About Us

Origin

Freshwater Fish Trading B.V.  was founded in 1990.           

Freshwater Fish Trading is built on craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and a deep-rooted connection to the fishing industry.

At the foundation of our company is founder Eeuwke Damstra, who completed his training at a fishing company and seafood wholesaler in Harlingen between 1980 and 1985. During these formative years, he learned the trade from the inside out — from processing and quality to trading and customer relationships.

His career began in foodservice wholesale, after which he moved into market trading, first within the Netherlands and later across several European countries. The knowledge, experience, and international network built during this period still form an important pillar of Freshwater Fish Trading today.

In 1989, Eeuwke became an entrepreneur. He initially operated a specialized fish shop for five years, where product expertise and customer focus were central. After selling the shop, he returned to his core strength: seafood wholesale and producing freshwater fish.

Sourcing directly from fishing companies in Friesland, Freshwater Fish Trading developed into a reliable trading partner for live eel supplied to Belgium and slaughtered, vacuum-packed eel for Germany, Poland, and the Baltic states. Freshwater species such as pike-perch, pike, roach, and bream also became key parts of the assortment.

What began as trading gradually evolved toward processing and value creation. Roach, perch, and bream were dried in large volumes, creating a new product category. Over the years, this was further expanded with an increasing variety of products and applications.

This combination of traditional expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to create value from by-products and less common species continues to form the foundation of Freshwater Fish Trading today.

Why Freshwater Fish Trading?

- Over 25 years of experience in drying fish products

- A team of 5+ specialists

- Active in 10+ European countries

- Portfolio of more than 50 products

Mission

Freshwater Fish Trading is dedicated to processing and supplying high-quality dried fish and fish products, primarily sourced from freshwater species. We aim to be a reliable and professional partner for wholesalers and distributors across Europe by delivering consistent quality, food safety, and tailor-made solutions that meet the specific needs of our customers and their markets.

Vision

Freshwater Fish Trading strives to be a leading European specialist in dried freshwater fish products. By combining craftsmanship, product knowledge, and continuous improvement in processing techniques, we aim to create added value throughout the supply chain. Our vision is to build long-term partnerships with our customers, contribute to sustainable utilization of freshwater fish resources, and strengthen the position of dried fish products in international markets through quality, innovation, and trust.