Look inside. Koppel converts old station into a holiday home: « The outside walls have remained standing, the interior has been completely renovated » (Turnhout)

Tom Van Bavel and Leen Snels from Merksplas bought the building, which was a station until 1906, nine years ago. « Over the years it has had various functions, » explains Tom Van Bavel. “So there was even a wood factory here and it also served as a family home. When we bought it, there was a living area in the front and the rest of the building consisted of stables. We saw potentially because of the good location. The outside walls have remained standing, because it is a protected building. The interior is completely renovated and a new roof is a building on. Ground floor is a room for people in the renovation sector and I have done all the renovations.

On one of the walls we made a timeline over the Bels Lijntje. We think that history is important to highlight for those who come to stay here

Tom Van Bavel

Owner

The holiday home can be split into two separate stays. « The smallest part offers space for eight people and groups of up to sixteen people stay in the largest can stay, » says Leen Snels. « Each part has its own kitchen, sitting area and sanitary. Groups of up to 25 people can rent the holiday home as a whole. Tourism Turnhout wants to upgrade the Bels Lijntje even more and supports our plan. For walkers and cyclists this is an ideal base. For bike rental we have a collaboration with Spoorhuis, a little further along the Belslijntje.”

Test group

Tom does the technical aspect and Leen is the business force behind the holiday home. The first reservations have already been booked at the couple. « We first had a test group stay here, » says Leen. « It consisted of about twenty people and was very enthusiastic. They go on weekends every year and gave our feedback to improve a few small points. We have also received useful tips from Tourism Flanders to reach our target group. The border is nearby, so I expect that there will also be bookings from the Netherlands. »

The test group that stayed here was very enthusiastic

Leen Snels

Owner

The holiday home is named after the Bels Lijntje, the railway between Turnhout and the Dutch Tilburg that was inaugurated in 1867. The former railway line is now a busy cycle path. « On one of the walls we made a timeline over the Bels Lijntje, » says Tom. “We think that history is important to highlight for those who come to stay here. When the station is built, we do not know exactly. It says on the timeline that it was closed in 1906. On the outside you can still see that the windows used to have bows at the top, but they have ever been closed. Until now we have not found an old photo of the Stationsgebouw with the original winds here yet.”

www.vakantiewoning-elslijntje.be