Etymology

From Dutch maatjesharing ‎(“matjes herring”), from maatjes ‎(“young, small”) + haring ‎(“herring”), from earlier forms maetgens-, maeghdekins-, medykens- ‎(“maiden-like”), from maagd ‎(“maiden”) + -kin ‎(“-kin”), so called because matjes herring is made of young herring that has never spawned.