Het Genoegen

The story

Het Genoegen Hasselt: Classic Seasonal Dining in a 17th-Century Residence

A family legacy in a 17th-century home

Het Genoegen in Hasselt delivers seasonal cuisine within a 1652 patrician residence known as De Brabantsche Huyck. Jo and Nicole Koeken opened the doors in 1984, transforming the historic property on Raamstraat into a welcoming dining space. The building retains features from its origins as part of a women's hospital, with the name referencing the caps worn by the nuns who worked there. Their children, Stijn, Jan, and Eva, now oversee operations, maintaining the family tradition across four decades.

Seasonal cooking with local roots

The kitchen builds its menus around ingredients sourced from regional producers, rotating selections every four weeks. This schedule supports sustainable practices while allowing the chefs to combine traditional methods with modern techniques. Diners frequently order the kreeft Het Genoegen, a lobster dish that demands advance preparation to ensure precise results. The focus on seasonal dishes reflects the natural availability of local produce while incorporating global flavor influences.

Champagne bar and award-winning standards

Evenings often start at the champagne bar, where guests enjoy sparkling wine alongside small shared plates. A sunlit terrace accommodates summer crowds, and a heated outdoor area preserves the ambiance during colder months near the passage to Zuivelmarkt. The restaurant received a Gault&Millau score of 13 for 2026, citing the craftsmanship behind items like gravlax dressed with dill, mint, and buttermilk. This rating highlights how the team sustains high culinary standards in a relaxed environment.