Experience paramount at Les Cabanes d'Ostende
Meeting a Chief Cabin Officer is not something you experience every day. But at Les Cabanes d'Ostende, you can. Those 'cabanes' are luxurious cabins in green surroundings, between city and beach. Inventors and owners Youri Vandenberghe and Natacha Waldmann create a special experience for their guests in the midst of nature.
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It takes a while to find the property, as nothing on the street side reveals what awaits you here. A narrow passage leads you through a green oasis to the cabins. In no time, you enter a whole different world. "This is a fabulous location with lots of greenery, located 500 metres from the beach and 2 kilometres from the centre of Ostend. That perfect cocktail of nature and city, that's what we like ourselves when we travel," says Youri. The property has been open since July 2022. Now there are six cabins, including two equipped with hot tub, two with sauna and two without wellness facilities. Three more cabins will be added in autumn 2023.
As an architect-urbanist, Youri was already at home in alternative housing. Les Cabanes d'Ostende is his first recreational project - and that in his own backyard. His background as an architect is noticeable in the way the cabins are provided with the necessary privacy, via the landscaping, but also in the cabins and their interiors. The ‘cabanes’ are bright, loft-like places offering security in the midst of nature. Cooking is done in Le Creuset pots, sleeping in an Auping bed, barbecuing with a The Bastard and relaxing on Weltevree outdoor furniture. You can simply leave your car at the side of the road, as each cabin is provided with a bike shed with an electric cargo bike and two regular bikes.
One of the eye catchers in the interior is the AQUALEX tap. Its yellow colour is an accent that subtly recurs throughout the cabin. "The tap with still, sparkling and boiling water contributes to the overall experience of guests. It is about more than just comfort; it takes guests' stay to another level," Youri believes. When guests arrive, they are given a water bottle to fill during their stay. A tea sommelier serves delicious tea with the necessary explanations. "Why did we choose AQUALEX? I was familiar with the company through my job as an architect. Their taps have a beautifully refined design. An additional advantage is the fact that we could place the water cooler at a distance from the tap, neatly incorporated into the technical duct."
Slow travelling
Les Cabanes d'Ostende is truly an ode to the outdoors, with lots of greenery and trees, a swing here and there, and the sound of birdsongs. In the underground Honesty Shop you can find all sorts of local products, in the wood yard you can cleave the wood for your hot tub, children can catch tadpoles, in the XXL henhouse you can collect fresh eggs and in the herb garden you can pick herbs for your gintonic or tea. At the back, the property borders Park New Course. You cross the small bridge and immediately arrive on Ostend's Green Ribbon.
Everything has clearly been taken into consideration here. "Even though that might be a bit atypical in the rental business, we opted for quality properties that make you smile. We try to work with local partners as much as possible. The breakfast package comes from the bakery less than a kilometre from here, the BBQ package from Dierendonck,...," Youri says. Slow travelling at its best, not least because Youri and Natacha take on the role of curator. In a comprehensive guide, they guide you through Cabanes d'Ostende, but also through the city. Which means the best restaurants, recommended by locals. "We make sure our guests don't have to do any research themselves. We are also very responsive; via Whatsapp we are constantly in touch with them." And it pays off, as the reactions are unanimously laudatory. "The people who stay here are enjoying life. They feel like guests in our big garden," concludes Youri.
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