FISH SMOKER
Meet Jan Smit, a traditional fish smoker in the heart of Volendam. This family business was the first smokehouse in the village in 1856. For 6 generations, the Smit family (Jan, Evert, Jan, Evert, Jan, Evert) has been smoking different types of fish, of which eel is undoubtedly the best known. During the high season the whole family is called in to help in the business.
Volendam is known as a fishing village, but little of that remains today. Around 1850, Volendam harbour had as many as 258 fishing boats, which made it the biggest fleet in Europe. Now only 2 boats are still active on the IJsselmeer.
Jan also saw the fish smokehouses around him disappearing one by one. He had to do something to save his business and decided to build a restaurant attached to his smokehouse.
“If I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have made it either. Even as an old craft, you have to keep up with the times to stay in business.”
Smit Bokkum’s traditionally smoked eel is world famous. From all over the world, people come specially to the restaurant to taste the fish. “I’ve had the world’s best Michelin star chefs in my restaurant,” he says. ‘I didn’t know fish could taste so good,’ I heard every time,” Jan says. Well-known Michelin star chef Andrew Zimmern also agreed and put Jan’s smoked eel at the top of his “Best bites” list.
By combining the smokehouse with a restaurant, Jan has taken a step toward shaping the traditional way of doing things to fit into today’s society. This might be an Inspiration to other crafts that are struggling.