Kim Veldman and Jacob Jan Boerma, the owners of three Michelin star restaurant De Leest in the Netherlands will close its doors before the end of the year.
The couple said that they will close the doors to the restaurant at the end of the year to star a new culinary adventure which will include a new restaurant opening in Amsterdam next year.
One of the key reasons for the closure is the desire to spend more time with their four-year-old son Senne. Chef Boerma told the Dutch public broadcaster RTL that he had never been to a zoo or an amusement park with his son.
Previously in the Netherlands, chef Sergio Herman had closed restaurant Oud Sluis at the pinnacle of his success. And in Belgium, Hertog Jan, the restaurant of Gert de Mangeleer and Joachim Boudens also closed its doors.
The Dutch chef that it took a huge effort to make the restaurant successful but it was more than worth it. “We have worked incredibly hard for more than 17 years and it was mega intensive but the dream came true. I will have been in the restaurant business for 30 years next year. Now is the time for change.”
“We will not stand still. Closing the restaurant means we will have the freedom and opportunity to explore new concepts starting with the first one next year,” he was quoted as saying.
The Netherlands had three Michelin star restaurants. De Leest, De Librije and Inter Scaldes.
De Leest opened its doors in 2002 and received its first Michelin star within 5 months. A second star followed in 2007 and the third star was awarded in 2013.
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