Hoeilaart (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – After 43 years, Linda Vandervaeren is closing her 75-year-old bakery in Hoeilaart due to retirement. Known for its cheesecake, the closure ends a four-decade local tradition.
As VRT News reported, after more than 40 years, Linda Vandervaeren is closing her bakery in Hoeilaart, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium. Officials mentioned that the closure marks the end of a long tradition in the town, as the bakery celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.
What marks the end of an era as Hoeilaart’s last baker retires?
Linda took over the business 43 years ago. Now, as she reaches retirement age, Linda says it is time to stop.
“I’m quitting because I’ve reached retirement age,”
she says.
“The work has become too demanding, and the investments needed to maintain the bakery are no longer possible for me.”
She says she will miss the people the most.
“I’ll especially miss the social interaction in the store, and the feeling that people appreciate what you do. It’s not just the bread, but the chat that counts too.”
“You have to be done with baking every morning when the shop opens at 6:30 am, even if you’re not feeling well.”
Linda Vandervaeren, baker Hoeilaart
For more than 40 years, Linda Vandervaeren has run her bakery in Hoeilaart, baking every loaf and cake herself.
“You’re always working against the clock because everything has to be ready when the shop opens at 6:30 in the morning, even when you’re not feeling well,”
she says.
“It’s never been a rut because there are so many different kinds of bread and cakes,”
she adds.
“I didn’t go out and lived in a cocoon. I don’t know if that will change and if I’ll go on outings in the future. I don’t have any concrete plans for the future. Retiring feels a bit strange. I’m afraid of the emptiness.”
Linda says working weekends and nights meant there was no time left for herself. As the bakery prepares to close, there is no one to take over the business.
“Our speciality is cheesecake, which is also Hoeilaart’s speciality,”
Linda says.
“So that won’t be around anymore. We’ll have to teach the residents to bake their own cheesecakes,”
she laughs.
The bakery located in Hoeilaart has been around for about 75 years, dating back to 1950 when it was started. The bakery has been a feature in the town ever since. It was taken over by Linda Vandervaeren in 1982, and she continued to run the bakery for over 40 years. It is known for its fresh bread and cakes, and also the cheesecake, a popular option in Hoeilaart.
