The Boska Cheese Slicer: Dutch Craftsmanship Since 1896

Walk into any Dutch household and you'll likely find it tucked in a kitchen drawer: a simple cheese slicer with a distinctive curved blade and wooden handle. Not a fancy gadget, no unnecessary features, no batteries required. It's the Boska cheese slicer (or "kaasschaaf" in Dutch), and it's been doing one job exceptionally well since 1896.

A Tool Born from Necessity

The story begins in the late 19th century in the Netherlands, a country with a serious cheese-making tradition. Before the cheese slicer, cutting thin, even slices of hard cheese was frustrating. Knives would either crush softer cheeses or require considerable effort for harder varieties, and the results were inconsistent at best.

Enter the kaasschaaf, a brilliantly simple solution. The tool uses a thin blade set at a precise angle, allowing you to shave off perfect slices with minimal effort. Boska, founded in 1896, didn't invent the cheese slicer (that credit goes to Thor Bjørklund of Norway in 1925, though similar tools existed earlier), but they helped perfect and popularize it, turning a functional tool into an icon of Dutch kitchens.

What Makes It Special?

The genius is in what it lacks. No moving parts to break, no complicated mechanisms to fail, no plastic components to crack. A piece of metal attached to a handle. That's it. And that simplicity is exactly why it works so well.

Why You Should Own One

If you regularly eat hard or semi-hard cheese (think Gouda, Edam, Cheddar, or aged varieties), a proper cheese slicer transforms the experience. Slices come off consistently thin and even, perfect for sandwiches or crackers. There's no sawing, no crumbling, no waste.

Beyond pure functionality, there's something satisfying about using a tool that has been refined over generations. The Boska slicer feels purposeful in your hand. The weight is balanced, the motion is natural, and the result is immediate. It's the kind of simple object that makes you appreciate thoughtful design.

What to Look For

While Boska is the heritage name, there are other quality manufacturers. When choosing a cheese slicer, look for:

• A stainless steel blade (avoid plated options that will wear)
• Solid construction with no wobble or flex
• A comfortable handle that fits your grip
• A reputable manufacturer with a history of quality

Expect to pay between €10-25 for a quality model. Yes, you can find cheaper versions, but at this price point, there's no reason to compromise. A good cheese slicer should last decades.

Care and Maintenance

This is perhaps the easiest tool you'll ever own to maintain. Rinse it after use, dry it thoroughly (especially if it has a wooden handle), and store it in a drawer. That's it. The blade shouldn't need sharpening in your lifetime if you're using it on cheese and not as a putty knife.

The Verdict

In a world of overcomplicated kitchen gadgets and planned obsolescence, the Boska cheese slicer is refreshingly straightforward. It does exactly what it's supposed to do, and it does it well. Not marketed as revolutionary or innovative, because it doesn't need to be. It's simply excellent at its one job.

If you eat cheese with any regularity, you should own one. Not because it's trendy, but because it's genuinely useful, well-made, and will serve you faithfully for as long as you own it. Sometimes the best kitchen tools are the simplest ones.