Moroccan Woman Opens Restaurant in Belgium Rather Than Give Up Her Hijab
She studied law and dreamed of becoming a lawyer. But for Chaymae, who is of Moroccan origin, taking off her hijab to practise the profession was out of the question. She ultimately chose a completely different path: she and her husband have just opened a Moroccan restaurant in Belgium.
“My hijab is part of my clothing and my identity. I’m not asking you to take off your T-shirt either.” For Chaymae, there is no question about it. After studying law, this Moroccan woman, who grew up in the Netherlands, hoped to pursue a career as a lawyer. But according to her account, wearing a headscarf stood in the way of her plans. Rather than change the way she dressed, she preferred to change professions. “It’s my choice: I won’t give up my hijab for a job,” she told Belgian media outlet Made in Kempen.
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The young woman did not, however, abandon her studies overnight. After law, she also trained in management and logistics at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences. A vocational training course with VDAB, the Flemish employment agency, eventually led her to the restaurant business. It was already an area she liked: she had always enjoyed cooking.
With her husband, Abdelhalim, who is also of Moroccan origin, she had in fact tried her hand at the business by opening a small breakfast place in Turnhout, in the province of Antwerp. But the premises were too cramped, and health problems forced the couple to close soon afterwards. That was not enough to discourage them.
A restaurant named Nador in tribute to their roots
They have now moved into new premises on Patersstraat, still in Turnhout. The establishment is called Nador, after the Moroccan city their families come from. This time, the couple has gone bigger, opening a proper restaurant with a breakfast buffet prepared overnight.
The morning menu includes Moroccan breads and pastries, various egg dishes and even soup. It is all served buffet-style for 13 euros until 12 October, then 15 euros. Abdelhalim says it is hard to find such a generous offer at that price in the area.
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At lunchtime and in the evening, customers can enjoy Moroccan classics, including tagines and couscous. But Chaymae does not stop there. To suit the tastes of her Iraqi customers, she has added dolmas, kubbas and biryani. Vegetarians are also catered for, while children can opt for burgers.
The former law student seems to have found in this new venture the freedom she had been seeking for a long time. “I also really love cooking, and here I can be completely myself,” she says.
