The folkloric World Cup Fish Frying in the fortified town of Woudrichem is back. “After two silent corona years, the stoves can be lit again on Ascension Day,” says Aart Geurts of the organization. “Thirty fish bakers participate to bake salmon and gurnard on nostalgic wood-fired stoves.”
“The Fish Frying World Championships will be held for the 24th time,” says Aart Geurts. “Each participating team and individual fish baker will receive two pieces of gurnard and two pieces of salmon. An expert jury, which includes a professional fisherman and the former chairman of the cooperative fisheries association De Hoop, will taste and assess everything in order to ultimately choose the best fish baker.”
“The heyday of river fishing really comes to life on such a day.”
Up to and including 2019, the Fish Frying World Cup attracted thousands of visitors from all over the country every year. “Although it couldn’t go on for two years in a row, we expect that many visitors will come again,” says Geurts. “It is and remains a beautiful sight: fish trays on a fire devil by participants who have dressed themselves in nostalgic fishermen’s clothing. The heyday of river fishing really comes to life on such a day.”
The greasy smoke associated with the event is also nostalgic, which can hang over the town like a blanket when there is little wind. “When the competition is in full swing, you can see the stovepipes of the fire devils emitting a lot of smoke. In addition, frying fish in the oil also causes a typical odor. That combination of scents is part of this event.”
“Fortunately, our regular ‘fish man’ was able to deliver everything.”
Although there is a lack of everything everywhere, it is still possible to bake. “Fortunately, our regular fisherman was able to supply everything,” says Geurts. “Not just the fish, but also the oil for frying.” Geurts also explains that the name of the competition, the World Fish Frying Championships, does not stand for the World Fish Frying Championship. “No, no, that’s a misunderstanding. The letters WK stand for the: Woerkums Championship Fish Frying.”
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Thick clouds of smoke and oily fish air at the Fish Baking Championship in Woudrichem