Why do Dutch old men like fishing so much?

　　Elderly people in the Netherlands generally believe that fishing is good for the body and mind healthy . In the large and small ports I have visited such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam, I can always see an old couple or a few old people fishing together on the shore.

　　The Netherlands is close to the sea and is a low-lying country with vast waters and many fish. It brings unique fishing conveniences to the elderly here. The purpose of fishing for the elderly is not to catch fish, but to cultivate their sentiments. It doesn’t matter if you catch more or less, the small fish you catch will be released automatically. I once chatted with an old man, and he would put down his fishing rod to chat with you, regardless of whether the fish bit the hook or not, and he did not change the bait. A sailor on the same boat saw that the old man was enthusiastic and talkative, so he tentatively asked the old man for a few fishhooks. Unexpectedly, the old man not only generously gave them to him, but also gave him spare lead pendants and fishing lines.

　　I asked an old fishing woman why she didn’t take care of her grandchildren at home. She smiled and said that young people in the Netherlands generally have children late or don’t want children, so they don’t have grandchildren to take care of. She asked me, do Chinese elderly women also have a hobby of fishing? I answered truthfully, not much. She also listed the various benefits of fishing to me, saying that Dutch elderly people generally like fishing and that fishing is the most elegant leisure sport suitable for all ages.

　　The Dutch often fish on weekends or in the morning and evening. Those who are good at fishing often catch more, and those who are unlucky do not return home empty-handed. Morning fishermen are mostly retired old people. They don’t have to rush for work, and most of them have the habit of going to bed early and getting up early. Around evening time, fishermen from all over the Netherlands are out on the water. Some are couples fishing together, some are family members, and some are fishing friends. It seems that when it comes to sports on the mountain and fishing on the water, the Dutch old man adapts to the water conditions. I have found a way of life that rests my mind and nourishes my body and mind, while also contributing to my physical and mental health.