Michelin awards first stars to seven Dutch restaurants

The Dutch Michelin firmament has shifted once again. At the Michelin ceremony in Maastricht, various restaurants received good news. Established names strengthened their position, while elsewhere the champagne could be uncorked for the first time. MASTERS presents the most striking new stars in the Dutch culinary sky.

Seven debut restaurants stand out in particular. New names are joining Dutch fine dining across the country.

Wild Atelier – Hoog Soeren

In the heart of the Veluwe, chef Jonathan Zandbergen cooks at Wild Atelier with game and local produce as his foundation. Nature plays a clear leading role, both in ingredient selection and in the flavours on the plate. Zandbergen combines this local base with contemporary and distinctive cooking. This approach earned Wild Atelier its first Michelin star this year.

Bij Sidney – Loenen aan de Vecht

Loenen aan de Vecht was already rich in culinary spots and now counts Bij Sidney as another starred restaurant. Chef Sidney Heinze draws inspiration from French cuisine, with classical techniques, fine produce and meticulous attention to detail. Familiar flavours receive a personal touch, earning the restaurant its first Michelin star this year.

Rozewied – Kortgene

Zeeland is also represented among the newcomers. In Kortgene, Noëmie Haentjens and Ferdy van Rijswijk run Rozewied, where the surrounding region serves as an important source of inspiration. Zeeland produce and local ingredients take centre stage in a kitchen where precision and individuality meet. With its first star, Rozewied has a more prominent place on the gastronomic map.

Nassau – Groningen

In Groningen, Nassau joins the Dutch starred restaurants. Chef Christian de Vries leads the kitchen and pursues a modern style in which flavour and craftsmanship take precedence. The recognition also underscores the culinary development the city has undergone in recent years.

Ambrozijn – Valkenburg

South Limburg has long been strongly represented in Dutch gastronomy and Ambrozijn can now call itself a starred restaurant. Chef Sven Nijenhuis combines French techniques with modern preparations and a personal take on classical flavours. The dishes are carefully constructed and distinctive in character, a style that Michelin recognised this year.

De Cuijt – Mierlo

In Mierlo in Brabant, Yukyung Lee and Koen van Weert were awarded their first Michelin star for De Cuijt. The restaurant demonstrates that exceptional gastronomy is no longer found exclusively in major cities. The kitchen focuses on quality produce, technical mastery and a clear personal style.

Le Epifaan – Veeningen

Drenthe is also represented in the new selection. In the small village of Veeningen, chef Jarno Eggen leads Le Epifaan, where creative cuisine takes centre stage. The dishes combine craftsmanship with original ideas and give the restaurant a distinctive character. With its first Michelin star, Le Epifaan ranks among the notable newcomers of 2026.

Two stars straight away

The new one-star restaurants were not the only ones to attract attention. Two establishments made the leap directly to two Michelin stars. Chef Mario Ridder received two stars for Azurite in Delft. Ralf Berendsen was also awarded two Michelin stars for SUIS in Schin op Geul.

De Librije in Zwolle remains unchanged at the top. The restaurant retains three stars and remains the only Dutch restaurant in the highest Michelin category.

With the new selection, the Netherlands has 119 starred restaurants.