Dutch Frituur Champion Crowned in France
arras, France – Siem van Bruggen, a Dutchman with frituur locations in Utrecht and Leiden, has been named the world champion of fries baking at the third annual Frietbakken World Championship held in Arras, France. His fries were judged the most delicious among 33 competitors from around the globe.
The competition, launched in 2023 by the Arras tourist office, recognizes excellence in five categories: authentic fries, creative fries, family cane, fries sauce, and fries from around the world. Van Bruggen secured the top prize in the “authentic fries” category, a testament to his dedication to quality ingredients and technique. He cooks organically grown potatoes baked in water infused with rosemary. “I am happy with this prize. Fries are very popular in our culture,” Van Bruggen told French media following the win.
The Frietbakken World Championship isn’t just a culinary contest; it celebrates Arras’s deep historical connection to the potato itself. In 1526, botanist Charles de l’écluse began cultivating the then-unknown tuber crop-originally from Peru-in Arras, laying the foundation for the region’s enduring relationship with the humble potato and, ultimately, the world-renowned French fry. Previous champions include a chip shop from Angers (2024) and a competitor from Lille (2023).
