Jeroen Knippenberg

Jeroen Knippenberg came to bladesmithing through a lifelong passion for food and craftsmanship, and through one quiet evening at home. He built his first knife and cooked a meal for his partner with it, and what began as a personal exploration grew steadily into a professional dedication. Holding both a BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology, and working professionally in heat and surface treatment technologies, Jeroen operates in the Netherlands at the intersection of laboratory and forge. His knife work is informed daily by metallurgy, microscopic analysis and rigorous testing, and that scientific underpinning is unusual at this level of artisan craft.

His earlier work leaned more decorative, with intricate mosaic damascus exploring the visual possibilities of the medium. In partnership with Modern Cooking, his focus has shifted toward monosteel and composite monosteel-core constructions, materials chosen for durability, edge retention and real-world kitchen performance. Geometries are developed with compound bevels, optimised heat treatment and an engineer's tolerance for small refinements that compound across the cut. The aesthetic is purpose-built: comfortable in hand, precise on the board, with clean lines and a measured sense of proportion that lets the tool disappear into the work.

The collaboration between Jeroen and Modern Cooking is built around a shared interest in tools that perform first and present second. His engineering mindset and relentless curiosity show up in every detail, from heat-treatment cycles tuned through testing to handle ergonomics resolved through iteration. For chefs and serious home cooks, the knives offer something rare: the visual restraint of considered industrial design with the soul and accountability of a single maker behind every piece. Refined in use, refined in appearance, and grounded in the kind of technical fluency we admire most.