the Ark of Taste in the Netherlands

The Ark of Taste in the Netherlands is an ode to the gastronomic richness of the Netherlands. The Netherlands is not only one of the largest agricultural exporters in the world, but also a rich culinary country with a generous supply of products. Potatoes, vegetables, cheeses, fish, fruits, grains and livestock – it is all made, grown, caught, bred and cultivated here. Much is destined for export, and all too readily we import products in return from abroad. And that is a shame.

The Ark of Taste in the Netherlands shows that we can very well suffice with food from our own soil. Making fewer 'food miles' and shortening the food chain is healthy for people, animals and nature. It contributes to a better regional economy, fairer prices, fresh products that taste better, and moreover strengthens the contact between farmer and citizen.

With recipes from chefs, interviews with producers, a calendar for seasonal eating, and in-depth essays, this book presents the gastronomic power and culinary heritage of the Netherlands in a nutshell.

What is the Ark of Taste?
The Ark of Taste of the global food movement Slow Food is an international catalog of endangered culinary heritage. It includes small-scale products, animal breeds and crops that are specifically linked to the culture, history or tradition of a region or country, but are threatened with disappearance under pressure from the global market and a food system that is increasingly focused on low prices and efficiency. The Ark of Taste offers a platform for these vulnerable fruit and vegetable varieties, grains, animal breeds, drinks, cheeses and cured meats. In the Netherlands, think of the Oosterschelde lobster, the Lakenvelder cow or the Opperdoezer ronde potato. Curious to know what else is in the ark? Take a look here.
The products in the Ark connect us with our history and our environment, and say something about the state of our food system and eating culture.

Why this book?
Other countries in the Slow Food network have already led the way. In Kenya, Peru and Brazil, local knowledge and stories of gastronomic heritage were recorded in the Ark of Taste Atlases.
In the Netherlands, we go a step further. 'The Ark of Taste Netherlands' is more than a catalog. It is a collection point for stories, people and products, each with their own connections to landscape, history and biodiversity.
'The Ark of Taste in the Netherlands' is a representation of how we as humans are rooted in place and time through food. The book shows that it is hard work for the farmers and fishermen who keep these roots alive, and that they can certainly use the help of society. The book is an invitation, an opportunity, a reminder that we have much to appreciate. That this is not automatically preserved, and that the food choices of each individual are an investment in the climate, agriculture and landscape here and elsewhere in the world.