The fine dining restaurant was awarded one or two Michelin stars each year in the period 1981–1998.

Owner Henk Aan de Stegge decided to give the exploitation in the hands of John van Dun and his head chef Cas Spijkers.

In 1980 Van Dun left and Piet Rutten was promoted to director and front of house manager while Spijkers headed the kitchen.

[3] In 2001 Alan Pearson took over the role as head chef and he managed to win the star back.

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.