The Ostendian, the brand new 4-star hotel, will open its doors in March 2025
A brand-new 4-star hotel will open its doors in Ostend (Belgium) on March 27, 2025: The Ostendian, the result of a collaboration between C-Hotels and Vastgoedgroep Degroote, will be the very first completely new hotel in Ostend in twenty-five years. The overall concept and branding were assigned to The Brand Guys, Dries Henau, and Yuri Vandenbogaerde, known, among other things, for WASBAR. Their concept was translated into interior design by the Ostend-based design studio BLCN.
The Ostendian is strategically located in the Sky District, between Ostend Station and the marina. The hotel features 113 rooms, including four themed suites. The Ostendian is designed as a hotel experience that captures the essence of Ostend. With the bar as a lively meeting place, a breakfast room – The Ballroom – which also serves as a venue for events to truly become part of the city, and coworking and meeting spaces, The Ostendian aims to be a dynamic hub for both visitors and locals alike.
"Due to its location in the new Sky District, we knew from the very beginning that the hotel had to be more than just a place with good service and beautiful interiors. We aimed to create a concept that would make the hotel a destination in its own right."
- Xavier Vercaemst - Director of C-Hotels
“We have very consciously chosen to continue expanding in Ostend. It is the only city on the coast where experiences can be enjoyed year-round. This has a decisive impact on the occupancy of our hotels.”
- Inge Decuypere - Director of C-Hotels
The hotel is, therefore, the ideal starting point for exploring the city. The concept and design are inspired from the local culture and the city's DNA. To describe the style, the designers refer to it as a "contemporary Ostend soul," paying tribute to Ostend, its people, its artists, its history, and its future. The Ostendian embraces the city's colors and shapes while inviting visitors to discover the true essence of Ostend through its culture, gastronomy, art, history, and shopping.
From the moment you step into the hotel, you immediately feel like you're in Ostend—not just any hotel that could be anywhere. This is why there has been intensive collaboration with local organizations, artists, and entrepreneurs.
"We were asked to develop a concept that would make the hotel a destination within the destination. A concept that delves into the soul of Ostend, where guests can taste little bites of Ostend before being sent outside to fully engage with the city. The Ostendian must become a place that grabs you by the collar and drags you through the streets, to the spots where you can taste, hear, and feel the true Ostend. In a world where, in many hotels, you no longer know whether you're in Barcelona or Brussels, we want The Ostendian to make a difference. It should be a hotel of the city, with an identity that’s impossible to replicate."
— Dries Henau & Yuri Vandenbogaerde - The Brand Guys
The hotel is set to open on 27 March.
Facilities and Experiences
The hotel offers unique facilities:
- The Bar: The hotel's bar is set to become the vibrant heart of the Sky District. A place where guests and visitors mingle with locals and the “aangespoelden,” those from inland who have chosen to live in Ostend. Think of lively hotel bars from the '80s, with a light-up dance floor and mirrored ceiling.
- The Ballroom: The breakfast room is often the largest space in the hotel, though it's only used for a few hours a day. "The Ballroom" becomes a multi-functional event space, with a stage and a large LED screen, creating an atmosphere of cabaret and theater. And it's where all 234 guests can enjoy their breakfast.
- Coworking and Meeting Spaces: In most hotels, the term "business" usually refers only to the number of meeting rooms. But at The Ostendian, it's different. The hotel features a coworking space with free access for guests, and on a subscription or daily rate to occasional visitors or locals of the Sky District.
Themed Suites
The Ostendian features four unique themed suites, each twice as spacious as the classic "Soul Rooms."
- Recording Suite: A tribute to Ostend's rich musical history. This room comes with a music system, a bar, a lounge area, and karaoke system for unforgettable musical nights.
- Red Light Suite: A playful and bold design, with a nod to Hazegras, the Red Light District behind the hotel. It includes a jacuzzi, a pole dance bar, mirrored ceilings, a round bed, and its own champagne minibar.
- Unwind Suite: A tribute to the history of thalassotherapy in Ostend. Designed for ultimate relaxation, it features wellness facilities like a jacuzzi, a king-size bed, a sauna, and in-room cryotherapy.
- Herr Seele Art Suite: A tribute to Ostend’s artistic side. This spacious suite, with its own kitchen, is designed for long-term guests. It was hand-painted by the Ostend artist Herr Seele, who also created the unique illustrations that decorate the hotel.
100 Ostendians
100 of the 113 rooms, all more spacious than the others, are dedicated to “Ostendians”—people who have played a significant role in the city's history. In each room, an artwork will be based on the featured Ostendian, along with additional information explaining why this person was chosen. The selection will be made through a crowdsourcing campaign, where anyone interested can nominate candidates on the hotel’s website starting today.
For more information, visit www.ostendian.com
Renders (download here - renders are not for publication, only images of the rooms)
Images
About C-Hotels
C-Hotels, responsible for the hotel's operations, offers several quality hotels along the Belgian coast, with a family-friendly approach and professional service. The Ostendian will be the group's 11th hotel. Through an innovative approach to hotel and tourism real estate, it is constructively building a unique hotel heritage. The Belgian coast is dynamic, and its popularity continues to rise. In Ostend, C-Hotels, which always focuses on quality and conviviality, also operates Andromeda, Rosa, Upstairs, and Burlington.
About SKY District
The SKY District, a new urban development by Vastgoedgroep Degroote, is located on the former site of the Ostend Hotel School, between the Mercator Dock and the train station. The two SKY Towers redefine the urban skyline of Ostend, blending apartments, hospitality establishments, shops, and green spaces. The site also includes an underground parking lot. In spring 2025, SKY Tower Two and Sky Garden Two will also be completed, and it is in the latter that The Ostendian will open its doors.
About The Brand Guys
After selling their WASBAR concept in 2015 and the luxury éclair brand Chez Claire in 2019, Dries Henau & Yuri Vandenbogaerde, known as "The Brand Guys," decided to focus on developing hospitality concepts and brands worldwide, from Aruba and Budapest to Kenya, and now Ostend. Under their motto "Fighting The Average," they create concepts that are distinctly different, focusing on the brand as well as the customer experience and perception.
Press contact
For more information, contact:
Albane Paret
Club Paradis
+32 (0)476 57 37 82
albane@clubparadis.be