The best Dutch destinations to pick oysters

Picking your own oysters has become quite popular recently, not only in Zeeland, but also in other parts of the country, such as on the Wadden Islands or in the province of Groningen. It is a trend that fits perfectly with the times we live in and our growing awareness about the (as we now know: environmentally unfriendly) mass production of food. - TEXT HOLIDU.CO.UK | IMAGE HOLIDU.CO.UK AND PEXELS.COM

Increasingly, people feel the need to know where their food comes from and opt for local, fresh and organic. What could be better than picking your food from the beach yourself, with your own hands, and then devouring the oysters over a glass of wine or champagne when you get home! It doesn't get any more natural and, as an added bonus, you'll be out and about in the great outdoors while picking...

Everything you need to know about oyster harvesting

While collecting oysters, it is best to wear rain boots and work gloves. Experienced oyster gatherers take not only a basket to collect the oysters in, but also a screwdriver, as the oysters in the wild often grow against each other or against rocks. Don't forget your oyster knife if you prefer to open and eat the gathered oysters right on the spot! Note: you cannot smell a good oyster. If you open the oyster and smell a strong sulphur smell, it is better to skip it. You cannot keep oysters for more than a day. The oyster season lasts roughly from September to April (when the 'r' is in the month). In the Netherlands, you can collect oysters in several places along the coast, from the province of Zeeland to the Wadden Islands. There are a number of rules* for picking oysters in the Netherlands:

• You can bring up to 10 kg per person at a time (for personal use only, so you cannot sell the oysters later
• You must not stir, scoop or scrape across the soil
• You are not allowed on the mudflats, not even to walk towards the oyster beds
• You must not damage plants or weeds while harvesting
• If a stretch of beach is cordoned off (e.g. because it has been rented out), you are of course also allowed to go there
  no collecting oysters

*If you pick oysters abroad, look up exactly what the local rules are.

You pick oysters at low tide; so check the tides before heading out. Oyster beds can be easily recognised via Google Earth as the 'dark spots' along the beach.

The best Dutch destinations to pick oysters

Where to pick oysters

Where you can (legally) pick oysters is often easy to find via the websites of nature parks and/or other local (nature) organisations, such as the wildplukwijzer, for example, or take a look at the list below, made by Holiday home search engine Hideu, with 8 well-known and lesser-known places in the Netherlands that are considered good destinations to
picking oysters.

1. The Oester dam - Zeeland

The province of Zeeland is one of the Dutch provinces with a long coastline and many beaches, both on the North Sea and the Eastern Scheldt. It is a province where a lot of fish, shellfish and crustaceans are generally caught and farmed, such as Zeeland's mussels. In addition, on the Oosterschelde are several good places to pick oysters, including the Oester dam. This is a dam in the Oosterschelde that runs between Tholen and Zuid-Beveland. Apart from finding and picking oysters to your heart's content, the Oester dam is also known as a good diving spot.

2. Yerseke - Zeeland

Yerseke in Zeeland is also known as the 'oyster capital', so it absolutely cannot be missed in this list. Yerseke is originally a real fishing village, which is not surprising since, like the Oester dam, it lies directly on the Oosterschelde estuary. Along the beach you will find numerous oyster beds where you are allowed to pick wild.

3. Wilhelminadorp - Zeeland

Another place in Zeeland known for oyster gathering is Wilhelminadorp. Wilhelminadorp is in the municipality of Goes and has around 745 inhabitants. The village lies on the Goes canal that flows into the Oosterschelde, which explains why you have a good chance of finding oysters here. Walk down the Westhavendijk or the Oosthavendijk to the Goese Sas and start picking right away! You will also find plenty of oysters on the beach around restaurant Katseveer. You will also find them on the menu...

4. Scheldeoord - Zeeland

The last Zeeland destination in this list is Scheldeoord. Unlike the previous three destinations in Zeeland, Scheldeoord is not located on the Eastern but on the Western Scheldt. Here, too, you can gather oysters on the beach to your heart's content and enjoy a natural, healthy meal that you have also put together yourself!

5. De Mokbaai - Texel

De Mok or Mokbaai is a bay in the south of Texel, between De Hors and 't Horntje, not far from the village of Den Hoorn, where you arrive by boat from Den Helder. Because of the sheltered and shallow water in the bay, the Mokbaai is an ideal habitat for shellfish such as oysters and mussels. Until 1990, you mainly found mussels here, but in 1990 the Japanese oyster, also known as the 'creuse', was introduced to the area, after this oyster species had already been introduced in Zeeland in 1960. Since then, this has been a perfect place to pick oysters.

6. De Cocksdorp - Texel

On the northernmost tip of Texel you will find De Cocksdorp, a village of about 1,185 inhabitants where you can collect oysters well in the nearby area, such as around the dyke body (Lancasterdijk). Some local oyster tours also start from this spot. While you're there, you might want to try one of Texel's recipes with oysters: oysters au gratin with Texel beer. Enjoy your meal!

7. Wadden dike near Oost-Vlieland - Vlieland

Not only on Texel is it possible to pick oysters, on Vlieland too you can gather your own meal. The best place on the island where wild picking is allowed is the Wadden dyke south of the village of Oost-Vlieland. That way, you are mudflat hiking and picking oysters at the same time!

8. Lauwersoog - Groningen

Zeeland and the Wadden Islands are probably places you immediately think of when you think of picking oysters, but did you know that you can also find oysters in the province of Groningen, at Lauwersoog to be precise? On the Zeedijk, where the ferry to Schiermonnikoog also departs, there is a wild oyster picking spot. While you are there, also visit National Park Lauwersmeer immediately, and you will be amazed by the beautiful nature in the 'far north'.

This article was produced in collaboration with holidu.co.uk

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