Arjan Speelman Earns Prestigious SVH Master Chef Title

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Arjan Speelman passes Master's Exam SVH Master Chef

Hotel Okura Amsterdam is proud to announce that Arjan Speelman, Executive Chef of Ciel Bleu Restaurant**, Wednesday 21st May 2025 passed his Master's Thesis SVH Master Chef. After his inauguration, Arjan can officially call himself the 154th Master Chef in the Netherlands. With the Master's title, Ciel Bleu becomes the 11th restaurant in the Netherlands where 2 or more SVH Masters work: honorary gastronomy sommelier Noël Vanwittenbergh has been SVH Wine Master since 2010.

FLAWLESS MASTERY

Arjan has more than convinced the committee of his Mastery with his flawless cuisine. Everything we have seen and tasted today was Masterly. From the dishes that excelled in terms of professional techniques, flavours and cuisson to the wine-food combinations and the guest experience. No detail was forgotten. We are proud to welcome Arjan as Master Chef," said the committee.

PASSION FOR THE CRAFT

Arjan's ambition to become an SVH Master Chef arose when he saw SVH Master Chef Cas Spijkers on TV and read his cookbooks. Then he knew "This is what I want, I want to become a Master Chef!". In the years that followed, he consciously chose to work with various SVH Master Chefs in his career. He learned the trade from them, but also saw how much impact the title has and how proud you can be when you have won the title.

 

"I want to wear my title with pride and uphold the craft: as a Master Chef, I want to be an ambassador who propagates the profession and upholds the traditions. My goal is to show the new generation of chefs how traditional cuisine works, to promote the profession by showing how beautiful the profession can be. Partly for this reason, I joined Bocuse d'Or," said the 154th SVH Master Chef.

 

SVH Master Chefs Erik van Loo (Restaurant Parkheuvel**, Rotterdam), Dick Middelweerd (De Treeswijkhoeve**, Waalre) and secretary SVH Master Titles Hanneke Westland took the Master Thesis from Arjan Speelman. During the SVH Master's Test, Arjan was judged on all fixed parts of the test; the company presentation, the à la carte lunch, the masterful menu and the two technical assignments. In Ciel Bleu, where the guest steps into a world of refined flavours, lunch is normally not served. The restaurant was therefore open for lunch especially for Arjan's Master's Test.

SVH MASTER TITLES

With the success of Arjan Speelman, the Netherlands has more than 300 SVH Masters, divided over the six SVH Master titles (SVH Master Host/hostess, Master Catering Entrepreneur, Master Ice Cream Maker, Master Chef, Master Pourer and Wine Master). In 1980, the first SVH Master Chef passed the Master's Test. From that moment on, the SVH Master title symbolises the highest degree of professional competence that someone can achieve in the Dutch hospitality industry. SVH Masters make a major contribution to the image of the profession. They are figureheads and inspire others to choose a career in the hospitality industry.