Five months after gas explosion: Crevits visits reopened lunch bar Lucien and Lizette

Minister of Welfare Hilde Crevits and James Van Casteren, general administrator of the Flemish Agency for Persons with Disabilities (VAPH), visited the new lunch bar and encouraged the employees.

On October 13, 2022, there was a gas explosion in the center of Ostend, near the lunch bars ‘Lizette’ and ‘Lucien’, which were operated by young people and adults with disabilities. Both buildings were right next to each other. The building that housed ‘Lucien’ was blown away by the explosion; that of ‘Lizette’ was seriously damaged. Three people were also seriously injured in the explosion: a police officer, a firefighter and supervisor Friedl, who was working in ‘Lucien’.

The explosion was a disaster for everyone who worked in ‘Lizette’ and ‘Lucien’ and for Duinhelm vzw, care provider for people with disabilities and the driving force behind both catering establishments. A support fund was created and many people expressed their solidarity with various actions.

It was decided to open a new catering business, because the employees not only lost their job with the loss of business, which offered them a lot of job satisfaction, but also something to hold on to. At the end of March, five months after the disaster, ‘Lizette & Lucien’ was opened. On April 27, Flemish Minister of Welfare, Public Health and Family Hilde Crevits and VAPH CEO James Van Casteren visited the new business.

Huge resilience

“I am amazed by the enormous resilience of the people of Duinhelm. They do everything they can to play a significant role in our society together with their special people,” says Hilde Crevits.

According to James Van Casteren, general administrator of the VAPH, ‘Lizette & Lucien’ is important for several reasons: “People with disabilities are often underestimated. In ‘Lizette & Lucien’, the starting point is their talents, instead of their limitations. Here they can shine as employees and catering managers. The people who work here are justifiably proud of their work, put their heart and soul into their job, and help dispel prejudices about people with disabilities. That makes this place so much more than just a hip lunch bar.”