‘A Walk in the Dutch Lowlands’ makes its Hong Kong debut at Amber
In celebration of #AmberAt20 (Amber’s 20th anniversary), chef Richard Ekkebus, culinary director of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, is teaming with chef Joris Bijdendijk of RIJKS® to launch A Walk in the Dutch Lowlands, an international, multi-city culinary tour uniting some of the Netherlands’ most celebrated chefs in both Hong Kong and the Netherlands.
The tour begins where it all started at Amber, where a special 12-hands lunch and dinner will invite guests to taste the Netherlands as it is today, vibrant, rooted and alive with possibility, while honouring the chef who first set this vision in motion.
A Walk in the Dutch Lowlands pays tribute to the late Jonnie Boer, the revered “Father of Dutch Gastronomy”, whose pioneering work helped define the country’s modern culinary identity. It is a full-circle moment: Boer was the very first guest chef at Amber two decades ago, and this return honours his legacy of craftsmanship, terroir, and quiet revolution.
Joining Ekkebus and Bijdendijk are an all-star line-up of Dutch talent: Ron Blaauw (Ron Gastrobar, Amsterdam), Nelson Tanate (De Librije, Zwolle), Hans van Wolde (Brut172, Reijmerstok), and Sergio Herman (Privé Privée; formerly of Oud Sluis and Le Pristine, Antwerp). Together, they bring the energy and depth of Dutch cuisine to Hong Kong, before the tour continues to Amsterdam, the epicentre of the nation’s culinary renaissance, and Antwerp, a city that has long bridged the Low Countries’ intertwined histories of culture, craft and cuisine.
A Walk in the Dutch Lowlands pays tribute to the late Jonnie Boer, the revered “Father of Dutch Gastronomy” (Photo: courtesy of Amber)
Guests will embark on a culinary journey through the Netherlands, with each chef interpreting the country’s landscape through its most emblematic ingredients. Ron Blaauw reimagines the classic herring, pairing it with seasonal accents that nod to Dutch waters and fields. Joris Bijdendijk draws depth from red beetroot and beurre blanc enlivened with Dutch soy sauce momasu. Richard Ekkebus creates a layered composition of Dutch conference pears, Boskoop apples, seaweed and boeren goudse oplegkaas, weaving sweetness, umami and aged complexity into a single plate. The experience culminates with Nelson Tanate’s refined pairing of Dutch shrimp and kohlrabi, followed by bonbons crafted in tribute to Jonnie Boer’s favourite flavours.
Each course tells a story, not just of Dutch produce, but of the dialogue between heritage and innovation, between local roots and global reach.
“Jonnie Boer has shaped Dutch gastronomy in ways that inspire us all,” says chef Richard Ekkebus. “Starting the tour in Hong Kong is our way of honouring his championing of Dutch gastronomy with Amber 20 years ago as a guest chef, and continuing his vision of a cuisine that’s rooted, refined and forward-looking.”
“For me, this is also about community,” adds chef Joris Bijdendijk. “We’re honouring Jonnie’s vision by working together, supporting the next generation and showing that Dutch food has a voice that’s both local and global.”
A Walk in the Dutch Lowlands - Hong KongDate: Monday, November 17, 2025Lunch: Four-course or six-course, from HK$2,498Dinner: From HK$3,498Wine pairing: Five-glass pairing from HK$1,288 per person (5 x 100ml pours)