Losser 1960 and imigrated to Calif.1963, I love herring both salted and pickeled. I am currantly doing a reserch for my daughter on the traditions of the Dutch and their literature influences. Could you tell me if there is any literature on the subject of the herring for the Dutch tradition?
Thank You
Renate
Hey, i live in British Columbia. My oma is from holland along with my moms whole side of the family! dutch is great. My oma eats raw, alive herring, which i find kinda icky.. lol.. ill stick to my DZ candys
Hey Summer, that’s fun to hear. But she eats it alive… Wow, that’s weird, I’ve never seen anybody doing that here…
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Hi all,
Does anyone know of a place I can get the raw herring In London? I lived i amsterdam and miss this healthy snack!
Thanks
A few crazy posts here … no one is eating live herring (unless they are very fast swimmers and under the sea). The herring is raw (uncooked) but it is salted and marinated so that it is ‘cured’ which chemically changes it and makes it safe to eat. If you want to have it in UK, just go to a major supermarket, like Tescos, and look for jewish foods chiller section. The ‘Mrs Elswood’ brand do excellent sweetcure, Bismarck and rollmop style herring in take-home pots. I prefer the sweetcure as it isn’t as acidic or salty as the other two, but they’re all damned nice and go down very well with a glass of neat vodka straight from the icebox!
Hi folks,
I was born in America but have lived in Norway for 35 years and I’m making “spekesild” right now. This is raw salted herring. Some will be eaten like it is, cold along with boiled potatoes, flatbread and sour cream. I make various types of pickled herring. My favorite is with a tomato sauce. But there are endless variations. The herring in pickled recipes is NEVER cooked. I do bake some of the salted herring in vinegar water with onion and peppercorn again eaten with boiled potatoes and flatbread. Before refrigerators, raw salted herring was the most common meal for people in western Norway. It is also common in Sweden. It keeps for ages in it’s own heavily salted juices as long as a cover keeps the herring from floating to the surface. The person who forgets to cover the herring (sild) is in hot water. The entire family could starve if the barrel of herring rots.
Hi all,Does anyone know where to find raw herring in boston/NYC? After reading this article, I really want to try it!! Thnx! Julia
Julia, yes you can! According to a friend of mine in NYC, you can get them at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central station! I’m not sure if it’s that time of the year thought!
[...] it’s the raw herring. if that’s not what you were thinking of, it should [...]
[...] it’s the raw herring. if that’s not what you were thinking of, it should [...]
[...] is Dutch or the Dutch are existential penguins; both are probably fairly buoyant and quite fond of herring and [...]
Hi Alef,
I’m from Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. I grew up eating pickled herring on New Year’s Eve to bring luck in the new year; my mom says this tradition came from the Dutch side of our family (my great grandparents came to the U.S. from Oosterbeek). Is this something that other Dutch people do, or is it that my family adapted the tradition of herring eating to their own good luck ritual?
Thank you!
Michelle
I’m delighted! After reading your post I can tell you are passionate about your writing. Keep up the great work and I’ll return for more! Thank you.
Hi I have a Russian fiancée. She claims you can buy raw/salted Herring in Moscow and it is very much a Russian Tradition! I lived in Holland for 5 years and always thought this was an Exclusive to Holland tradition. Can anyone tell me who started this tradition first..
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hey all.
i think that personally, eating raw fish is disgusting. iv never tried it so i cant judge, but still. ITS RAW FISH! blagh!
hey…EATING RAW FISH THE MOST DISGUISTING THING EVERRRR!! I agree with Nikk. I think I might puke….
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Hello Alef,
I saw your post (from 2007) about where to find new season Holland hjerring in Boston. I am the chef and owner of Prose, a small restaurant outside of Boston and would love to find out if you knew who was getting the fish in Boston – even if it was in 2007! I know that you can always get the new season herring in NYC but I’m trying to find a local purveyor! I would be so thankful if you could get me some info. Thanks, Debbie Shore
Prose 352A Mass Ave Arlington, MA (basically Cambridge)
Hey, very nice website. I actually came across this on Ask Jeeves, and I am really happy I did. I will definately be revisiting here more often. Wish I could add to the conversation and bring a bit more to the table, but am just absorbing as much info as I can at the moment.
Thank You
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