Jeroen Achtien

2-Michelin star chef

My name is Jeroen Achtien, chef of Inter Scaldes restaurant in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands.

As a kid I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Thanks to the enthusiasm my older brother had for cooking, I decided I wanted to become a chef as well. Amazing things have happened since and the last couple of years have been a true rollercoaster, filled with achievements that I share with my wife and team.

Feel free to explore this website, and if you'd like to connect, don't hesitate to reach out!

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Philosophy

I focus primarily on cooking with local ingredients. I believe you have to look at what’s around you, search for the best, and use what’s available! I have a deep love for seafood like langoustine, oysters, and North Sea crab, so being surrounded by the waters of Zeeland feels like a daily treat. The sea is, and will always be, a central part of my menu.

Nonetheless, I embrace flavours from around the world, particularly through specific vegetables and spices such as lemongrass, ginger and different kinds of chilies. I love experimenting with these flavours, and combined with creativity and fermentation, they are the key reasons why many people visit us.

For me, cooking can - and should - always be described in one word. EXCITING.

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Inspiration

A question I often get is, where I get my inspiration from.

It’s a question that’s both easy and difficult to answer. I draw inspiration from many things, but it doesn’t mean I’m inspired every time I experience them.

My mind works best, when I am completely relaxed and without distractions. The best way to achieve that state of mind, is after intensive activities like skiing, wakeboarding or kitesurfing.

Because of this, I often find inspiration while on vacation or when I’m in nature. I was fortunate to live surrounded by the mountains of Switzerland, and now I consider myself lucky to call the vast polders of Zeeland and its waters my home.

Zeeland offers me many ways to escape daily life. Whether I’m riding my Harley, sailing over the Oosterschelde, or walking along the beach collecting cockles and seaweed at low tide, these activities help me let go of the daily grind and free my mind.

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