The broodje haring is Dutch tradition on a plate. Fresh herring is filleted and placed on soft white bread with thinly sliced onion and pickles. The fish is not cooked — the acid from the pickles provides cure-like contrast to the tender, delicate herring. This is how locals eat herring. Multiple reviews call this the most authentic Dutch fish experience in Amsterdam.
Tips from diners
Order the broodje haring — this is the Dutch street food experience. Don't be intimidated by raw fish; the herring is delicate and fresh.
Eat it standing up like locals do. Hold the bread firmly and bite confidently. The onion and pickle make the raw fish approachable.
Kibbeling is traditionally made from cod cheeks, though whiting is sometimes used. Chunks are battered and deep-fried until golden. The result is crispy and flaky with a tender, buttery interior. This is hot street food — the opposite of raw herring but equally essential to Dutch cuisine. Serve with a squeeze of lemon.
Tips from diners
Order the kibbeling if you want warm food. It arrives hot and crispy. A squeeze of lemon completes it.
Frens sources Zeeland oysters — the regional specialty. Oysters are shucked to order and served with a squeeze of lemon and cocktail sauce. The meat is firm and briny, reflecting the quality of Zeeland waters. These are the luxury option at the stall — more expensive but worth the splurge.
Tips from diners
Splurge on oysters if you're in the mood. Three oysters and a glass of wine at a nearby café would be perfect. Frens shucks them expertly.
Warm smoked eel on soft bread with lemon.
Tips from diners
Smoked eel is rich and oily — less approachable than herring or kibbeling, but worth trying once. The smoke flavor is pronounced.
Grilled fresh eel served warm.
Tips from diners
Fresh eel is tender and buttery when grilled. A more refined option than kibbeling if you have a larger appetite.
Frens Haringhandel is one of the last traditional fish stands in Amsterdam's city center, located at Koningsplein since 1986. The shop sources fresh fish daily and serves classic Dutch street food: raw herring with onions and pickles, crispy deep-fried cod (kibbeling), and fresh oysters from Zeeland. The owner carries on a family tradition that respects Dutch fishing heritage. TripAdvisor awarded Frens a Certificate of Excellence six consecutive years.
Frens is located at Koningsplein, near the flower market. It's a street stall — order at the window. Eat standing or find a seat overlooking the flower market.
Hours are 11 am–6 pm (Sundays 12–6 pm). Come during lunch or early afternoon. The stall can run out of certain fish types as the day goes on.
This is listed in every Amsterdam guide as the best place to try herring. Expect international crowds. The owner and staff are friendly and speak English. Bring cash; card payment available.
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