About us

About our Family

The Vanhaecke family wishes you a warm welcome at Le Bassin, where comfort meets hospitality! Nestled in the heart of Ostend, our cosy establishment is set up to make you feel at home.

The past

Tom Vanhaecke and Elsie Bruynoghe began their adventure in the hospitality industry at a young age. At just 20 years old, they opened their first business in Ostend, restaurant De Palieter. A few years later, they took over the well-known Grand Café Burlington, located on the corner of Kapellestraat and Vindictivelaan, and so began a new chapter in their career. The establishment quickly gained an excellent reputation thanks to its fresh products and excellent service.


In 2008, Tom and Elsie expanded their ambitions further by taking over the former Strandhotel on the Visserskaai, which they also immediately renamed ‘Le Bassin’. Over the years, both the hotel and the brasserie underwent extensive renovations. The hotel grew from 25 to 40 rooms and in 2020 Le Bar du Bassin was opened, a stylish addition to the family business.

Meanwhile, son Jules and daughter Zoé have also fully joined the family story. Zoé, sommelier, cheese master and zythologist, runs Le Bar du Bassin with passion and expertise. Jules, a hotel management graduate, focuses on the ins and outs of the brasserie and hotel, continuing the family tradition with care.

Hotel, Brasserie, Bar

Each of the three establishments is run by a member of the family assisted by loyal team members. And you can feel it. Tom and son Jules Vanhaecke take charge of the restaurant, together with chef Christine Degroote; Elsie Bruynoghe, wife of Tom, and son Jules are in charge of the reception and running of the hotel. Daughter Zoé does the honours at Le Bar du Bassin, which is next door to the restaurant. As sommelier, cheese lover and zythologist, she shares her passion with customers and provides a pairing between quality drinks, tasty cheeses from cheese-affiners Van Tricht and charcuterie from De Laet & Van Haver and butcher Dierendonck.

North Sea chefs & local anchoring

Our chefs Tom and Christine value fresh and local ingredients. In this way, we contribute to a smaller ecological footprint. As full member of the 'North Sea Chefs' and pioneer of "à l'Ostendaise", we focus on dishes with North Sea fish. We work mainly with regional products and are also part of: 'Het Lekkere Westen' & 'Een Zee van Smaak'. 

You will also find many regional products on the extensive breakfast buffet,
as well as our homemade granola and jams.