A visser is a fisherman. Fishing was a common occupation in the coastal towns of the Netherlands, including those surrounding the Zuiderzee (now: IJsselmeer).
Willem Beukels, a fisherman from Biervliet in Zeeland, invented the technique of gibbing herring, which allowed Dutch fishermen to remain at sea for longer periods of time before the fish would go bad. The secret of gibbing gave the Dutch a commercial advantage. Du
Fishermen in front of Tholen harbor. Credits: Atlas Schoemaker, collection Geheugen van Nederland (public domain)
tch herring is still renowned.
About Yvette Hoitink
