Vishandel Tel — Local services in Amsterdam

Sadly, there has been a rapid decline in the number of fishmongers in Amsterdam during the past few decades and Vishandel Tel is one of a handful still to be found dotted aound the city.

Tel is part of a fish wholesale and distribution centre based in Ijmuiden, a fishing port at the mouth of the North Sea, some 27 kilometres distance away, Vishandel Tel specializes in supplying the hotel, restaurant and cafe trade, known in the Netherlands by its HORECA abbreviation, as well as the general public.

The small shop at Kloveniersburgwal is packed to the brim with all types of fresh and frozen fish and shellfish and is always a hive of activity. It is a favourite port of call for the numerous restaurateurs from the adjoining Chinatown district who come to seek out produce for their oriental cuisine and specials of the day.

Crates of fresh crab line the entrance and there is always a very nice selection of oysters. At the heart of the store is display table around which there are narrow passageways which must be navigated to get from one side to the other; Due to the number of customers, this can take some time and one definitely needs to be patient. The table always has a nice variety of squid, octopus and mixed fish combinations to provide the perfect basis for culinary delights as bouillabaisse, paella, fish pies and risotto.

On the left hand side, there is a selection of clams, scallops and prawns from areas as distant as Suriname and the Far East. Some of the Ocean Tiger prawns are huge. Here you will also find fillets, fresh water fish and the latest catches from the North Sea, as well as the likes of tuna and swordfish.

Helpful sales assistants dressed in blue overalls or bright yellow trawler outfits weigh your orders and pack everything into a carrier bag. You are then given a number which you must quote to the cashier so that you can be presented with the bill.

At the rear are lobster tanks, in front of which is a large slab where fish is expertly filleted and prepared to requirement by experts wielding the sharpest of knives.

The store's right hand side is lined with deep-freeze cabinets full of mouth-watering delicacies from around the world. The offerings at local supermarket chains are meager by comparison and this is without a doubt, the best place in town to come to for the freshest catch, as long as you don't mind waiting...

I would give 0 star if I could. We were visiting Amsterdam and came across this fishmonger. We walked in and queued up patiently. We double checked with one of the staff whether we were allowed to have a box of oysters and have them opened. The staff explained that they aren't able to open the oysters for us but happy for us to do it ourselves with the oyster knives they have in the shop, which is fine with us. We paid €20 for a dozen of oysters and started opening them. Half way in a different staff who is 50-60 an aged man walked out and lit up cigarette right in front of us inside the shop. He then shouted at all of us and said that we needed to open the oysters somewhere else. There was no other table for us to do it. The whole experience was absolutely shocking and I would not visit this...

Arrived 5 minutes before closing after running for it in rain. The first person who worked there asked me what I wanted nicely, but then the second person approached, said “come tomorrow” in a very rude way and looked like he cannot wait to get a cigarette and leave work. I’m sure there are more friendly ways to treat a customer, or simply another...