Seven Red Stars from Netherlands Ambassador Job Seuren

By Rachel Fellows

Published 13-November-2025

Interview / Netherlands

Dutch sommelier Job Seuren has reported for Star Wine List since 2021 and recently joined our team in Rotterdam to help name the winners of Star Wine List of the Year Belgium and Netherlands 2025. As he adds seven Red Stars across his home country, we ask him what makes the sommelier community so interesting and how these new wine spots impressed him.

A prolific traveller, Job Seuren doesn’t just cover the Netherlands for Star Wine List, but recommends many other places around the world for us, too.

“I’m a sommelier – of course I travel, and this year more than ever,” he tells us. “It’s mostly wine (and also my wife) that brings me to places. This year, I’ve visited so many new spots I’d never seen, from Douro to Berlin to Thessaloniki to California. All great in their own style.”

Back in the spring, he told us that he travels “way too little in my own country” and yet, for this latest update to our guide, he’s managed to scope out new Red Stars in Eindhoven, Amstelveen, Rotterdam and, of course, the capital Amsterdam, where he lives downtown.

“I just like to go out of Amsterdam a little more,” he says. “Also I feel like, outside of Amsterdam, more and more is happening when it comes to wine, both in cities as well as restaurants that are more ‘out there’. People are starting to realise that wine is a significant part of going out for dinner.”

Did any of your new Red Stars particularly surprise you?

“Places like De Reiger surprised me in the sense that you can even go to a packed simple café nowadays and drink well.”

Do you have any sneaky favourites among your new selection?

“Something to do with your children and not having a preferred one… Ok, of the new places, I think De Matroos en het Meisje in Rotterdam really hit the spot: food, hospitality and fantastic wine come together.”

What do you think sets sommeliers from the Netherlands apart?

“I think service and lack of pretension really set the Dutch aside. Also, not having a wine-growing history, we’re open to whatever the world offers. Right now the classics and small traditional regions of Europe are back, but I’m sure California (though that might need some time until the idiot is gone), South Africa and old vine Australia will find their way to the lists again.”

When you open a wine list, which section do you make a beeline for?

“Italy, especially Piedmont. So few restaurants have a decent selection here, yet there are so many (affordable) gems to be discovered. I’m a sucker for traditional Nebbiolo.”

What's the most unexpected wine you've been recommended in a bar or restaurant?

“I’ll be honest, I like choosing myself and am not easily talked into a wine. However, while in Greece last month I had no other option since my Greek is a little rusty, and I had some wonderful Assyrtiko, Malagousia and even an outstanding Retsina.”

Is there one wine you'll never forget in your life?

“I guess that would be the Retsina from Kallos, though Keller’s Kirchspiel at De Matroos also hasn’t left my mind, but that’s stating the obvious.”

What's your top tip for visitors to Amsterdam over the winter? Any must-sees?

“Parlotte is always great for afternoon drinks as well as Oocker. Sinck has been great for years and recently had an upgrade in the kitchen team, so worth (re)discovering. And we have some fantastic Italians like Toscanini and Domenica with great wine lists, but even pizza at La Perla with a nice bottle is great. And then there are so many great other places, I don’t know where to start or stop.”

Where are you off to next? “Mosel next week to meet my latest discovery, Tim Röttgerding in the Terrassenmosel, and the lovely, biodynamic Melsheimer in Reil.”

Take a look at our Amsterdam guide and world wine map for the full selection across the Netherlands.