Pickled herring is a beloved street snack in the Netherlands, commonly sold from small stalls on many corners.
During a visit to Amsterdam I stopped at a local stall near my apartment to try the classic preparation: pickled herring served on a white bun and crowned with raw white onion and pickles. The fish itself was remarkably fresh and cut into a thick, satisfying piece. The tang of the pickling and the crunch of the pickles offered a combination of flavors and textures unlike anything I’d tasted before.
Raw onion is not my favorite, so I would skip it next time, but the overall experience was memorable. The herring had a clean, briny quality balanced by the bread and pickles, making it an ideal quick bite for exploring the city. For anyone curious about Dutch street food, trying pickled herring at a local stall is an authentic and worthwhile experience.