Cas Spijkers

Henry Augustine Caspar (Cas) Spijkers (12 January 1946 in Tilburg - 29 October 2011 in Oirschot) was a Dutch head chef and author of several cookbooks. He is also known for his cooking program Koken met Sterren [nl]. In 1984, the cooking of Spijkers earned restaurant De Swaen two Michelin stars.

In 1980, Spijkers became head chef of De Swaen, resulting in a Michelin star in 1981. After Spijkers stepped back as head chef in 1998, the restaurant lost his star.

"Princess Household Appliances BV" collaborated with Spijkers to promote its kitchen appliances. They also backed him for his "month restaurant" Chez Cas in "De Kersentuin" in Amsterdam in 2006.

In 2007, Spijkers announced the Cas Spijkers Academie. This was a high-end cooking school under his supervision. The Academy, a partnership between Spijkers and several educational centres, started in 2009 in Boxmeer.

In 2005, author Ronald Giphart published the book Troost. Giphart claimed that Cas Spijkers and De Swaen were his models for this book. Cas Spijkers was very surprised to hear that he was responsible for the demise of De Swaen, because he left there a few years before they lost their stars.

In November 2010, esophageal cancer was discovered.

On the 6th of July 2011, Spijkers was appointed as Knight of the Order of Orange Nassau for his great services to the Dutch culinary culture.

Spijkers died on 29 October 2011, aged 65, from the effects of his illness.