The Soup Celebrated In Wijk Aan Zee During Tata Steel Chess Tournament

What is hearty, healthy, and packed with flavor that players search for after arriving at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, a windy coastal town outside Amsterdam in the Netherlands? Dutch split pea soup (known locally as erwtensoep or by its nickname snert) holds a special place in the minds (and palates) of participating players and the entire chess community, almost as much as the prestigious event itself.

What Is Traditional Dutch Pea Soup?

A traditional recipe includes dried split peas, onions, celeriac or stalk celery, carrots, and often potatoes. It also calls for various pork products such as sliced pork or ham hock. Salt, parsley, and garlic powder are added for seasoning. It is emblematic of Dutch cuisine.

Often it's aged overnight so that gelatin from pork bones (such as a pig's hock) help to thicken the soup to an almost stew-like consistency where a spoon can stand up. The locals enjoy the soup with chilled beer and big chunks of crusty bread. They say that the soup tastes even better the next day.

One of the signature dishes of the Netherlands, this soup is served as a savory snack to ice skaters at small food and drink stalls along canals, ponds, and lakes after they freeze over. It is a traditional comfort food, especially in colder weather.

Pea Soup And Tata Steel Chess

Before World War II, entry to the tournament was restricted to Dutch players. The first international tournament was held in 1946, which was one of the first international chess tournaments in Europe after the war. Because food shortages were still a problem on the continent, the post-tournament banquet featured an inexpensive but nutritious pea soup, which was considered an "inexpensive fare of the common people." The soup is now served as the first course of the concluding banquet and is an important part of the tournament’s tradition.

In their podcast Masters and Matches: A History of Chess, CM Arne Moll and Peter Doggers note in the episode “The History of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in 10 Stories” the cultural contributions that the soup makes to the village and tournament. Moll observes, “The traditional pea soup, a famous snack that you can get during the tournament, … has a rich history.” 

Spectators can get the soup all day at the tournament, which creates an entertaining scene. However, with strict COVID-protocol in place in 2021, there was no traditional soup. Nevertheless, the soup is again important for both Wijk aan Zee and Tata Steel Chess, often called the "Wimbledon of Chess." U.S. Chess reported in 2009 that the cost per bowl was just three euros. The price this year may be 10 euros or more. 

Culinary Traditions

Several sporting events have a culinary tradition. The Masters (golf) is famous for pimento cheese sandwiches, the Kentucky Derby (horse racing) has signature drinks such as the mint julep, and Wimbledon (tennis) has its strawberries and cream tradition. But is any appreciated more than classic Dutch split pea soup in Wijk aan Zee?

2026 Tata Steel Chess 

The 2026 event is the 88th Tata Steel Chess Tournament. It will be held from January 16 to February 1. The main playing venue for the Masters and Challengers tournaments remains the Dorpshuis De Moriaan Community Centre, the traditional heart of the event.

The tournament starts in less than a week. The post-tournament banquet will be on February 1. When you see the famous Dutch split pea soup mentioned, please post a link in the comments.