Michelin-starred chef Roger van Damme, aged 54, is closing his renowned restaurant Het Gebaar near Antwerp’s botanical garden after 15 years of culinary excellence, but his career isn’t ending as he plans to open a culinary academy in Schoten.
Originally a pâtissier, van Damme rose to fame by opening Het Gebaar in 1994 on Leopoldstraat, initially as a tearoom before evolving it into a broader gastronomic experience.
To achieve this, he trained at the prestigious El Bulli restaurant in Catalonia. Het Gebaar has held its Michelin star since 2010. The final dishes will be served on 27 June, with van Damme commenting, "It’s a matter of choice."
Van Damme’s culinary academy is setting up at the former Zwan factory in the De Zwaan industrial area in Schoten.
"We’ve been preparing this project for several years. This is not the end of ‘Roger van Damme’ as a chef. It’s a new chapter. I want to share my knowledge for at least another six years," he stated.
Additionally, Roger van Damme will continue his services at Botanic Sanctuary hotel, located just a stone’s throw from Het Gebaar.
