The Johannes van Dam Prize is an outstanding achievement award for significant contributions in promoting the knowledge of gastronomy. The award is an initiative of the Allard Pierson – the heritage collections of the University of Amsterdam en de Stichting Gastronomische Bibliotheek (SGB, Gastronomic Library Foundation).
It was agreed in March 2025 that the Johannes van Dam Prize was going to be awarded to Jonnie en Thérèse Boer. The jury informed the couple a few weeks prior to Jonnie Boer’s sudden death.
Jury Chair Louise O. Fresco: “For decades, Jonnie and Thérèse Boer have raised the art of gastronomy in the Netherlands to unprecedented heights and have held it there ever since. With their boundless creativity and their great authenticity and approach they have taught and inspired many all those years.”
Director Els van der Plas: "Jonnie and Thérese Boer put Dutch cuisine on the map worldwide and are now part of the Netherlands’ gastronomic history themselves. In view of the Allard Pierson’s food history collection, the largest collection of culinary heritage in the Netherlands, it is only natural that we wish to acknowledge their long-term commitment in awarding the Johannes van Dam Prize. In addition we want to praise their dedication in mentoring the next generation of chefs and hospitality entrepreneurs.”
Jonnie and Thérèse Boer took over De Librije in 1993, with Jonnie establishing himself as executive chef and Thérèse as hostess and sommelier. Not long after, De Librije received its first Michelin star, followed six years later by the second one in 1999, making Jonnie the youngest two-star chef in the Netherlands. De Librije received its third Michelin star in 2004 and is now the longest-serving restaurant to have been distinguished with three stars. Jonnie and Thérèse Boer transformed their restaurant into an establishment of world renown. In the background, head chef Nelson Tanate, chef de partie Jimmie Boer and fellow owner Isabelle Boer are being groomed to take over the restaurant. Jonnie died of a pulmonary embolism in April 2025.
Award ceremony and programme
The award ceremony will take place at 7. p.m. on Monday 2 February 2026 at the Auditorium of the University of Amsterdam, Singel 411 in Amsterdam.
Johannes van Dam Prize
The Johannes van Dam Prize, named for the food journalist Johannes van Dam (1946-2013), has been awarded since 2012. This year is the tenth edition. The award is an initiative of the Allard Pierson and the Stichting Gastronomische Bibliotheek (SGB). Van Dam’s collection of cookbooks and archive has been loaned to the Allard Pierson by the SGB.
Johannes van Dam’s curiosity reached into the remotest corners of gastronomy. Through his books and articles he acquainted a wide Dutch public with food culture. The lifetime achievement award was established in 2012 to promote gastronomic culture. Van Dam’s collection of cookbooks ranging from the 17th to the 21st centuries is kept at the Allard Pierson.
The jury of the 2026 Johannes van Dam award consists of Jury Chair Prof. Louise O. Fresco (author, scientist and columnist on NRC newspaper), Joris Bijdendijk (executive chef at RIJKS and Wils restaurants), Hassnae Bouazza (journalist for NRC newspaper), Jonah Freud (author and food journalist) and Hiske Versprille (restaurant reviewer for de Volkskrant newspaper).
About the Allard Pierson
The Allard Pierson collects, manages, makes accessible, researches and presents valuable and relevant cultural heritage from Antiquity to the present. We make this heritage accessible to everyone, to serve science and society, to inform and to inspire. The Allard Pierson does so as part of the University of Amsterdam, operating from the historical heart of the capital.
The Johannes van Dam Prize is an initiative of the Allard Pierson together with the Stichting Gastronomische Bibliotheek (SGB). The award is partly made possible through the generosity of the Vrienden van de Gastronomische Collecties of the Allard Pierson - Collections of the University of Amsterdam and L'Europe Amsterdam.