{"id":5916,"date":"2022-04-04T20:42:58","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T20:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=5916"},"modified":"2026-02-20T12:57:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T11:57:21","slug":"wadden-cuisine-in-a-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/nederland\/de-gastronomie-van-de-wadden-in-een-dag","title":{"rendered":"Wadden cuisine in one day"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the north, the wind is always blowing. Sometimes it blows at the back. Then again, it blows tight in the face. With the wind come the clouds. With the clouds sometimes comes rain. The advantage of a partly cloudy day is that the clouds pass quickly with the rain. High in the north, the climate is different. When it rains in Utrecht, it is often dry in the north. And vice versa. The temperature is a bit lower there, but it is fine. This also affects gastronomy. The grain republic of Wadden<\/a> lies more to the east. On the contrary, in the far north you will find potatoes, vegetables, sugar beet, as well as fish from the Wadden Sea and the North Sea. We will explore the gastronomy of the Wadden<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"The<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Oysters, harders and a pinball machine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lauwersoog is a construction. A village that is not actually a village. Decades ago, there was nothing there. The name Lauwersoog actually means Lauwerseiland. Until late in the 20th century, it was also an island. A construction made in the 1960s and 1970s. It was actually a working island, for the purpose of closing the Lauwerszee. That's also how it was laid out. It lacks a heart, a soul. There is the harbour, you have the lake and mainly the boat to the island of Schier. The familiar triad of church-pub-Rabobank is more straightforward here. Only a pub provides cohesion here. The fishermen also know each other and help each other where necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Sander<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

't Ailand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The signs on the outside and inside and of the 't Ailand<\/a> secretly betray a lot. Slow food, depicting a snail, is just one of those nods to the reality of the day. It is the beating heart of a beautiful fishing business. Barbara is the cheerful hostess. From behind her desk, she has everything under control. With the radio on O.V.T. and a view of the harbour mouth, little can go wrong. That Barbara is full of stories should come as no surprise. When you receive people day in, day out and are at sea, there is bound to be more than one story to tell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"wadden<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The business, run by Barbara and her boyfriend Jan, fishes oysters throughout the year and nets in the summer months. Oysters, harders and other fish from the Wadden Sea. Barbara does not like the deep sea. Perhaps the dangers of the open sea come into play. As she puts it, 'I am not afraid of getting wet, but I want to be able to stand in the sea'. The Wadden Sea is perfect for that. his <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Wadden<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oysters are a dirty job<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The oysters at 't Ailand are wild oysters. Not farmed, but pure and local. They grow right on your doorstep, in the Wadden Sea. Picking oysters is not a clean job. 'Ordinary net fishermen have it a lot easier,' says Barbara, 'they throw their fish on the quay, it goes on ice and the next Thursday the money is in the account.' In the oyster business, it all takes a bit longer. You have to pick oysters. You have to know where to find the oysters, you have to deal with the tides and the weather. Once bitten, that's when it starts. Oysters are stuck together and you have to untie them. then sort them by size. Then strip the outside of dirt, such as Barnacles, mud and whatnot. The oysters then have to be placed in water. Then in a basket, off to the customer. A day of oyster picking is a week of cleaning work. That is different cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"lauwersoog,<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Barnacles<\/strong> are tiny organisms that nest on all kinds of surfaces, including oysters, in the Wadden Sea. Barbara cannot resist telling the anecdote about the male waterpox's genitals. Males apparently have 30 cm of reproductive organ to lug around. Or rather. They stay in place themselves and the organ does the rest. 'He pretty much goes down all the females,' says Barbara, laughing. For an organism a few millimetres big, quite a feat. And for us, of course, a great story<\/em>.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Pinball<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While Barbara makes coffee and serves her own apple pie, friend Jan and his team are at the markets in Utrecht and Groningen. Organic markets, that is. Jan is also often at sea fishing and collecting oysters. As it turns out, he also has another hobby. Barbara throws it out in passing: 'If he's not in the stall, I bet he's just playing pinball'. From the back of the shop we hear a nice complement: 'a Saturday not pinballed is a day not lived'. Just for verification, we ask if it really is about the cabinet. Confirmation is heard. Jan seems to be a gifted pinball player who can compete with the best in the world. The theme of his favourite machine is 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. The laughter can no longer be held back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\"ruben<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"wahoo,<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
War felt more here than elsewhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Those who really want to experience the Wadden are best to drive along the waters of the sea. Along the coastal road, which is on the right side of the dyke. On sunny days it is crowded with cyclists, on other days you are the only one here. With a stray seal, a flock of sheep and a flock of birds as companions.  Many do not know that this part of the country is also a large military training area. Marnehuizen is the training village from where 'our men' are trained to fight the enemy. Coincidence or not, but during our visit, the coastal road, as part of the site, is completely closed. Major military exercise we hear later. Given the world situation, it is no different, take a detour. The Ukrainian family we two days earlier at the North Cape<\/a> saw running up the dyke, they really had to adapt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\"cycling,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"cycling<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"cycling,<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Lauwersmeer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Netherlands is King of Water Management. Of course, we have our own Prince Pils, but we are known around the world for ingenious ways to keep our feet dry. We have to, with large parts of our country below sea level. At Lauwersoog, too, a clever feat has been achieved. A beautiful nature park, actually created by the construction of dykes. The 1953 flood disaster prompted the reclamation of this piece of land. This did not happen without a struggle. Without the Lauwerszee Action Committee, we would have had to pedal here now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The closure of the sea created new flora and fauna. Since 2003, the former Lauwerzee now bears the title National Park. Birds, peace, space. Here you can also find the Netherlands in a nutshell: on one side of the N361 you are not allowed to enter the park because of nesting birds. On the other side is training grounds. Long live freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Landal GreenParks Natuurdorp Suyderoogh: ideal for exploring the Wadden coast<\/a><\/blockquote>