Atlantic Herring
Few fish are more woven into Dutch identity than the Atlantic herring. For centuries the North Sea herring fishery was the engine of the Dutch economy, and the Netherlands remains the largest EU exporter today.
Commercially caught by the fleet working the North Sea, herring also draws shore anglers and pier fishers targeting schooling fish close to the coast during seasonal runs.
Scientific Name: Clupea harengus
Also known as Haring, Hollandse Nieuwe, maatjesharing
- Slender, torpedo-shaped body covered in large, loosely attached silvery scales that shed easily when handled.
- Back is blue-green to greenish-blue; flanks and belly are bright silver — classic pelagic coloring that blends into open water from above and below.
- No lateral line visible on the scales; a single dorsal fin sits roughly mid-body with no spines.
- Typical fish run 20–30 cm; large adults can reach 45 cm and around 1 kg, though most caught near shore are on the smaller end.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the North Atlantic and North Sea — the Dutch fleet has worked these waters for centuries without any introduction needed.
- A pelagic, open-water species that spends most of its life in the water column, not near the bottom, moving in enormous schools across the continental shelf.
- Comes closer to the Dutch coast and into shallower shelf waters seasonally, making it accessible from shore, piers, and small boats along the Noordzee coastline.
- Larvae are sensitive to pollution; cleaner estuaries and coastal waters support better juvenile survival.
Key Locations
- The North Sea (Noordzee) coastline — the primary fishing ground for the Dutch herring fleet and the source of inshore seasonal runs accessible to shore anglers.
- IJmuiden — major fishing port and harbor where herring are landed commercially; pier and harbor-mouth fishing during inshore runs.
- Scheveningen — large North Sea harbor near Den Haag with pier access and a long history as a herring landing port.
- Den Helder and the Waddenzee approaches — the tidal channels and coastal shallows here see herring moving inshore seasonally.
Specific Spots
- Schooling fish — find the school and you find the fish. Look for surface activity, diving seabirds, or baitfish dimpling the surface near coastal structure.
- Piers, harbor mouths, and jetties along the North Sea coast concentrate herring during inshore runs, especially around lights at night when zooplankton gather.
- Deeper water just off the beach or harbor entrance holds fish during daylight; they push shallower at dusk and dawn.
Atlantic Herring FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Atlantic Herring?
Sabiki rigs are the most effective and widely used setup, the small flashy hooks on a multi-dropper trace mimic the zooplankton and tiny baitfish herring filter-feed on, and a single cast through a school can yield several fish at once.
When is the best time to fish for Atlantic Herring?
Spring and early summer, "Hollandse Nieuwe" season begins when the first young herring of the year arrive; these fish are prized for their high fat content and mild flavor.
How do you catch Atlantic Herring?
Commercial herring fishing in the Netherlands is done by the pelagic trawler fleet working the North Sea. Shore and pier anglers target inshore schools with light spinning gear and sabiki rigs, casting into harbor mouths, off jetties, or from North Sea beach piers during seasonal coastal runs.
What do Atlantic Herring eat?
Herring feed primarily on copepods and krill, tiny crustaceans filtered from the water column, plus small fish when available. They feed by swimming open-mouthed through dense plankton patches rather than targeting individual prey, which is why small, flashy sabiki-style rigs with multiple tiny hooks outfish single...
Where do Atlantic Herring live?
Native to the North Atlantic and North Sea, the Dutch fleet has worked these waters for centuries without any introduction needed. A pelagic, open-water species that spends most of its life in the water column, not near the bottom, moving in enormous schools across the continental shelf.
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