IJmuiden breathes fish. The harbour town at the mouth of the North Sea Canal has its own fish auction, a large fishing fleet and dozens of companies that trade in fish far beyond the national borders. That is something you have to see! Visit the harbour, look at the ships and eat a fish in one of the many restaurants and fish shops.
IJmuiden has four harbours: Vissershaven with a fish auction and Viskade, Haringhaven, IJmondhaven and Seaport Marina IJmuiden. It is one of the largest seaports in the Netherlands. Only the harbours of Rotterdam and Amsterdam are larger. IJmuiden is also the largest fishing harbour of the Netherlands. From the fishing harbour of IJmuiden, a ferry also sails to and from Newcastle.
The Vis- en Halkade location is a vibrant area where visitors and residents can enjoy the view of the harbour while eating a fish on a bench. The jetty at Vissershaven and the public space at Halkade had been in need of replacement for some time. Zeehaven IJmuiden therefore decided, in cooperation with the municipality of Velsen, to build a quay at this location as well. A beautiful spot has been created between the Halkade and the Vissershaven, with space for selling fresh fish and benches to enjoy the view. In addition, new terraces and parking spaces have been created near the shops on the Halkade.
In short: an attractive area where people like to come to eat something tasty and look at the harbour and ships.
Have you always wanted to take a closer look at the fishing harbour with its fish auction? Then step aboard the MS Koningin Emma of the IJmuidense Rondvaart Maatschappij. This is possible twice a day. But of course, you can also do what IJmuiden residents love to do best: ‘pick a side’ on foot or by bike. Then you can really see what makes IJmuiden so raw and yet so beautiful.
North Sea fish from IJmuidenEspecially in these times, it is important to eat healthy. And fish happens to be very healthy. In IJmuiden, we have the advantage that there is an abundance of fish. After all, the North Sea is one of the cleanest seas in the world. Partly because of this, the North Sea is rich in an enormous variety of fish, shellfish and crustaceans. For example, as many as 220 species of fish live in the North Sea. Many people know plaice, sole and cod, of course. But have you ever heard of a stone pout, gurnard or a goat? In the cookbook by Noordzeevis from IJmuiden, you will find numerous stories and recipes. The book is available at local bookstores in the municipality of Velsen.
