The ‘Finest French restaurant in the Netherlands’ pulls the plug
We’ve written about it before: more and more hospitality businesses are going bankrupt or filing for bankruptcy. Even top establishments with a Michelin star or a Bib Gourmand. Such as Michelin and Gault&Millau restaurant Auberge Jean & Marie. A major loss for lovers of French cuisine.
The hospitality industry is going through a difficult period due to the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and repayment schemes, rising (energy) prices and people tightening their belts. This is noticeable on all fronts. Entrepreneurs who do have some financial leeway are coming up with creative concepts to keep their businesses running (for example, star chef François Geurds’ street food bar S.O.S. opened in his Michelin-starred restaurant FG Food Labs to attract guests for lunch after all).
Finest French restaurant in the Netherlands
But not everyone has that financial leeway. And then filing for bankruptcy is often the only option. This is also the case for Jan Grijspeere and Marije Bremer-Jansen, owners of French restaurant Auberge Jean & Marie. And that is a considerable loss for lovers of French cuisine.
Auberge Jean & Marie opened its doors on 24 June 2016 and has made a strong impression on the Dutch culinary scene ever since. In 2017 and 2022, the restaurant was voted the Finest French restaurant in the Netherlands; it has been included in the Lekker500 restaurant guide since 2017; in 2020, it was included in the Gault&Millau guide with 14.5 points and 2 toques, and was also named Bistronoom of the year.
Michelin awarded the classic French restaurant a prestigious Bib Gourmand rating starting with its 2020 guide edition. And as the French crowning achievement of their work, Jan and Marije received the highly prestigious title World’s French Restaurant from the French ambassador a year ago, becoming the very first restaurant outside France to receive it. With this title, recorded on a copper plaque, French gastronomy gives its blessing and approval to French cuisine practised abroad.
Life’s work goes up in smoke
‘Neither Marije nor I have taken any income from the restaurant since it reopened. In recent weeks, we had reached the point where we could no longer pay our own staff either. That left us with no other option than to file for our own bankruptcy. It is incredibly sad to see our life’s work and pension go up in smoke like this,’ Jan told hospitality trade magazine Misset Horeca.
We wish Jan and Marije, as well as all their loyal employees, lots of strength.
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Image: Auberge Jean & Marie
