Guide · All year
Nature keeps a steady rhythm. Stags roar in autumn, seal pups are born in summer and mussels return to the table in July. This seasonal calendar shows, month by month, what there is to experience in the nature of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and what is in season in the kitchen.
These are general seasonal and cooking indications, not official open seasons or a food-safety guarantee. Check local regulations and reliable sources.
Winter
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| December | Mating season of the wild boar; geese and ducks from the north spend the winter here | Game on the Christmas menu; Christmas carp in Germany; mussels and oysters |
| January | The eagle owl starts calling; mating season of the wildcat and the beaver | Stews of wild boar; zander |
| February | Young badgers are born in the sett; mating season of the wolf and the lynx; the pike begins to spawn | Last weeks of the traditional mussel and oyster season |
Spring
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| March | The capercaillie begins to display; the black stork returns from Africa; wild boar piglets | Spring fish: sea bass and flatfish from the North Sea |
| April | Fire salamanders deposit larvae in spring-fed streams; geese nest; the kingfisher digs its nest tunnel | Trout from the Ardennes |
| May | Roe deer kids lie hidden in the grass: don’t touch them!; young ducklings follow their mother | Fresh brown shrimp |
Summer
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| June | Seal pups are born on the sandbanks; fallow deer fawns | Red mullet in the southern North Sea |
| July | The roe deer rut; drake ducks moult | Start of the new mussel season |
| August | The roe deer rut continues; seals moult; the black stork leaves for Africa | Mussels, shrimp and red mullet |
Autumn
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| September | Start of the red deer rut; geese arrive from the north | Start of the game season at the poulterer; carp season in Germany; oysters |
| October | Peak and end of the red deer rut; rut of the fallow deer and the mouflon; adult eels migrate to sea | Roe deer, hare, pheasant and mallard with mushrooms and red cabbage |
| November | Rut of the chamois; the brown trout spawns on gravel beds | St Martin’s goose on 11 November; stews of venison and wild boar |
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the seasons
When is game season?
Traditionally the game season runs from autumn into winter, roughly September to January. That’s when poulterers often have roe deer, venison, wild boar, hare, pheasant and mallard. Exactly what is available varies by country and by year.
When is mussel season?
The modern mussel season runs from July to April.
When are seal pups born?
Harbour seals have their pups in June and July, on the sandbanks of the Wadden Sea and in Zeeland.
When is the red deer rut?
From roughly mid-September to mid-October. Read all about where and when in our guide to the rut on the Veluwe.
What should I do if I find a young animal alone in spring?
Usually nothing: don’t touch it and calmly walk on. Roe deer kids, seal pups and young birds are often deliberately left alone for a while. If in doubt, call an animal ambulance or rescue centre.
