Michelin announced three new two-star restaurants in the 2012 Nederland / Netherlands Hotels & Restaurants Red Guide. The Netherlands now have 102 star restaurants.
Michelin increased the number of two-star restaurants in the 2012 Netherlands Hotels & Restaurants guide by three to 16. One-star restaurants were increased to 84 while the Netherlands now have 102 Bib Gourmand (value for money) gourmet restaurants. The three-star restaurant category stays unchanged with two top class restaurants. The Michelin 2012 Nederland / Netherlands Hotels & Restaurants red guide is on sale from December 1, 2011 for around €20.
Michelin Three-Star Restaurants in the 2012 Nederland / Netherlands Red Guide
For the 2012 Nederland / Netherland Hotels & Restaurants Guide, Michelin kept the only two Dutch three-star restaurants unchanged.
The two Michelin three-star restaurants (“Exceptional cuisine, Worth a special journey”) in the Netherlands are Oud Sluis (Sergio Herman) in Sluis in Zeeland near the Belgium border and De Librije (Jonnie Boer) in Zwolle in the province Overijssel.
No restaurant in a major Dutch city, or a province with Holland in the name, managed better than two stars.
New Star Restaurants in Michelin 2012 Netherlands Guide
In contrast to the top category, Michelin was more generous with new stars in the lower categories. For 2012, Michelin increased the number of two-star restaurants (“Excellent cooking, worth a detour”) by three to 16. In the one-upmanship stakes, it is the first time the Netherland outshone neighbor Belgium in this category. (In the 2012 Belgium red guide, Michelin awarded 15 two-star restaurants.)
The three new two-star restaurants in the Netherlands in 2012 are De Kromme Watergang (Breskens in Hoofdplaat), Chapeau! (Haarlem in Bloemendaal), and Librije’s Zusje (literally Librije’s little sister) in Zwolle. All three were upgraded from a single star in 2011.
Michelin awarded seven new single stars (“Very good cooking in its category”) to increase the number of one-star restaurants in the Netherlands in 2012 to 84. Only three Dutch restaurants had their single stars deleted.
Value for Money Restaurants & Hotels in the Netherlands in 2012
Michelin red guides are famous for being purveyors of haute cuisine in Europe but Michelin has always strived to single out excellence in all price and comfort classes in both hotels and restaurants. In recent years, Michelin has put greater emphasis on excellence at more affordable prices in its European guides.
Of the 732 restaurants reviewed in the Michelin 2012 Netherlands guide, 102 were given the Bib Gourmand label. Michelin’s Bib Gourmand restaurants must serve a good three-course meal for less than €35. Michelin identified a further 107 restaurants serving a good menu for less than €26.
Of the 578 hotels reviewed for the Michelin 2012 Netherlands red guide, 42 received the Bib Hotel reward for good accommodation at a moderate price, i.e. room and breakfast for two for less than €90 per night. The wellness centers (day spas) of 50 hotels were worth mentioning.
Buying the Michelin 2012 Netherlands Red Guide
The Michelin 2012 Nederland / Netherlands Hotels & Restaurants red guide is written in both Dutch and English. It reviews 1,310 hotels and restaurants of all comfort categories.
The Michelin 2012 Netherlands Red Guide retails for around €20 in Dutch shops or for €25 from Amazon Deutschland or €15 from Amazon France. In Britain, the guide is available for £12 from Amazon UK and in the USA Amazon sells it for around $15.
