Fresh from behind the fish counter
Stories from the shop
What makes kibbeling different from lekkerbek? When are mussels at their best? Here are our answers to the questions we hear at the fish counter.
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- Seasons · shop · sustainability
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- English
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Knowledge to help you choose
From the first herring of the year to certifications and planning a fish meal.
- Schaap’s · 1938
Our story
Updated 10 November 2026 · 6 min
Since 1938: generations of fish on the Herenstraat
From Gerrit Schaap’s shop in 1938 to today: the story of a familiar Leiden fishmonger in five chapters.
Fish facts
9 November 2026 · 2 min
Which fish work in a tabletop grill pan?
Try salmon in one pan and cod in another: salmon tastes richer, while cod separates into tender flakes.
Fish facts
9 November 2026 · 2 min
What goes with a cold seafood platter?
Bread, a crisp side and a separate sauce turn the same platter into lunch or drinks-party bites.
Fish facts
9 November 2026 · 2 min
Gravlax, cold-smoked or hot-smoked salmon?
Think about serving first: thin slices on toast or flakes to fold through a dish.
Fish facts
9 November 2026 · 2 min
Which fish salad works on toast?
For drinks, pick two contrasting flavours, such as crab and salmon-wasabi, and serve the toasts separately.
Fish facts
9 November 2026 · 2 min
Whole plaice or fillets for the frying pan?
Look at your pan first. A whole plaice is broad and flat; two fillets are easier to arrange side by side.
Fish facts
9 November 2026 · 2 min
What do ‘creuse’ and ‘fine de claire’ mean on an oyster box?
The label answers different questions: what kind of oyster is it, and how was it finished?
Fish facts
9 November 2026 · 2 min
Which fish goes on the grill and which in a parcel?
Choose the method to suit the cut. A whole fish holds together more readily than a thin fillet.
Fish facts
9 November 2026 · 2 min
Which fish pieces hold together in soup?
Use pieces of similar thickness rather than thin shreds. Even a good cod fillet falls apart if you stir it vigorously.
Interactive
The fish year — a seasonal calendar
Month by month: seasonal fish ideas. The calendar opens on the current month; ask us about current supply.