The story
Ander is a French restaurant at Potterstraat 15 in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, and it holds a score of 14 in the 2026 Gault&Millau guide. The Michelin Guide lists it as a Recommended address for 2026. Hermien Vermeulen runs the front of house, and chef Arno Depoorter leads the kitchen.
Arno Depoorter cooks with restraint and precision, using seasonal local ingredients. Before opening his own place, he worked at De Librije, Souvenir and Ricard Camarena. He and Hermien met while studying at Hotelschool Ter Duinen, and the website states that the purity of the cooking and the quality of the product come first.
The menu is a surprise with no choices, served in five or six courses and changed with the seasons. Ingredients come directly from local farmers and from the North Sea. Guests can swap dessert for a cheese course, and a wine pairing is available, reflecting Hermien's love of wine. Vegetarian preferences and allergies should be shared in advance so the chef can adjust the courses.
The dining room is small and domestic, with the feel of a living room near the Marktplein. The Gault&Millau description praises its precise, understated cooking, which suits a setting this intimate.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
Location