You choose: are you sad or depressed?
“Because Flag Day has been cancelled? Personally it doesn’t affect me, but every year it is a nice advertisement for the herring. They have to give it some attention, otherwise people won’t know that there is new herring.”
Are you still looking forward to something like Hollandse Nieuwe? Or is it all just advertising?
“No, it makes me happy. Herring is a special product after all. The best part is that customers who always come for a herring look forward to it. They are on the cart this week, you know.”
Do you have extra traffic this week?
“Not like ten, fifteen years ago, when it was more alive. Although I think young people like to eat herring as much as you and I do.”
Then the stupidest question of the year: how is the herring this season, even fatter than last year?
“No, slightly less fat, nice and fresh. New herring should not be too fat, then it will become a bit softer. It should actually be a little firmer. Of course, pegs are not better every year than the year before. It is a natural product, so the quality varies every year.”
Oh, that should be in the newspaper.
“Yes, look at this: the weather plays a part, the amount of plankton plays a role, and above all: which school does the fisherman catch? A fat one? A lean one?”
The name Zwaan is a household name in East, where will you be tomorrow with your fresh herrings?
“We are indeed the third and last generation in fish. Tomorrow we will be on the corner of Fizeaustraat, corner Hugo de Vrieslaan. The new herring costs 2.50 euros.”
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