Jonnie Boer
Jonnie Boer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 January 1965 Giethoorn, Netherlands |
| Died | 23 April 2025 (aged 60) Bonaire |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur |
| Known for | Co-owner and head chef of De Librije, Michelin star awards |
Jonnie Boer (9 January 1965 – 23 April 2025) was a renowned Dutch chef recognized with multiple Michelin star awards and co-owner of the esteemed dining establishment De Librije in Zwolle, Netherlands.
Biography
Originating from Giethoorn, Boer and his spouse Thérèse jointly owned the acclaimed 3-Michelin-starred De Librije, which is situated within a historic monastery library. Their enterprise extended to include Librije's Winkel, a culinary retail shop. Additionally, their ventures encompassed Librije's Hotel and Librije's Atelier, a combined cooking and wine education center, all located in a former women's penitentiary.
Boer assumed the role of head chef at De Librije in 1989 and, together with his wife, acquired the restaurant in 1992. The Michelin Guide honored their establishment with its first star in 1993, followed by a second in 1998, and ultimately a third star in 2004. His culinary philosophy was deeply influenced by natural elements, which served as both inspiration and the foundation for his creations.
On 23 April 2025, Boer died at age 60 from a pulmonary embolism while on Bonaire.
Controversy
In February 2011, the regional newspaper De Stentor revealed that Jonnie Boer faced financial challenges. The economic downturn affected the Librije Group, prompting necessary cost-cutting measures. Boer refuted assertions that the bank-mandated sale of the restaurant Koperen Kees stemmed from financial distress, clarifying that the divestment was part of a strategic realignment since the theater concept did not align with the Librije Group’s core values. The restaurant was subsequently acquired by Sander Dol.
Books
- Authored or co-authored by Jonnie Boer and his wife
- Puur : Restaurant De Librije, Zwolle (Dutch); 1997
- Puurder : Restaurant De Librije, Zwolle (Dutch and English); 2001
- De Librije : puur eten & drinken (Dutch); 2005
- Purer: The Cooking, Wine & Spirits Bible--Restaurant De Librije Zwolle (English); 2006
- Pure Passie : makkelijke recepten uit de keuken van De Librije, wijntips en leuke anekdotes (Dutch); 2009
- Collaborative works
- Puur natuurlijk : Restaurant De Librije, Zwolle (Dutch); 2003
- En Cas : Jonnie Boer, Alwin Houwing, Nico Boreas, Robert van Beckhoven, Edwin Kats, Ronald Tausch en Cas Spijkers (Dutch); 2005
- Duvel à la carte (Dutch); 2005
- Lang leve vis : visrecepten van vierentwintig topkoks (Dutch); 2007
- Met Gort de Boer op : de wonderbaarlijke avonturen van twee fijnproevers op een zoektocht naar 100 jaar Cuisine Hollandaise (Dutch); 2007/2008 (ebook)
- Eten, drinken, slapen (Dutch); 2010
- Grote kookkunsten : "een kookboek voor en door kinderen" : met 65 lievelingsrecepten van kinderen van de Geert Groteschool in Zwolle (Dutch); 2010