Calva — Modern French, The Hague
Calva earned a remarkable distinction in early 2025: it moved to a new address on the Markt in Nootdorp and earned its first Michelin star almost immediately — a recognition that reflects years of consistent culinary development under Chef Tom Beckers rather than the novelty of the new location. The restaurant has been building a reputation in the South Holland fine dining circuit that the Michelin star formalises.
Beckers serves modern French cuisine centred on seasonal produce and clean flavours — a philosophy that the Michelin inspectors describe as exhibiting “lightness and balance.” The focus on fish and shellfish from the North Sea coast gives the menu its primary identity, with the supporting cast of seasonal Dutch vegetables and game providing the terrestrial context.
The wine list reflects the French orientation of the kitchen: Burgundy, the Loire, and Champagne represented alongside the Alsatian bottles that fish-focused French cooking occasionally requires. Dutch natural wine producers appear alongside the classical French appellations.
Calva is the accessible Michelin star in The Hague area — a restaurant that delivers the quality the guide recognises at pricing and in an atmosphere that makes the Michelin experience less ceremonial and more genuinely pleasurable.
Best Occasion: Close a Deal
The Michelin star, the clean and focused cooking, and the accessible atmosphere make Calva the most efficiently impressive business dinner in The Hague area for occasions that want quality without the ceremony of the more formally positioned rooms.
Best Occasion: Birthday
A new Michelin star at a restaurant that has been building toward it for years — Calva’s combination of genuine culinary quality, accessible atmosphere, and the buzz of recent recognition makes it an excellent setting for a birthday celebration in the South Holland area.