Fishing In The Netherlands

Rotterdam Fishing

First, let me apologize if you came here looking for info on fishing in the Netherlands.  I got squat.. nada.  Other than this photo, which I took yesterday during a bike ride near Groene Kruisweg in the south of Rotterdam.

I stopped to take a photo when I saw these people fishing, because it looked nice and also because I was curious.  I see people fishing all the time in pretty much every body of water they can find, big or small.  In parks, on canals, in the rivers and ponds.  Absolutely everywhere…

I’ve never been one for fishing.  When I was younger my father used to take me down to the wharf in our home town and hang the line over the edge so I could catch crappy little fish that weren’t worth anything.  I would come home beaming to inform my mother that I had caught dinner and while I washed up, my father was sent to the local supermarket to buy fish for my mother to cook.  The best part?  I wouldn’t even eat it, I hated fish!

I often say to my husband that I’d love to start fishing, because I can totally get the serenity that comes along with it.  Sitting out in the sun, relaxing and waiting for that bit of excitement when you get a nibble.  The only problem is, I still am not a big fish lover, so I certainly wouldn’t be catching dinner.  I could catch and release but I know myself better than to think I could do that guilt free, without getting weird about hurting the fish for sport.

I guess I could catch fish and make Xander clean it and eat it so I didn’t feel like it was all for nothing.  He definitely wouldn’t mind the eating part, the cleaning I’m not so sure about.  He’s a gagger.

I’m curious what is involved in this fishing here.  I see people doing things all sorts of different manners.  Some just have a chair and a pole by a canal while others sit next to lakes with tents set up and all sorts of fancy looking fishing gear.

How do they know where the fish are?  I see people fishing everywhere, does that mean there’s edible fish in every body of water in the entire country?

Are the fish all really edible or do people throw them back?

Is it an expensive sport?  Do you need a license for every kind of fishing or only for certain types of fish or places?

What kind of fish are they?  Is it different depending on where you are or are there fish that are most commonly found here?

Do people here really use bread as bait, or is this another little bit of bullshit my husband is telling me because I’m gullible enough to believe it?

Do you fish in the Netherlands?  Tell me all about it, I really want to know!  Especially the bread thing…

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17 comments

  1. I think this will answer one of your questions:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnq96W9jtuw

    M.

  2. My Nederlandse pap is into that hobby. He helped build the local pond for sport fishing and he teaches a summer class so he can teach little kids how to do it, too. I think it’s totally cool, and probably one of the things I would like to try to learn from him once I move over! Only if someone else is touching the mealworms for me, bleh!

    They also go fishing somewhere else where they rent a boat and catch fish which they later smoke. We were going to do that but life got in the way, so I missed out on that. This is all in the south, though.

    I totally love the photo, by the way. I’m obsessed with windmills but had to travel a fair distance to get to see two different ones in Limburg!

    • I think a lot of people rent boats here and go out fishing. I’d like to rent a boat someday and spend some time out on the water. Aaah so many things I still want to do here! Maybe I can rent fishing poles too :P

  3. Every time me and the misses take the boat out we see tons of fishers. I always feel a little guilty if they have to get their fishing line out of the water so we can pass… but only a little :p
    .-= Invader_Stu´s last blog ..Kindergarden Lesson =-.

    • I can’t believe you have a boat. I’d LOVE to have a boat! Is it expensive and time consuming? Where do you keep it?

  4. Oh sure we will take you fishing:) You should try it sometime with Xander..get yourself a regular pole and some worms. The thing that drives me nuts here is that Im used to BIG rainbow trout and most of the time you catch weenie Bass. Im not a fan or carps. They are so big,slimy and smelly, and you have to use corn and maggots. However Im going to start joining in for no other reason than to use my new lense on the fish they catch :)
    .-= Sonya´s last blog ..Sunday’s In My City.. =-.

  5. My dad and granddad used to take me fishing (we lived in Florida, after all), but it was usually just off the back dock at my grandparents’ house. I liked the sitting and waiting part, but didn’t like the part where I had to touch the fish if I caught one. There’s a photo of me standing on the dock holding a newly caught fish (as far away as possible) with a look of pride and disgust on my face.
    .-= Alison´s last blog ..Foto Vrijdag 2.22 =-.

    • I don’t think I’d like holding them either, and there’d be a big chance that I’d burst into tears the first time I saw this fish struggling out of water and bleeding etc. gah.

  6. We fish every weekend but we dont keep the fish..they are not edible really…there are always signs to not eat the fish, especialy in the canals. You can catch Pike,Bass,Brasem,voorn,carp,and a bunch of others. You do need a license but that covers all the places u want to go.You get a booklet that shows where u can fish. As for being expensive..it’s like buying a camera and lenses..the better equipment u get, the better off u are..but it all depends on wat u are fishing for. You can ahve fun with a cheaper pole.

    Bread on a hook is usually for Carp and a few other fishes. The species of fish u can eat but I wouldnt do it because of the pollution factor. We go to one canal that states u must where gloves when handlin the fish. If u need anymore answers let me know on facebook. Edwin and Jacob are gone every weekend fishing..lol
    .-= Sonya´s last blog ..Sunday’s In My City.. =-.

  7. The photo is beautiful, such a picturesque location. I’m pretty sure the bread thing is true – soaked in water and rolled into tiny balls for bait.. :)

    • Ok I’ll take YOUR word on the bread thing, because I know you aren’t always trying to trick me like my mean, cruel, trickster husband! :P

  8. That is a gorgeous picture! I really wish I could go hang out there. It’s tough to find spots like that here in the prairies.

    • Well if you ever make it to this side of the pond you’re welcome to bunk with us :) I’ll take you there!

  9. I have no answers for you! But I think bread wouldn’t make good bait. Wouldn’t it just get soggy and fall off the hook??
    .-= Kara´s last blog ..Made It Back On! =-.

    • I thought so too but apparently you pinch it and it becomes harder and stays on. I thought bait = worms end of story, apparently that’s not the case!

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