Hoofddorp, Netherlands  ·  8 guests only  ·  Monthly

Discover the
Netherlands
from the inside.

A fine dining evening in a real Dutch home — exceptional food, cultural stories, and genuine conversation. For ambitious expats who want more than a surface-level life abroad.

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Next evening: Saturday, August 29  ·  6 spots remaining
8 Guests per evening
5.0 Google rating
14+ Nationalities hosted
1× Per month only
This experience is for you

You've built
a life here.
Now go deeper.

Most expats leave the Netherlands knowing exactly what it looks like from the outside. This evening changes that — through food, conversation, and genuine Dutch hospitality.

This is not a tourist experience. And it's not a cooking class. If you're looking for either, this isn't for you.
  • You've been in the Netherlands for months — maybe years — and still feel like you're looking in from the outside. You want to actually understand Dutch culture, not just read about it.
  • Your social circle is mostly other expats. You want to meet real Dutch people — and other ambitious internationals who share your curiosity.
  • You're curious about European food culture: why so much cheese? Why wine with every dinner? You want the story behind the food, not just the plate.
  • You're not afraid to roll up your sleeves for part of the evening — then relax into an exceptional multi-course dinner while the conversation flows.
Fine dining at Chef Hugo's table
The evening

Two parts.
One unforgettable
evening.

From kitchen to table — a complete evening designed around curiosity, connection, and exceptional Dutch food.

01 45–60 minutes

Hands in the kitchen

You'll cook one element of the evening's menu alongside Hugo. Insider access to a Dutch kitchen — the techniques, the ingredients, the science and history behind the dish. Not a class. An experience you'll draw on for years.

"You don't just learn what to cook. You understand why."
02 2.5–3 hours

The table

A multi-course fine dining menu — live-cooked, wine-paired, served at one long table with 7 other curious minds from around the world. The conversation starts before the first course. It rarely ends before the last.

"A table worth sitting at for three hours. And then some."
Always a real conversation

Hugo & Anushik
are at the table.

Not just in the kitchen. Every evening includes live Q&A on Dutch culture, food history, and life in the Netherlands. Ask anything.

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Hugo van Schaik cooking at the Miele kitchen island
"Food is the most direct path into a culture. I want you to understand the Netherlands through what's on your plate — and why it got there." — Hugo van Schaik  ·  Chef & Host
Your hosts

Two people.
One story worth hearing.

Chef Hugo van Schaik
Chef & Host

Hugo van Schaik

Private chef born and raised Dutch. His cooking bridges the scientific precision of Heston Blumenthal with the classical elegance of French fine dining — applied to exceptional Dutch ingredients and seasonal produce. He's been hosting intimate dinners in his Hoofddorp home for years, earning a perfect 5.0 on Google.

"Food is the most direct path into a culture. I want you to understand the Netherlands through what's on your plate — and why it got there."
Anushik, co-host
Cultural Host & Co-host

Anushik

Originally from Armenia. Arrived in the Netherlands 20 years ago, not knowing the language, the customs, or the food culture. Today she's deeply and proudly Dutch — and she knows exactly what the journey looks like from both sides. At the table, she's the guide you didn't know you needed.

"I know what it feels like to stand on the outside. I also know what it feels like to belong. This evening is about shortening the distance between those two moments."
Unique flavour combinations

Bold flavours, Dutch ingredients, live-cooked at your table — every course a story.

Seasonal · Live-cooked · Wine-paired
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Choose your evening.

Standard

The Dutch Chef's Table

€95
per person · incl. VAT
  • Multi-course fine dining menu
  • Live cooking element (hands-on)
  • Cultural Q&A with Hugo & Anushik
  • Welcome drinks & amuse-bouche
  • Meet guests from around the world
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Most popular
Experience

The Dutch Chef's Table + Wine

€130
per person · incl. VAT
  • Everything in Standard
  • Curated wine pairing per course
  • Selected by Wijnkoperij Platenburg (est. 1897)
  • Wine tasting notes & explanations
  • Why Europeans drink wine — demystified
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Private

Private Dutch Chef's Table

€175
per person · min. 6 guests
  • Exclusive evening for your group
  • Full wine pairing included
  • Tailored menu & cultural theme
  • Corporate invoice available
  • Chef's Table Reel +€150 (60–90 sec film)
Enquire for groups

Dietary requirements? Let us know when you book — we'll take care of it.  ·  Vegetarian-friendly.

The setting

A real Dutch
home. A real
long table.

Hugo's home in Hoofddorp — 15 minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol. Intimate, warm, and entirely different from a restaurant. This is where genuine conversations happen.

Pieter Verhoogstraat 17, Hoofddorp
Address shared after booking confirmation.

Guests enjoying the Dutch Chef's Table experience
What guests say
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5.0 Google Reviews · 100% would recommend
"I've been in the Netherlands for two years and never felt this close to understanding the country. Hugo and Anushik don't just cook — they open a door."
Sarah K. — Relocated from the UK, works in Amsterdam
"The food was extraordinary. But what stayed with me was the conversation. I left knowing more about the Netherlands than I had in a year of living here."
Hiroshi T. — Relocated from Japan, tech sector
Guests from 🇯🇵 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 🇮🇳 🇧🇷 🇰🇷 🇸🇬 🇦🇺 🇨🇦 🇦🇲 🇮🇹 🇵🇹 and counting
Questions

Everything you
need to know.

None at all. The hands-on element is designed for curious people, not trained cooks. If you can hold a spoon, you're more than ready.
English throughout — both the cooking element and the dinner conversation.
Most guests do. The evening is designed around a mixed group — different nationalities, different backgrounds, all at the same table. You'll leave with new connections.
At Hugo's home in Hoofddorp (Pieter Verhoogstraat 17) — 15 minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol, easily accessible by car or public transport. The exact address is confirmed after booking.
Yes. The Private Dutch Chef's Table is ideal for international teams, corporate onboarding groups, or private celebrations. We can arrange a corporate invoice. Minimum 6 guests.
Once a month. Maximum 8 guests. If the upcoming date is sold out, you can join the waitlist — when a spot opens or a new date is announced, you'll hear first.
Yes — please let us know when you book. We're vegetarian-friendly and can accommodate most requirements with advance notice.
Next evening: Saturday, August 29 · Hoofddorp
★ ★ ★

8 seats.
One evening.
Real Dutch culture.

Join Hugo, Anushik, and 6 other curious people from around the world for a dinner that stays with you.

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6 spots remaining for August 29  ·  Next availability: 6 weeks