De Haan (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The new Dunepanne youth hostel in De Haan, run by HI Flanders, offers 119 beds in 47 rooms, aims to attract young tourists, and was supported by Mayor Wilfried Vandaele.
As VRT News reported, a new youth hostel has opened in De Haan, a municipality in the province of West Flanders, Belgium. It’s in the old care hotel Dunepanne. This venue now accommodates up to 119 guests. It has rooms for people travelling alone or in groups.
The hostel is close to the beach. De Haan had wanted a youth hostel for a while. HI Flanders runs many youth hostels. They were looking for a place on the coast. The town saw this as a way to bring in more young visitors and offer different kinds of tourism.
What does the new Dunepanne youth hostel bring to De Haan’s tourism scene?
Tom De Brucker, from HI Flanders, said they contacted all coastal mayors. De Haan’s mayor, Wilfried Vandaele, helped find places. When the old Dunepanne hotel was for sale, they saw it could be a hostel. It’s quiet near nature, but close to the beach.
The building was fixed up to be modern and green. He mentioned that the hostel gives a cheap place to stay on the coast. It helps De Haan be a friendly place for young people. This fits with plans to have good tourism on the Belgian coast.
According to officials, the Dunepanne youth hostel in De Haan has a long history. It began in the late 1800s. King Leopold I once stayed there in 1901, adding a royal touch to its story. For many years, it was a care hotel, a calm place where older people could relax by the sea.
They mentioned that the building’s design and quiet location made it a favourite spot for rest. After being empty for a while, it’s now been fully updated. It’s a modern youth hostel now, but it still keeps its historic charm.
The new Dunepanne youth hostel is a big success, according to Tom De Brucker, the head of HI Flanders. He wants people to know that modern hostels are not like the old, crowded dorms. The updated Dunepanne has 119 beds in 47 rooms. Each room has space for 1 to 6 people and has its bathroom.
The hostel is designed to be comfortable and stylish, more like a fancy hotel. The mayor of De Haan is also very pleased. He believes the hostel is a great addition to the town. He hopes that young visitors will enjoy De Haan and return in the future. The hostel is expected to boost tourism and attract a younger crowd to De Haan.
