The old Hotel 6, one of the former boarding houses dating from the heyday of the mining industry in Limburg, has been transformed into a B&B. The building had been empty for some time and the city of Beringen (Limburg) put it up for sale in 2022. For a while there was talk of housing a Koranic school there, but that met with protests from the neighbourhood. In the end, the building on the Eeuwfeestplein, right next to Beringen Casino, was sold to house a bed and breakfast.
The new owners have just received the approved accommodation label from the local tourism board Tourism Limburg. They have transformed the historic building into a modern B&B with a nod to its mining past.
‘In reference to the industrial past, we used a lot of iron like the staircase and the iron windows between the bedroom and the bathroom,’ explains Ann De Schutter of Guesthouse Just Be Mine.
‘In the rooms, we have hung old photos that refer to the rich mining past including the miners’ sports clubs, the mineworkers’ cathedral and their culinary heritage. In all the rooms there are chocolate colliers' lamps,’ Ann laughs.
From the simple to the luxurious
The building has been transformed from a simple boarding house to a luxury B&B. ‘When I look at the old photos, I see that there was not that much luxury here but it did radiate cosiness. Still, for that time, for a place like Flanders, money was invested to give the miners the necessary comfort.’
The number of overnight stays in Limburg has been rising for several years and there is also an upward trend in Beringen. That's why Visit Beringen is pleased with this new investment.
‘There is a huge need in Beringen for additional hotels and places to stay. There is great demand and we definitely need to expand our offerings,’ says Orenalle Schreurs, alderman for tourism.
The guesthouse has seven rooms, accommodating a total of up to 20 people. The opening of the B&B is scheduled for 1 May.