Transformation of a National Monument into a Four-Star Hotel
Hotel de Zeevaartschool
Hotel De Zeevaartschool recently opened its doors — a four-star hotel with 70 rooms and a restaurant. Located right on the boulevard in Vlissingen, in the former maritime academy. Its opening was preceded by an extensive redevelopment and renovation process.
Turn-key realisatie
Bulsink was entrusted with the full construction project from A to Z.
Joost van Damme, owner and client, explained on the day of the opening that his choice deliberately fell on a general contractor with experience in the hospitality sector. “They’ve built many hotels. I wanted to benefit from that knowledge. The fact that they understand our industry was very important to me.”
Project manager Dennis Verachtert was responsible for executing the renovation on behalf of Bulsink.
“It’s a good thing we got involved, because there was plenty of work to be done,” he says with a touch of understatement, referring to the condition of the historic monument.
Watch the video for footage of the renovation, with commentary from owner Joost van Damme and project manager Dennis Verachtert.
Interior and exterior
complete renovation
Dennis outlines the scope of the work.
On the exterior: the complete renewal of the roof — including insulation and the installation of solar panels. Facade cleaning, replacement of window frames, repainting, and the installation of new casement windows.
And on the inside?
“We first stripped everything out,” says Dennis. “We removed walls and old systems. Then we installed new walls throughout, renewed all technical installations, placed ceilings, and replaced every floor. We also did all the interior painting and replaced every old room door with fire-resistant doors and frames.”
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Bulsink specializes in hospitality, and I’m a hotelier. It was bound to be a match — and it turned out to be just that.
- Joost van Damme, Owner Hotel de Zeevaartschool
Preserving character
What are hotelier Joost and project manager Dennis most proud of?
Joost says:
“That we managed to preserve the building’s character. The building had its own soul to begin with, and the atmosphere we’ve created only adds to it. Once you’ve been here, you won’t forget it.”
Dennis agrees:
“Definitely the end result. The building looks stunning, and the interior is absolutely beautiful. I’m genuinely proud of it.”
Joost reflects positively on the collaboration with Bulsink:
“Bulsink specializes in hospitality, and I’m a hotelier. It was bound to be a match — and it turned out to be just that.”
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