The first keg of herring in 2022 has brought in 113,500 euros, a record amount. Proceeds go to the Ambulance Wish Foundation. “A mega amount, never happened before and really bizarre,” said the spokeswoman for the Visbureau. The keg was bought by the Association of Dutch Fish Specialists (VNV).
The first barrel of Hollandse Nieuwe was auctioned ‘normally’ again this year. In recent years, that was not possible because of the corona rules. With the auction in the fish auction in Scheveningen, the Dutch Fish Market draws attention to the catch of the first herring of the year, the Hollandse Nieuwe.
It was already the intention – before the corona pandemic broke out – that the proceeds would go to the Ambulance Wish Foundation. Volunteers from the foundation fulfill the last wishes of terminal patients who depend on ambulance transport. “There was no auction for two years because of corona. So three times is a charm, also for a good cause,” said the spokeswoman. “We went for a new ambulance and eventually also a stretcher. It costs 15,000 euros. And then also a few liters of fuel as a bonus.”
Healthcare staff
In 2020, the herring was symbolically offered to healthcare staff. Last year, the first keg was offered to employees of the Municipal Health Services. They were then busy vaccinating people against the corona virus.
In 2019, the first keg of Hollandse Nieuwe brought in 95,500 euros. That keg was bought by wholesaler Makro, the proceeds went to the Mag Ik Dan Bij Jou Foundation.
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