Hasselaar Geert (53) is the only Limburger: eight new employees open ‘Restaurant misunderstanding’ together with Dieter Coppens (Hasselt)

The new participants of Restaurant Misverstand. — © VRT

Restaurant Misunderstanding opens its doors for the third season, this time in the seaside city of Ostend. Dieter Coppens once again takes care of eight people with young-onset dementia.

Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 9:19 AM

The new season starts on March 14. Get to know the employees who will be setting up a temporary restaurant together with Dieter Coppens and chef Seppe Nobels.

Geert – 53 years old (Hasselt). Geert lives with his wife Annick in Hasselt. In 2022, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, which mainly affects his speech. He can no longer practice his profession as an IT professional. Geert also works as a dishwasher in a restaurant, goes to sculpting class once a week and cooks at home every day.

Lieve – 61 years old (Wevelgem). Lieve has always been a PE teacher in secondary education. Lieve has been diagnosed with FTLD: frontotemporal lobar dementia. This form of early-onset dementia affects her language: she forgets the meaning of many words.

Annick – 60 years old (Mortsel), a single mother of four children. She always worked as a primary school teacher until Alzheimer’s disease made that impossible. Annick hopes to learn a lot from her fellow sufferers through her participation in Restaurant Misunderstanding.

Fons – 61 years old (Ramsel). Before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he worked in a lumber company. At home in his studio he can enjoy himself making all kinds of wooden constructions. Together with his wife Leen, he walks several kilometers every week.

Els – 50 years old (Ravels), the youngest of the group. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 49. She then worked as a geriatric nurse and did the job with heart and soul. After a difficult period, she is ready to fully embrace life again and enjoy it to the fullest, together with her husband and daughter.

Anne – 53 years old (Kortrijk), has two daughters and lives with her husband Kurt in Kortrijk. She worked as an executive secretary for almost 25 years. She stopped working because she first thought she had a burnout, but it turned out to be Alzheimer’s disease.

Gie – 65 years old (Mechelen), is married to Heidi and father of three adult sons. He was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. A form of dementia that affects, among other things, his orientation and motor skills. Before he was diagnosed, he worked as an aerial photographer.

Jan – 58 years old (Lievegem), is married to Brigitte and has two sons and two grandsons. He has always been a self-employed painter, but he has been at home since he was diagnosed with FTD: frontotemporal dementia. (Pom)