A brand new beach hostel has opened in the sunny seaside city of Ostend, Belgium.
The modern and comfortable family-owned hostel is managed by brothers, Carl and Filip Craey, who took over the management of the hostel after their father passed away. For them, it’s a fresh start and they’re looking forward to running the hostel with care and enthusiasm.
The hostel replaces the previous, outdated hostel that stood in its place and past-visitors to De Ploate hostel will be surprised to see the striking, modern façade and spacious indoor areas incorporating impressive modern design.
Roger Van Kelst, CEO of VJH, one of the Belgium associations of Hostelling International, is very happy with the result: “We managed to create an impressive hostel with a modern and young look. It’s the proof that hostels and actual design can go together.”
Located just 150 metres from a sandy beach which stretches over five and a half miles, the hostel boasts a fantastic location that is within walking distance to some of Ostend’s best sights and attractions including the promenade which offers a wealth of shops, restaurants and bars.
There are plenty of events to keep you entertained throughout the year at Ostend, including Theatre by the Sea, Magic Lights in the Park, Sparkling Mondays and the Christmas Market.
De Ploate is a role model when it comes to accessibility for people with disabilities – 32 out of the 49 rooms are equipped with a total of 70 wheelchair-accessible beds. The hostel was awarded the A+ label for this, the highest label for accessible tourism, awarded by the Flemish Tourist Board.
The building is also a great example of sustainable design, with initiatives such as a green roof, solar boilers and highly insulated wall structures. These efforts have been awarded with the Green Key, the eco-label that identifies tourist establishments which are performing well in terms of the environment.
The hostel has a total capacity of 157 beds. Only 4 rooms have 6 beds. The other 45 rooms, all of them en-suite, accommodate 2, 3 or 4 people. There are also 5 wheelchair-accessible bathrooms for common use, a restaurant with catering, a backpackers’ kitchen, a hip bar and lounge area, meeting rooms, a bicycle shed, luggage storage, lockers and free Wi-Fi.
To book or find out more about De Ploate hostel, Ostend, click here.
