Gilles Vanderstraeten will take over the management of Koetshuis.

Koetshuis van Bokrijk has finally found a new operator. From September, you can come here again for a cup of coffee, pastries or some granny’s food. The franchise in Genk goes to Gilles Vanderstraeten from Westpunt in Hasselt.

Bistro Garden was the name the restaurant chain came up with for its Koetshuis restaurant in Pokrijk in 2019, after acquiring the franchise. Four years later, Lunch Garden was happy to extend the contract, allowing the building’s owner, the Province of Limburg, to look for a new operator.

This research took a long time. No suitable candidate was found during the first round. “But the second call was successful,” says authorized representative Igor Veltjens. “We found a new partner in Jill Vanderstraten, who runs the bar in the castle.” The works will be christened Partizan.

Vanderstraeten is currently the manager of the Westpunt – Brasserie restaurant in Kanaalkom in Hasselt, and previously worked behind the counter at the popular Hasselt Vogelsanck bar. MP Veltjens: “We are very happy that visitors and locals can return to the Koetshuis from September for a cup of coffee, a delicious meal or a slice of Limburg pie.”