The culinary landscape in the Netherlands has suffered some major blows in recent years.
Several top restaurants with a Michelin star have had to close their doors, with a combination of economic challenges, pandemic consequences and strategic choices playing an important role. From Vught to Amsterdam and Nuenen: the star restaurants are struggling to ensure the continuity of their high-quality concepts.
Restaurant Vigor in Vught, which closed unexpectedly in July 2024, is a striking example of the difficult times. Owners Lars Albers and Randy Bouwer, who had managed to distinguish themselves with a Michelin star, emphasized the influence of external factors such as the corona pandemic, rising energy costs and inflation. “Continuing our business proved impossible,” they said in a statement. The restaurant was known for its refined cuisine, but even that could not overcome the financial challenges.
bankruptcy
In Amsterdam, restaurant Drawstring announced that it will close permanently on May 3, 2025. The business had acquired a Michelin star in April 2023, but the bankruptcy of the main tenant of the building threw a spanner in the works. Due to this unforeseen situation, the lease could not be extended, bringing Coulisse's culinary adventure to a premature end.
The paradoxical nature of a Michelin star was extensively explored in October 2024 in the Strategic Management JournalThe study concluded that obtaining such a prestigious star often leads to increased expectations from guests, higher costs from suppliers and more pressure to maintain top standards. All of which can undermine the financial stability of a restaurant, no matter how successful it appears.
obligations
Another painful example is restaurant Vanderveen in Amsterdam. In April 2023, owner Thijs Koster proudly received his first Michelin star. But just a month later, the curtain fell for the restaurant. Koster indicated that the financial burden of investments prior to the corona pandemic, combined with the lockdowns and repayment obligations, became too great. “We had no other choice,” he said at the time.
Michelin stars are the highest distinctions awarded by inspectors to the restaurants in their selection. They indicate which restaurants offer the best culinary experiences.
Not only closures, but also concept changes mark a new trend among star restaurants. For example, chef François Geurds decided in September 2024 to close his FG Food Labs in Rotterdam to Franky's Grill. This meant the loss of the Michelin star, but according to Geurds it was a strategic choice. "The market demands accessible concepts with high-quality ingredients at brasserie prices," says the chef.
A similar shift is visible in restaurant Brienen on the Maas in Well. Owners René and Marja Brienen opted for a simpler concept in November 2024, partly due to the sale of their building to the Limburg Water Board in connection with planned dike works. The final closure of the star restaurant is planned for 2026.
The recent announcement by Soenil Bahadoer, chef of the two-star restaurant De Lindehof in Nuenen, also made a big impression in the culinary world.
Bahadoer, who has been in charge since 1995 The Lindehof, announced at the end of 2024 that he would be pulling the plug on his renowned restaurant. In a personal email to guests, he indicated that the business was “too small to realize his plans.” Bahadoer, who managed to earn two Michelin stars for ten years in a row, remains ambitious, however. On Instagram, he wrote: “We are far from finished. The journey continues, toast to even greater heights.”
high pressure
While each case has its own reasons, it is clear that the pressure of a Michelin star weighs heavily on restaurateurs. The high expectations, combined with economic uncertainty and rising costs, make it a challenge for many top restaurants to keep their doors open. The future of Dutch haute cuisine will undoubtedly continue to offer new challenges and opportunities, but the closures show how fragile success in this industry can be.
