Today is a special day for all of us who love all things fishy. The first barrel of Hollandse Nieuwe Haring was sold yesterday for a whopping 90,000 euro, and the Dutch delicacy was available in grocery stores and local markets today. Every year, the money from the first batch is donated to a charity organization. The big grocery store chain Plus was the winner of the charity auction. This year, the money will go to the Forgotten Child foundation which provides support and assistance to children who have been abused or have run away from home.

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In order for the haring to have the official title of Hollandse Nieuwe, the fish must have a 16% fat percentage. The herring season was planned to begin June 9th but the fish were not fat enough. The cold weather slowed down the growth of plankton in the sea causing the fish to have less to eat. The following video shows the preparation process of the Hollandse Nieuwe Haring.

The traditional Vlaggetjesdag will be held this coming Saturday June 18 in Scheveningen. Some of the activities will be Oud Hollandse Spelen and a folkloric dance group. If you are near Scheveningen, make sure to visit Vlaggetjesdag! If you cannot make it, the following video is of last year’s celebration.

Do you like to eat herring? How do you like to eat it?