Bringing a fresh pulse to Belgium’s beloved seaside city, The Ostendian is the first completely new hotel to open in Ostend in over 25 years. And, oh my, does it not make quite the statement? Located in the city’s Sky District, between the station and the marina, the four-star property is the result of a collaboration between C-Hotels and Vastgoedgroep Degroote, and promises more than just a place to stay; delivering an experience deeply rooted in the cultural, artistic, and historical soul of Ostend.
Concept and branding were led by Dries Henau and Yuri Vandenbogaerde of The Brand Guys, the creative force behind Ghent’s WASBAR, who explain: “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,” Henau and Vandenbogaerde continue, “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.”
That bold vision has been artfully translated into interior design by BLCN DESIGN, who have created a space that vibrates with ‘contemporary Ostend soul.’ A palette inspired by the sea, local textures and materials, and nods to the city’s storied art and cultural heritage permeate the hotel’s 113 rooms, including four signature themed suites—as well as communal areas such as The Ballroom, where breakfast is devoured daily before transforming into a multi-functional event space; The Bar, a place where guests and visitors mingle with locals and the ‘aangespoelden’ (those from inland who have chosen to live in Ostend); and a co-working space with free access for guests, and a subscription or daily rate to occasional visitors or locals of the Sky District.
A dynamic local hangout, The Ostendian invites guests to do more than visit Ostend, rather to become ‘Ostendian’ themselves. An immersive, thoughtful stay where design, identity, and locality blend in perfect harmony, this is a hotel concept as singular as its location.
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The Ostendian, Ostend Photography, Buro Bonito.
