Boules de Berlin

These fried dough balls filled with custard are also called boules de l’Yser or Diksmuidse IJzerbollen after the West Flanders town of Diksmuide. They renamed this treat after the First World War because the area was hit hard and no one needed reminding of the Germans.

While old cookery books reveal these were once eaten for Shrove Tuesday as vastenavondkoekjes, since at least the start of the 20th century they have been a seaside treat. They were sold by beach