The Vibe: Grand, eclectic, personal.

The Area: The Verhaegen is situated in a residential area, just next to the “Quartier Latin” of Ghent. The surroundings of the LUCA Art school and the numerous antique and specialty shops, give a special flair to this part of town.

The DNA: When Jan Rosseel and Marc Vergauwe met in design school, they could never have guessed that decades later they’d become the owners of a derelict 18th-century mansion. But in 2004, that’s exactly what happened; the interior designers bought a palatial townhouse in central Ghent, in need of complete restoration. 18 months later, the stunning result was The Verhaegen, a private mansion turned maison d’hôtes, and an evolution in Dutch and French design. The owners design shop is located in the hotel. Downstairs is the magnificent Grand Salon, which overlooks the French-style garden with an ornamental pond, box hedges and potted lemon trees. Inside, the salon walls are lined with 250-year-old Rococo murals by the Flemish painter Pierre Norbert van Reysschoot, and great care has been taken to preserve original features such as marble fireplaces and herringbone-wood floors.

Suite-Me-Up: There are 5 spacious (the smallest room measuring 50m2) guest rooms, all with ensuite bathrooms. Each rooms is individually designed with a unique fusion of antiques and modernist touches. Features include high-ceilings, fireplaces, antique screens, plush carpets and vintage-style wallpapers. Crystal chandeliers hang from the ceilings, sumptuous fabrics furnish the beds, and quirky finds are displayed in hidden corners.

Your hosts: Jan Rosseel & Marc Vergauwe

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 5 rooms & suites (25-70m2) (269-753 sq ft) • hotel opened: 2005 • bathroom amenities: Floris • private parking possible at a location nearby (charged) • pets not allowed • Friday and Saturday minimum 2-nights stay