Amsterdam Michelin Star restaurant Coulisse to close doors after five years
Michelin star restaurant Coulisse is set to close its doors on May 3, after five years in business. Sommelier Simon Witmaar and chef Tim van der Molen’s establishment will shut its doors as the result of their landlord's bankruptcy.
Coulisse is located in the New Werktheater building on the Oostenburgergracht in the city center. The space was rented out by a production company and events organizer which sublet the large ground floor dining room and kitchen to the award-winning restaurant. But that main tenant of the building, DAPPP Creative, had been experiencing financial difficulties since the summer of 2024.
Though the Couilisse founders held a lease until 2031, it was nullified by the bankruptcy. "Fortunately, we were able to temporarily extend the contract until May of this year," said Witmaar in an interview published by Parool.
Of all the restaurants that opened shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic in Amsterdam, Coulisse was among the most promising and notable. This was attributed to the delectable yet unpretentious cuisine. Restaurant-goers enjoyed the welcoming though high quality atmosphere leading to the establishment’s Michelin star in April of 2023.
The restaurant retained its star when the Michelin Guide presented its annual update in October. The Netherlands boasts 122 Michelin starred restaurants, including 17 with one star, and five with two stars.
As the closure of the business nears, the owners plan to make the most of every last reservation. Coulisse announced upcoming collaborations with other chefs in the final months to end on a positive note. Though the restaurant is acclaimed, they have always kept prices relatively affordable in relation to competitors and other starred restaurants, with meals of four to eight courses ranging between 70 and 120 euros per person.
When asked about the potential to open a new restaurant, Witmaar told Parool, “We don’t see it as if it’s all over after this. Anything can happen. We look back on five great years and are curious about what the future will bring. The fact that we are leaving also offers us opportunities to continue in a different place.”
