Thousands of Bananas Wash Up on Shore

Wed Nov 7, 2007 9:42 AM EST

world-news, odd-news, bananas, beached, dutch-north-sea

nul

Thousands of bananas lay on the beach on Terschelling island, northern Netherlands, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007. The bananas washed onto the beach of the Dutch island early Wednesday, after a load of containers were swept from the ship Duncan Island, coast guard officials said. (AP Photo/Marleen Swart) MAGAZINES OUT

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AMSTERDAM — Thousands of bananas washed up on two Dutch North Sea islands on Wednesday after at least six containers fell off a cargo ship in a storm and at least one burst open, a local official said.

"I think everybody on the island has a bunch now," said Gossen Buren, a shipping official at the local lighthouse.

A half-mile stretch of beach on Terschelling island, 70 miles north of Amsterdam, was littered with bunches of unripe fruit from Cuba, Buren said. Bananas also washed up on neighboring Ameland island.

Terschelling residents are no strangers to stuff turning up on their beach; a year ago thousands of tennis shoes, aluminum briefcases and children's toys washed ashore, drawing crowds of treasure-hunting residents. Some 20 years ago it was a load of sweaters.

Plenty of beachcombers came early Wednesday for a look, said Buren, "but not as many as when we had the sneakers."

Buren said he hadn't tasted any of the bananas to see if they were salty. "It still looks pretty green," he said.

It wasn't immediately clear what would happen to the bananas. Buren said some locals had suggested sending them to nearby zoos.

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Published to:

Associated Press's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Silly and Stupid
Regions: Cuba , Netherlands , Amsterdam

Public Discussion (32)

Whyren

A unsettling calm fell over witnesses as the screeching of hordes of monkeys could be heard approaching from over the distant hills...

16 votes

#1 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 10:22 AM EST

Ryan Stolte-Sawa

If only Columbus had a shore.

1 vote

#2 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 10:26 AM EST

douglasq

Be careful. Wouldn't want to slip on a banana peel.

2 votes

#3 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 10:31 AM EST

Ryan Stolte-Sawa

When I worked at the produce stand, I used to draw price signs for all the fruit. I used to write "YES! Bananas" on the banana signs. It was an homage.

2 votes

#3.1 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 10:33 AM EST

greck

I think it's a plague, this is like...biblical.

I think it's god's way of saying that the netherlands is a modern day soddom,

while simultaneously showing his whimsical side.

I wonder if this is gonna go down in the annals of smiting as one of god's biggest blunders.

2 votes

#4 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 11:11 AM EST

Whyren

Terschelling residents are no strangers to stuff turning up on their beach; a year ago thousands of tennis shoes, aluminum briefcases and children's toys washed ashore

Either that or He really doesn't like Chinese trade.

3 votes

#4.1 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 11:24 AM EST

douglasq

thousands of tennis shoes, aluminum briefcases and children's toys

"If I were MacGuyver, I could make a jeep out of this." - Paul Reiser

2 votes

#4.2 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 12:40 PM EST

Jack Huang

MacGuyver could make New Amsterdam out of that. :-p

#4.3 - Thu Nov 8, 2007 4:35 AM EST

Dennis M Wright

Yes, we have some bananas. We have some bananas today ...

4 votes

#5 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 11:29 AM EST

Raconteur

30,000. Thousand pounds....

Of Dutch bananas.

Harry Chapin was a prophet. Just had the wrong country...

1 vote

#5.1 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 12:34 PM EST

KRich

I was confused, cause Scranton isn't on the coast.

#5.2 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 12:50 PM EST

DSMc2gal

Y E T !

1 vote

#5.3 - Fri Nov 9, 2007 2:26 PM EST

beaglebeat

Leave it to the inventive Dutch to get something out of the North Sea besides herring.

2 votes

#6 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 12:17 PM EST

Raat ki Raani

This looks like a job for All the Top Bananas.

One thing seems certain. With all the health benefits from bananas, these Dutch islanders will be very healthy with everyone endowed with a generous bunch!

1 vote

#7 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 12:27 PM EST

QACoach

Shame there's a writers strike going on right now. This could be a great Saturday Night Live skit.

2 votes

#8 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 12:55 PM EST

Juliet

(Both newsreaders have a really creepy smile, and speak in that voice that can annoy the crap out of anyone)

Newsie 1: This just in folks, bananas are invading the Earth!
Newsie 2: That's right, soon enough we'll turn back into monkeys and we'll have to eat them all!
Newsie 1: (slightly maniacally) And we'll all end up singing our new international anthem, "I've got a loverly bunch of coconuts!" Why coconuts, I have no idea! It's just a wonderful song!

(Newsie 2 gives 1 a strange look, then returns to smiling at the camera.)

{I am deranged. Yup.}

1 vote

#8.1 - Thu Nov 8, 2007 7:20 AM EST

Trevor Fitzright

There is a famous book and a television series called 'Sil, the beachcomber' as it used to be the profession of the poor on Terschelling, living only from the stuff the sea washed ashore.
In earlier days they even lit fires on the beach to lure ships to shore.

Somebody apparently really needed bananas.

3 votes

#9 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 12:58 PM EST

Raat ki Raani

Trevor - this is just down the road (or up the river) for you. Go pack a bunch:-)

Reminds me of the story last year when a cargo ship came ashore in Cornwall. That yielded rich pickings for many. Like Harley Davidsons, luxury cars, exclusive watches, perfumes etc. An Aladdins Cave. In a ship!

2 votes

#9.1 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 1:04 PM EST

Trevor Fitzright

Like Harley Davidsons, luxury cars, exclusive watches, perfumes etc. An Aladdins Cave. In a ship!

Great, and you're telling me to fetch bananas. I'll wait for the Harleys and jump on the first boat to Terschelling when they arrive.

3 votes

#9.2 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 1:15 PM EST

Raat ki Raani

LOL.

Well, you gotta take an opportunity when it comes. As it happens kinda. Today's bananas can be tomorrows Harleys. Banana beer has a wonderful aftertaste. Think about it.