Let me be clear. The Netherlands, in my opinion, may not be the most exhilarating country to visit for its nature. It offers a great variety of fun activities, festivals, bars, restaurants, and museums. The food experience isn’t mind-blowing, and it is the flattest country in the world. But sometimes, there are some gems you can’t deny. And I found one! This has been one of the activities that has been on my bucket list for a while, and I finally did it! After a 1.5-hour drive from Utrecht to Yerseke in Zeeland, we went oyster picking! In this article, you will read everything about how to prepare for picking oysters in Zeeland. Hopefully, it helps!
Table of Contents
When and where can I pick oysters?
The oyster season is between September to April (all the months with the letter ‘r’). There are countless opportunities to explore and pick your own oysters in the Netherlands. We went to Yerseke, known as the oyster capital of the Netherlands. Yerseke is a premier destination for oyster enthusiasts. Make sure to only pick oysters outside of the national parks because some areas are protected. The map on the national park Oosterschelde shows the areas where you can pick oysters.
Some of the most famous places in Zeeland are:
- Oesterdam
- Yerseke
- Wilhelminadorp
- Scheldeoord
Most areas to pick oysters are located in Zeeland, however, it is also possible to pick oysters in the Waddeneilanden or Groningen. I wouldn’t recommend this for a day-trip from Utrecht/Amsterdam because this is quite a trip.
What should I bring?
It is definitely recommended to be prepared for picking oysters. My boyfriend and I were half-prepared and this wasn’t ideal, so make sure to bring:
- A raincoat/nice sweater for when you’re going oyster picking on a changeable day.
- A bucket to put the oysters in!
- Rain boots (we didn’t have any rain boots, so instead we brought skiing boots ;)).
- A flathead screwdriver
- Work gloves for picking oysters and for when the oysters open.
- An oyster knife
- A towel to dry yourself if necessary.
- Another set of clothes. If you’re going to do other things, do so just in case…
- Bottle of wine (not necessary ofcourse ;))
What time shall I go?
Do you know where you want to gather oysters, cockles, and mussels? Then look at the tide. It matters quite a bit whether it’s ebb or flow, because you’ll only find oysters, cockles, and mussels at low tide (ebb). In just over six hours, it turns to flood – the water rises, then it turns ebb again in the same amount of time – the water lowers again. You can see the tides on the tidal table via Rijkswaterstaat.
How to pick and eat the oysters?
It’s very special to gather your own shellfish meal; mussels, oysters, periwinkles (winkles). Make sure to follow the rules so you don’t disturb the unique Oosterschelde nature:
- What you gather must be for personal use only (with a maximum of 10kg per person per day).
- Collecting is only permitted in accessible areas, see the map above.
- You are not allowed to stir, shovel, scrape, or do anything similar to the seabed.
- Do not disturb birds.
- You may not enter the mudflats, not even to walk to the oyster beds.
- Do not damage plants and seaweed while gathering.
- It is not allowed on leased shellfish plots (often marked with stakes) or in closed dike sections.
The rules are aimed at minimizing disturbance to nature in the national park. If we all together harvest all oysters, mussels, and cockles from the Oosterschelde, the entire underwater system gets thrown off balance.
Okay great, we know what the rules are! So how to pick the oysters? That’s actually quite useful to know before you get started ;-). Some oysters you can easily pick up from the water, while others you have to pry loose with (for example) a flathead screwdriver.
Handle oysters gently to avoid damaging their delicate shells. Store them with the cupped side down to prevent the juices from leaking out. Freshly picked oysters are best consumed within 2 days to ensure optimal flavor and quality. Avoid storing them for extended periods, as they can spoil quickly.
If you’re not planning to consume the oysters immediately, shuck them and store them on ice for up to 24 hours. Discard any oysters that do not close tightly when tapped, as they may be unfit for consumption.
Before consuming or storing the oysters, give them a thorough rinse with clean water to remove any dirt or debris. Use a brush or cloth to gently scrub the shells, if necessary, but avoid submerging them in freshwater, as this can kill the oysters. At an oyster farm, you will never find sand between the oysters because they are rinsed and purified; those from the sea are obviously not as clean. Therefore, rinse them in seawater before putting them in the bucket.
Goeie tips!!
Zonder jou had ik het ook niet gered ! <3 - dan was het oestermes niet meegegaan. 😉