Jacob Jan Boerma is one of the most decorated chefs in the Netherlands, who led De Leest to three Michelin stars and held them for many years. A tireless ‘taste traveller’, he built a reputation for refined, seasonal cooking enriched by ingredients and techniques gathered on journeys around the world.
After keeping three stars for nearly two decades, Boerma closed De Leest to pursue a global ambition: helping young chefs open their own Michelin-level restaurants around the world.
TL;DR
- Dutch chef who led De Leest to three Michelin stars
- De Leest, in Vaassen, held three stars for nearly two decades
- First star within months of opening in 2002; third in 2013
- Known for seasonal, regional produce and global influences
- Now helps young chefs open restaurants worldwide
Jacob Jan Boerma key facts
| Nationality | Dutch (born in Austria) |
| Restaurant | De Leest, Vaassen (3 Michelin stars) |
| Stars | First 2002; second 2007; third 2013 |
| Held three stars | Until 2020 |
| Known for | Seasonal cuisine with global influences |
De Leest
Jacob Jan Boerma, a Dutchman born in Austria, opened De Leest in Vaassen, on the edge of a nature reserve in the Netherlands, in 2002. The restaurant received its first Michelin star within five months, a second in 2007 and a third in 2013 – a remarkable ascent that placed it among the finest restaurants in the country.
A taste traveller
Boerma is renowned as a restless ‘taste traveller’. He sought out the latest and best techniques all over the world, gathered knowledge of local ingredients in Scandinavia, discovered new flavours across different continents, and refined his expertise on journeys through Europe. This curiosity fed a cuisine built on seasonal, regional produce but open to global influence.
Three stars and beyond
Boerma not only earned three Michelin stars but kept them for eighteen years, until 2020, when he closed De Leest to pursue a broader ambition: collaborating with rising young chefs around the world to help set up Michelin-level restaurants. He has since been involved in ventures including The White Room in Amsterdam and projects further afield, mentoring a new generation.
Signature style
Boerma’s style is refined, precise and seasonal, grounded in Dutch and regional produce but continually enriched by techniques and ingredients from around the world. His cooking balances classical rigour with curiosity and travel, and his consistency at three stars for nearly two decades marks him as one of the great chefs of the Netherlands.
Jacob Jan Boerma in context
Boerma is one of the leading chefs of the Low Countries featured on Pickup Table 4, working in the same top tier as Belgian three-star chefs such as Viki Geunes and Tim Boury.
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Jacob Jan Boerma FAQ
Who is Jacob Jan Boerma?
A Dutch chef who led De Leest to three Michelin stars.
Where was De Leest?
In Vaassen, in the Netherlands.
How many Michelin stars did it have?
Three, held from 2013 until it closed in 2020.
Why did he close De Leest?
To help young chefs open Michelin-level restaurants worldwide.
What is he known for?
Seasonal, regional cooking enriched by global techniques and ingredients.
