The Hide, Ghent is new among Ghent hotels in Belgium but it’s different from your average B&B. It’s something like an apartment hotel but much more intuitive, luxurious, and plain playful! Before you read our review, watch this video for a quick look at The Hide:
Table of Contents
The Booking Confirmation
We Hide and you seek. Don’t worry, we will give you clues.
When you receive your booking confirmation, you will receive a series of clues letting you find your apartment and everything else that you need! A secret code lets you open the entrance gate as well as your apartment door. There are 7 city lofts and a living room+terrace at The Hide, plus a work-in-progress garden.
Finding The Hide, Ghent
Welcome, curious one. Sit down, relax, marvel, and enjoy the moment.
Don’t worry, The Hide is not so well hidden that you can’t find it. It is centrally located at Nederkrouter 134 in an unobtrusive block. The hideaway’s proximity to Ghent’s city centre meant that we could return to the comfort of our apartment for evening coffee and a breather whenever we needed it. We can’t tell you how convenient that was!
Getting Into The Hide, Ghent
Take the elevator. Or a trip up the stairs – we promise it’s worth it.
We found the entryway of The Hide easily enough but how to open the automated gate? Our secret code came to the rescue. The gate swung back, slowly, with a dramatic, long-drawn creak. Inside, we saw a cat adoption notice, a cat picture, a wooden swing, and a wall full of messages.
We took the stairs to our room and found an adorable alpaca waiting for us at the corner. No, it wasn’t real, but we clicked selfies with it anyway.
Our Apartment: The Roost
Are you checking in? We’re checking you out too 😉
We punched in our secret code to get in, and found a beautiful and inspiring space waiting for us. Hues of green and yellow, a fully-equipped kitchenette, a sleeping area that could be hidden by a curtain, bathroom with bath tub, a smart TV, fully stocked mini bar and Nespresso machine, and even bunk beds hidden away upstairs – what more could we want?
From the window of our second floor flat, we could see a quiet street. The lights were controlled by a little black box next to the door. There were buttons for every area – so very modern, not to mention energy-efficient.
Ghent interior designer Pieter Thooft is to be thanked for the feeling of serene luxury pervading the apartments at The Hide. We also have to thank Barbara Symons for letting us check in as early as 7 AM.
The Living Room & Terrace
Honesty Bar: Drop that euro in the piggy bank!
The living room on the first floor is where you can get a beer, some coffee, or a small snack for an equally small price. Most items on the menu of ‘The Honesty Bar’ are just 1 euro each. It’s called so, because there’s no one to check whether you’ve paid or not – just your own conscience!
The space is vast, and ideal for reading a book, working on the computer, or heading out on the terrace to soak up the sun and enjoy some wine. The day we arrived, the terrace was cold and windy but after that, it became warmer and warmer.
We never met anyone else during our stay but The Living Room does feel like a place for friendship and conversations.
Evenings at The Hide, Ghent
It’s never too early for wine.
We’d return to our flat after a long day of exploring the city, aching for some caffeine and rest for our tired toes. Some days, it just seemed better to sip on wine instead and hit the bed early. Summer days in Ghent are deliciously long, and the sun would stream in well until 6 PM.
Sunset would begin only after 8, and while we couldn’t see it from the room, we saw the signs in the vermilion-streaked sky. By night, we’d flood the flat with muted golden lighting and let the smart TV soothe us with music from YouTube.
Meal Times
Don’t play hide and seek with Belgian waffles.
We’d pick an apartment hotel over a regular one any day simply because you save so much money cooking your own breakfasts and other meals, if you will. Not to mention that tucking into waffles and coffee in the comfort of your own room is super convenient and relaxing.
So yes, we had our meals in our PJs and the kitchenette had everything we needed: pans, pots, cutlery, a whisk, cutting board, knives, kettle, and Nespresso machine. There was even oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic, and honey. We are guilty of dolloping generous amounts of said honey on our waffles.
Fun Times at The Hide, Ghent
Hotels are boring. B&B’s are cute. The Hide is neither.
We loved reading the mischievous messages left to us at various points in the apartment block. It was as though The Hide was talking to us, and we were convinced that it was a living creature, full of warmth and curiosity.
Petting the stuffed alpaca, posing with the framed cat at the entrance, and scribbling a message for The Hide on a glass wall in the Living Room are some of our favourite memories of the place.
Ghent local Barbara Symons opened the doors of her brainchild, The Hide, in January 2019. Her hope: “The Hide wants to be a base for local artists, craftsmen and entrepreneurs. And a meeting place for locals and nomads. We want to create our own society of seekers.”
Book & Go!
We’re very happy to see you here.
Probably the best part about staying at The Hide was the lack of human interface – no showing ID or waiting to check in. For introverts, the place is a dream come true! At the same time, Barbara is always reachable by telephone if you need anything.
Book your stay at The Hide with the best possible rate here. But do note that it’s still a work in progress so you might encounter a few rough edges. Nevertheless, that only adds to this unique getaway’s charm. And check back regularly because big things such as a garden and exciting events are in store!
