Where to Eat the Best Herring Sandwich in Amsterdam

A highlight every year, if you ask me: when the Hollandse Nieuwe season arrives again. Delicious herring with onion and pickles on a bread roll; I could honestly eat this (almost) every day. The best herring sandwich? You’ll find it at Vishandel Tuyp in Amsterdam-Noord. This is the place for the tastiest fresh herring, with a perfect balance of ingredients and a flavor you won’t soon forget.

Vishandel Tuyp: the herring masters of Amsterdam-Noord

The history of Vishandel Tuyp goes back to grandfather Evert Tuyp, who sold his herring around the city from a cargo bike on the Nieuwedijk. Later, he had a stall at markets in Amsterdam and the surrounding area every day, and over the years the assortment continued to expand. His son Gerard Tuyp took over and now operates at Mosveld in Amsterdam-Noord. Together with his wife Mary and their sons Eric and Dennis, they make up the well-known Volendam fishmongers Vishandel Tuyp en zonen. Today, they are at Mosveld, where you can taste their delicious Hollandse Nieuwe.

What makes this herring sandwich so delicious?

Why is this sandwich so delicious? Of course, the herring is fantastic, but it’s also about the freshness and the perfect balance between the ingredients. The herring is incredibly fresh, with pieces of onion and pickles, and then there’s the bread roll itself. It has exactly the right balance between soft and not too soft.

For a moment, I thought the word “kakelvers” had something to do with the ‘kaken’ process used for herring that should be eaten as fresh as possible, but it turns out to be an advertising term from 1965. It comes from the idea that chicken eggs are so fresh that you can practically still hear the chicken clucking.

What is Hollandse Nieuwe?

The name Hollandse Nieuwe actually says little about where the herring comes from. Herring swims in the waters near Denmark, Norway and Sweden. So what makes it “Dutch”? The way the herring is processed. As soon as the herring comes ashore, things move quickly: within minutes, the fish are placed in salted ice water, waiting to be gutted: the gills and intestines are removed, while the pancreas remains. It plays an important role in the fish’s ripening process thanks to the enzymes it releases. After being sorted by size, the herrings are left to ripen a little longer in brined ice water. They are then frozen at -30°C within 24 hours of being caught. This so-called shock freezing is essential for the flavor and texture, while the pancreas continues to do its work.

Only herring caught between mid-May and the end of July, containing enough fat and processed in the correct way, may proudly carry the name Hollandse Nieuwe until September. This is a kind of quality guarantee, but in my opinion, the best herring is found at Vishandel Tuyp!

Why Vishandel Tuyp is the best

Vishandel Tuyp is known for its outstanding quality. They make sure you get the very best herring, and you can always count on freshness and top quality. If you haven’t tried Hollandse Nieuwe yet, or if you’re looking for the best herring sandwich in Amsterdam, you should definitely visit Vishandel Tuyp.

Here’s where to buy the best herring sandwich

A herring sandwich at Tuyp costs 4.50 euros. Address: Mosveld 87, Amsterdam-Noord, opening hours: Monday: 12:00 – 17:30, Tuesday to Friday: 8:30 – 17:30, Saturday: 8:30 – 17:00. For more information: Vishandel Tuyp.

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