Chef Seppe Nobels Accused of Misconduct by Ex-Employees; Denies Claims

Chef Seppe Nobels, who gained fame through the television program "Restaurant Misverstand" and for his social projects integrating refugees into the workforce, is facing accusations of misconduct from several former employees. An investigation by the newspaper De Morgen details allegations of improper practices within his "Instroom" projects in Antwerp and Mechelen, which aim to provide work experience for newcomers.

According to De Morgen, the collaboration between Nobels and the vzw Gatam, the organization behind the "Instroom" projects, ended in 2024 due to these concerns. Chris Bryssinckx of vzw Gatam confirmed the split, stating that "Instroom" was becoming "more of a personality cult around Seppe Nobels." Gatam also raised financial objections, asserting that participants were sometimes assigned to tasks unrelated to the project's social goals, including work on Nobels' private properties.

Bryssinckx told De Morgen that Gatam had repeatedly addressed these issues in writing early on, highlighting that such practices were incompatible with the role of a supervisor. The organization also claimed that financial proceeds from external assignments, where project resources and participants were utilized, did not always return to the "Instroom" project itself. This led to the termination of their partnership, with Gatam continuing its work under the name "Samenloop," separate from Nobels.

Nobels has vehemently denied all accusations, characterizing them as a "smear campaign" aimed at discrediting him. While De Morgen cited other individuals who have worked with Nobels and reportedly share similar stories, VRT NWS has not yet been able to independently verify these additional claims. The newspaper also alluded to cocaine use in its report.