Sea on the Table in The Hague

Whether it’s a whole herring or a steaming pan of mussels, fresh fish can make me intensely happy. Fish shops are often not the most atmospheric places on earth, but fortunately there are exceptions. One of them is Zee op Tafel, better known as ZoT, in The Hague.

At this fishmonger—or rather, fish jeweller—you won’t find a counter. No, here the walls are lined with large display cases filled with the freshest fish and shellfish.

In the middle of the shop is the workbench where the fish is filleted, cut and wrapped. You can buy fish here to take home, but (even more fun) you can also take a seat in the mini restaurant at the back of the shop.

Feast your eyes
The staff know their stuff and are happy to help you make your choice. And there is plenty to choose from: from sashimi to turbot with truffle sauce and soft-shell crab tempura. But you can also visit ZoT for a simple Dutch herring or a small sole.

But the best thing about ZoT is the wide variety of visitors. Older people stopping by for their weekly fried fish, mothers with daughters enjoying sashimi and friends sitting down to an elaborate meal. There is a constant stream of people who all have one thing in common: they are crazy about all the delicious things from the sea. So take a seat, take your time and enjoy everything you taste and see.

Zee op Tafel
Bankastraat 95
The Hague
open: Mon 12:00 – 21:00, Tue to Sat: 10:00 – 21:00