Restaurant De Bokkedoorns is situated in the dunes half an hour west of Amsterdam, nestled between Overveen and Bloemendaal. Opened in 1961, the restaurant earned its first Michelin star in 1978 and has maintained a two-star rating continuously since 1991. … Continue reading Dining in the Netherlands: De Bokkedoorns**
Opening on February 17, 2026, Tsunarié is a new Japanese counter-style Kappo restaurant in Amsterdam, located just a stone’s throw from its sibling sushi restaurant, Tewatashi. I was invited to a preview for a small group from the culinary and … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Tsunarié
Restaurant Sinne in the Pijp neighborhood of Amsterdam has held a Michelin star since 2015. Since my last visit was ten years ago, a return was long overdue. The restaurant offers a compact menu of only eight dishes, including one … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Sinne* (2026)
We have been visiting De Librije to celebrate our anniversary for 20 years, a period during which the restaurant has consistently held three Michelin stars. This was our first visit since Jonnie Boer’s sudden passing earlier this year. Jonnie and … Continue reading Dining in the Netherlands: Librije*** (2025)
To celebrate my friend Robert’s birthday, I took him to one of my favorite restaurants in Amsterdam: 212, led by chef Richard van Oostenbrugge. I’ve been a fan of his cooking ever since my first visit to Bord’Eau in 2013 … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: 212** (2025)
Wils is a Michelin-starred restaurant located just outside Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium. It takes its name from Jan Wils, the architect who designed the stadium for the 1928 Olympic Games. In the photo above, showing the restaurant’s exterior window with its … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Wils*
One of the finest Japanese restaurants in the Netherlands is tucked away in a corner of a Japanese fish factory, located in the industrial harbor area of IJmuiden—essentially Amsterdam’s port. The restaurant is called Hokkai Kitchen, and both it and the … Continue reading Dining in the Netherlands: Hokkai Kitchen
With so many great restaurants close by in Amsterdam, we don’t venture to other parts of the Netherlands as often for fine dining — except of course for our annual visit to the Librije. This is also because if we … Continue reading Dining in the Netherlands: Fred**
After two years it was time to return to Ciel Bleu, the two Michelin star restaurant at the 23rd floor of the Okura hotel by chef Arjan Speelman with a wonderful view of Amsterdam. My previous visit was in 2023 … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Ciel Bleu** (2025)
Deventer is a historic town in the east of the Netherlands, on the banks of the IJssel river. This is not a part of the country that we visit often, and we had never been to Deventer before. I knew … Continue reading Dining in the Netherlands: Bouwkunde
Restaurant Vinkeles in the Dylan Hotel is located in a historic building in the historic canal district of Amsterdam and has held two Michelin stars since 2023, with Jurgen van der Zalm as chef. My previous dinner at Vinkeles was very nice … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Vinkeles** (2025)
Librije is the restaurant of chef Jonnie and maitre/sommelier Thérèse Boer (despite the same last name we are not related) in the city of Zwolle, which has held three Michelin stars since 2004 and is the only restaurant in the … Continue reading Dining in the Netherlands: Librije*** (2024)
Ron Blaauw is a famous Dutch chef who used to have a two Michelin star restaurant, but now has four branches of “Ron Gastrobar“, of which the original one near the Vondelpark in Amsterdam has held a single Michelin star … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Ron Gastrobar* (2024)
This was a very special wine lunch at In Den Rustwat (IDRW) in Rotterdam, organized by Fred Nijhuis. Fred is a wine writer who specializes in Italy and was the guide for the wine trips to Lombardia, Piemonte, and Campania. For this wine dinner … Continue reading Lunch with Very Old Wines at In Den Rustwat
Lars Amsterdam is the restaurant of chef Lars Scharp, located in same building as the Residence Inn by Marriott Amsterdam Houthavens, with a sunset view of the Amsterdam harbor (Houthavens). Lars opened in 2018 and has held a Michelin star … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Lars Amsterdam*
Restaurant Vista is located at the Hollands Diep estuary in the historic town of Willemstad, just south of Rotterdam. The restaurant opened in 2016 and has held a Michelin star since 2018. It has a terrace with a nice view … Continue reading Dining in the Netherlands: Vista*
After the great meal at 212 last year, I couldn’t wait to go back again and decided to take my friend Melvin there for his birthday dinner. I hadn’t checked the menu when I made the reservation, so I only … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: 212** (2024)
MOS restaurant in Amsterdam has one Michelin star and offers a beautiful view of the river and Central Station from the large windows. The restaurant by chef Egon van Hoof and maître Henry Pattiwael opened in 2015 and has held … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: MOS*
Restaurant Aan de Poel is located in Amstelveen, the wealthy suburb of Amsterdam. It is situated and named after a small lake called “De Poel”. The terrace offers a beautiful view of the lake, but the weather wasn’t The restaurant … Continue reading Dining in the Netherlands: Aan de Poel**
Restaurant Heimat in Utrecht has just opened. In fact, I was there for the first regular night, after a trial week. My main purpose to be there was to catch up with a dear friend, who lives around the corner … Continue reading Dining in the Netherlands: Heimat
Zoldering is one of my favorite restaurants in Amsterdam. This was my 5th dinner there, but strangely enough this is the first blog I’m writing about it. Zoldering was established in 2019 by Tomas Bron (chef), Job Seuren (sommelier), Wout … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Zoldering*
In the Netherlands we have a saying: a good neighbor is worth more than a friend far away. We have the best of both worlds, as our neighbors are also very good friends. One of the things we share with … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Flore**
Spectrum is the restaurant of chef Sidney Schutte and maître-sommelier Cas Kratz, located inside the Waldorf Astoria hotel in the historic center of Amsterdam. The restaurant, formerly known as Librije’s Zusje, has held two Michelin stars since 2015. Since it … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Spectrum** (2024)
The Librije by Jonnie & Thérèse Boer has been around since 1993 and received its first Michelin star right after it started. The third star was awarded in 2004 and they have kept the three stars since. Now that maître … Continue reading Dining in the Netherlands: Librije*** (2023)
Restaurant Vinkeles in the Dylan Hotel in a historic building in the historic canal district of Amsterdam has been awarded its second Michelin star this year, so that was a good reason to go there to celebrate my friend Robert’s … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Vinkeles**
To celebrate my friend Anja’s birthday, I took her to dinner at Restaurant 212. This is the main restaurant of chef Richard van Oostenbrugge, who first held two Michelin stars at Bord’eau (I had the pleasure of dining there in … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: 212** (2023)
Coulisse has been awarded its first Michelin star in 2023, and so I was curious to check it out. It is located in a historic building, a former theater. The Dutch word “coulisse”, usually used as plural “coulissen”, refers to … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Coulisse*
Bistro de la Mer on Utrechtestraat 57 in Amsterdam is the sister restaurant of De Juwelier, just a few doors down on Utrechtsestraat at number 51. It is also owned by Richard van Oostenbrugge, chef of Restaurant 212 (just around … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Bistro de la Mer*
Regular readers have guessed it: yet another friend’s birthday to be celebrated with a dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant. In this case it is Melvin’s birthday, and because he likes Asian cuisine I took him to Yamazato in the … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: Yamazato*
To treat my friend Martijn for his birthday, I took him to dinner at De Juwelier. Chef Richard van Oostenbrugge of two-Michelin star restaurant 212 has opened up two new restaurants around the corner: De Juwelier and Bistro De La … Continue reading Dining in Amsterdam: De Juwelier*
