Restaurant in Hengelo, Netherlands
Historic house, seasonal menu, easy to book.
't Lansink is Hengelo's most accomplished fine dining address, operating from a characterful 1916 building in the Tuindorp neighbourhood. Chef Lars van Galen's seasonal menu centres on Twente asparagus in spring and regional game in autumn, with We're Smart recognition for the vegetable program. At €€€€, it is the right call for a special occasion in the eastern Netherlands, and booking is easier than most restaurants at this level.
't Lansink has been part of the Tuindorp neighbourhood in Hengelo since 1916, and the house carries that history in its bones: characterful rooms, romantic gardens, and a front-of-house team that treats service as a genuine craft. Chef Lars van Galen has built a reputation strong enough to earn recognition from We're Smart for his vegetable-forward cooking, and at the €€€€ price point, this is Hengelo's most accomplished fine dining address. If you are planning a celebration meal or a significant dinner in the eastern Netherlands, this is where to book.
The physical setting is a meaningful part of what you are paying for here. The 1916 building in the historical Tuindorp neighbourhood gives the restaurant an intimacy that newer purpose-built fine dining rooms rarely achieve. The gardens add a seasonal dimension: on a sunny day, the terrace changes the character of the meal entirely, making it feel less like a formal tasting and more like an occasion. Inside, the layout is suited to couples and small groups rather than large parties. If you are coming for a birthday, anniversary, or a dinner that needs to feel special, the room works in your favour. The chef's table option adds a more theatrical dimension for those who want proximity to the kitchen.
Van Galen's menu rotates with the seasons, and knowing when to visit makes a real difference to what you will eat. The clearest argument for timing your visit comes from the kitchen's use of Twente asparagus: this is a regional product with a short spring window, and when it appears, it sits at the centre of the menu in a way that justifies the trip on its own terms. Game from the Twente region similarly dominates in autumn and winter, shifting the menu toward deeper, richer plates. The kitchen's approach to local sourcing means the menu in February and the menu in May are substantially different experiences.
The We're Smart recognition points to something worth noting: the kitchen has developed a full vegetable menu that functions as a genuine alternative to the main offering, not a concession to dietary requirements. If you want to eat the vegetable menu, flag this clearly at the time of booking, not on the day. The restaurant itself signals that advance notice is needed to ensure the full plant-based version is prepared.
The style of cooking places primary ingredients at the centre and uses sauces and garnishes to add complexity rather than to dominate. This is a kitchen with technical confidence, and the food reflects that without becoming showy. For the €€€€ price tier, you are getting cooking that can hold its own against comparable addresses in the Netherlands. See our full Hengelo restaurants guide for broader context on what the city offers at this level.
Booking difficulty is rated Easy, which is unusual at this price point and a practical advantage over many comparable Dutch fine dining addresses. That said, if you are visiting specifically for the Twente asparagus season in spring or want the terrace on a warm weekend, book ahead. If you want the full vegetable menu, communicate this at reservation stage. The chef's table and overnight stays are both bookable options worth requesting when you make your reservation.
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At €€€€, yes , for the right occasion. The kitchen's seasonal focus on Twente asparagus in spring and regional game in autumn gives the menu genuine substance at this price point, and the We're Smart recognition for the vegetable program adds a credential that few Dutch restaurants at this tier can match. If you are comparing it to the cost of a similar meal in Amsterdam, Hengelo represents better value for money. For purely a la carte fine dining without the occasion framing, you may find the investment harder to justify.
If you are visiting in spring during Twente asparagus season or in autumn for the regional game menu, yes. The tasting format allows the kitchen's seasonal sourcing approach to show its full range, and the We're Smart recognition for the vegetable menu confirms the kitchen's technical depth. Outside peak seasonal windows, the format still delivers at the €€€€ price tier, but the gap between a tasting and an a la carte meal narrows. The chef's table version adds a visual dimension worth the upgrade for a celebration.
It is one of the stronger choices in the eastern Netherlands for exactly this purpose. The 1916 building in the Tuindorp neighbourhood, the garden terrace, and a front-of-house team that is explicitly guest-focused all point toward an experience designed around occasions. Book the chef's table if you want the evening to feel more theatrical, or request a terrace table on a warm evening. The overnight stay option also makes this a viable destination for a longer celebration.
The database does not confirm a specific group capacity, but the intimate layout of the 1916 building suggests the room suits couples and small groups better than large parties. If you are planning for six or more, contact the restaurant directly at time of booking to confirm availability and any private dining arrangements. Do not assume large group bookings are direct at this address.
The venue description references expert cocktail recommendations from the front-of-house team, which suggests a bar presence, but the database does not confirm a counter dining option. If bar seating matters to you, verify directly with the restaurant when booking. For confirmed bar dining in Hengelo, see our Hengelo bars guide.
Possible but not the obvious format here. The €€€€ price tier and occasion-focused atmosphere make solo dining a deliberate choice rather than a casual one. The chef's table is the strongest option for a solo visit , it gives you direct kitchen engagement and a clear focal point for the meal. Solo diners should request it specifically at booking stage.
't Lansink is the most prominent fine dining address in Hengelo. For regional alternatives at the same price tier, De Librije in Zwolle operates at a higher intensity and is the benchmark for the broader region. De Nieuwe Winkel in Nijmegen is the stronger choice if plant-based cooking is your primary interest. For the full picture of what is available locally, see our Hengelo restaurants guide.
No dress code is confirmed in the database, but a €€€€ restaurant in a century-old building with a dedicated front-of-house team points toward smart casual as the floor. Avoid sports or casual streetwear. For a special occasion dinner or chef's table booking, err toward smart. The garden terrace in summer allows for slightly more relaxed dressing without departing from the tone of the room.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 't Lansink | €€€€ · Modern Cuisine | €€€€ | Chef Lars van Galen has it all: winning the most important prizes, a top restaurant & team, and now also a 100% vegetable menu! It made us very happy at We're Smart, all courses looked beautiful, tasted fantastic and that on a beautiful sunny day & terrace. It is important to know, it is best to pass on your wishes for purely plant-based when making your reservation! Who knows, the last step may no longer be necessary in the future. We will follow up for you…; 't Lansink is a warm and welcoming haven for food lovers. Established in 1916, this characterful house is located in the heart of the historical Tuindorp neighbourhood with its romantic gardens. The dedicated front-of-house team makes it its mission to pamper you. A friendly chat, expert wine recommendations, or an explanation of their fantastic cocktails? They are here for you, serving up the delicious creations of the enterprising Lars van Galen with real pride. He puts the spotlight on local ingredients such as Twente asparagus and game from the region, adding carefully considered garnishes and deeply flavoured sauces that showcase his culinary talent. Think pan-fried cod served beautifully translucent with aromatic oxtail, fried capers and a beurre blanc with capers for some added kick. At 't Lansink, the main ingredient is allowed to shine in visually appealing dishes. Why not enhance your culinary experience by booking yourself in for a thrilling spectacle at the chef's table or booking an overnight stay?; 't Lansink is a warm and welcoming haven for food lovers. Established in 1916, this characterful house is located in the heart of the historical Tuindorp neighbourhood with its romantic gardens. The dedicated front-of-house team makes it its mission to pamper you. A friendly chat, expert wine recommendations, or an explanation of their fantastic cocktails? They are here for you, serving up the delicious creations of the enterprising Lars van Galen with real pride. He puts the spotlight on local ingredients such as Twente asparagus and game from the region, adding carefully considered garnishes and deeply flavoured sauces that showcase his culinary talent. Think pan-fried cod served beautifully translucent with aromatic oxtail, fried capers and a beurre blanc with capers for some added kick. At 't Lansink, the main ingredient is allowed to shine in visually appealing dishes. Why not enhance your culinary experience by booking yourself in for a thrilling spectacle at the chef's table or booking an overnight stay? | Easy | — |
| De Librije | €€€€ · Modern Cuisine | €€€€ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| 't Nonnetje | €€€€ · Creative | €€€€ | Michelin 2 Star | Unknown | — |
| De Lindehof | Contemporary Dutch, Creative | €€€€ | Michelin 2 Star | Unknown | — |
| De Nieuwe Winkel | €€€€ · Organic | €€€€ | Michelin 2 Star | Unknown | — |
| Fred | €€€€ · Creative French | €€€€ | Michelin 2 Star | Unknown | — |
What to weigh when choosing between 't Lansink and alternatives.
Groups are possible here, and the venue's historic 1916 building across multiple characterful rooms gives it more flexibility than a single-room fine dining space. The chef's table option is worth considering for a group that wants a more immersive format. check the venue's official channels at booking to discuss group arrangements and any dietary requirements, particularly if your group needs a plant-based menu.
't Lansink is priced at €€€€, which puts it in serious fine dining territory for the Netherlands. The value case holds up: Lars van Galen has received recognition from We're Smart for his vegetable-forward cooking, the front-of-house team is genuinely attentive, and the 1916 building in Tuindorp adds to the experience in a way that a modern hotel dining room cannot replicate. If you are comparing it to De Librije or De Lindehof on pure price-to-prestige, those are harder targets; but for a special occasion in the east of the Netherlands, 't Lansink punches at its price point.
The venue data references cocktails and expert wine recommendations from the front-of-house team, which suggests a drinks programme worth engaging with. Whether bar dining as a standalone option is available is not confirmed in available venue information, so check directly when booking if that format matters to you.
The chef's table format mentioned in the venue data is a practical option for solo diners who want an engaging experience rather than sitting alone at a table for two. The front-of-house team is described as attentive and conversational, which makes the room feel less formal than the €€€€ price point might suggest. Solo dining here should be comfortable rather than awkward.
Yes, particularly if you visit during Twente asparagus season or request the plant-based menu, which earned specific recognition from We're Smart. Lars van Galen's cooking is built around seasonal local ingredients with carefully constructed sauces, and the tasting format is the clearest way to see the range of that approach. Note: if you want a fully plant-based menu, flag this at the time of booking.
This is the clearest use case for 't Lansink. The 1916 building, the garden terrace, overnight stay options, and an attentive front-of-house team all point to a venue that is set up for milestone dinners. Booking the chef's table for a birthday or anniversary adds structure to the evening without requiring a private dining room. Easy booking difficulty at this price point is also a practical advantage when planning ahead.
There are no other €€€€ fine dining venues in Hengelo itself that match 't Lansink's profile. The nearest credible alternatives are in the broader region: De Lindehof in Nuenen and De Nieuwe Winkel in Nijmegen for vegetable-forward tasting menus, or De Librije in Zwolle if you are willing to travel for a higher-prestige address. Fred is worth considering if you want a less formal format at a lower price point.
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