Dutch Gastronomic Duo Richard van Oostenbrugge and Thomas Groot

To some, Richard van Oostenbrugge and Thomas Groot need no introduction. If you’re a fan of the Netherlands culinary scene then you may know the delicious and innovative dishes that this Dutch duo create, helming restaurants 212, De Juwelier and La Mer, all in Amsterdam.

But their story goes back further than this. Individually they gained momentum and experience on the culinary circuit – Richard began his career in Gstaad, followed by kitchens in the UK and Europe, where he favoured the classic French technique, while Thomas was also classically trained. Their paths crossed at Envy restaurant in Amsterdam, a moody, low-lit industrial-chic eatery which focused on high-quality, contemporary tapas which ran the gauntlet from steak tartare to razor clams. Although they didn’t know it at this stage, they were both destined for Michelin-starred fame, which was awarded to Bord’Eau fine dining restaurant in Amsterdam, where they worked together again in 2013.

A former exceptional gastronomic haunt, the Michelin-starred Bord’Eau, was credited for putting Amsterdam back on the culinary map as a dining destination, serving dishes that broke down each flavour component, creating pure, natural tastes that hadn’t been experienced in the Netherlands before. Not only that, Bord’Eau’s fine dining menu was accompanied by an astonishing wine list that featured over 850 wine labels, a stunning feat that Wine Spectator acknowledged in 2016.

The next step was their own venture when they decided to set up shop together. With a renewed vigour that comes from a passion project, the duo brought innovative ideas to their already established culinary output. It was decided that their new opening 212 (named after the Amstel of their location) would have no tables - just seats - that would be created around the restaurant, facing the open chef's kitchen, allowing a free flow of interaction between chef and diner, a first in the Netherlands.

Making a sea change from traditional white tablecloth fine dining, Richard van Oostenbrugge and Thomas Groot created a new way to dine alongside their exquisite food pairings. With a focus on the finest ingredients, seasonality and delicate presentations, 212 is renowned for fish and seafood, savoury ice creams and striking sauces, plus surprising dishes that will startle your tastebuds. One such famed dish is the apple desert, where a transparent spun sugar bubble encases an apple-core-shaped sorbet. Is it any wonder the restaurant has two Michelin stars?

From here, Richard van Oostenbrugge and Thomas Groot’s culinary prowess snowballed, with the opening of two more restaurants with a la carte restaurant De Juwelier, which gained a Michelin star and new outpost Bistro de la Mer, an unpretentious Parisian style bistro with delectable seafood, prepared traditionally with a contemporary twist.

Their latest collabarative restaurant venture is De Mark in the once sleepy fisherman's village of Durgerdam, 20 minutes east of Amsterdam. Housed with the name sake boutique hotel De Durgerdam, designed by Amsterdam based design studio, Buro Belen, restaurant De Mark is set to strike the culinary drums into full play. Casual dining with a buzz, a curated wine list and a clubhouse vibe headline at this new lakeside foodie outpost.

It seems wherever these guys go, Michelin stars follow and you can be assured of a fresh concept that is familiar, yet, creatively reloaded.