Herring season kicks off as first fish barrel sells for €90,000

This year's first barrel of Dutch herring sold for 90 thousand euros on auction on Tuesday. Last year's first barrel auctioned for 53 thousand euros.

Herring expert and chairman of the inspection panel Peter Koelewijn described this year's herring as "extraordinary, the best quality in years", according to NU.nl. He particularly praised the fat, currently fluctuating between 21 and 23 percent. According to him, the fat makes the taste "salty and cream, really top-herring".

The proceeds of Tuesday's auction will be given to the foundation Het Vergeten Kind, or The Forgotten Child in English. The organization is dedicated to children who can not live at home.

The herring will be on sale from Wednesday. The start of the herring season will be celebrated on Saturday.