This romantic holiday home is a typical Flemish farmhouse dating back to 1805, with original wooden beams and plenty of character. The house has a cozy, authentic atmosphere, yet offers all modern comforts: central heating, a fully equipped kitchen, and updated sanitary facilities. With four bedrooms and two bathrooms, the house can host up to 8 guests. For families with babies or small children, it is more comfortable to stay with 6 adults rather than 8. The rooms are lovingly decorated with natural materials such as wood, clay plaster, and stone, combined with modern comfort, a touch of romance, and trendy accents—creating a warm and inviting setting. Please note: bedroom 2 also serves as a passage to the other rooms, so privacy there is limited. The heart of the house is the living area with its wood stove and the round dining table. The table may feel a little tight for 8, but its shape brings everyone together in one shared conversation, making meals both cozy and connecting. The kitchen is very well equipped for cooking together, with everything you need—including herbs and spices. Guests often say afterwards that they found every utensil they could think of. What makes this house unique is the pool table, which often sparks cheerful moments and even little tournaments. For the youngest guests, there is a doll’s house and a play corner with a small wooden stove, pots, pans, and baskets. Outside, you’ll find a private garden with a sunny terrace, barbecue, and relaxing garden chairs - something not so common in holiday rentals. There is also a storage space for bicycles. Whether you are reading under the trees, cooking together, enjoying a game of billiards, or relaxing around the wood stove, this house is all about connection and togetherness. It’s a charming retreat to enjoy in every season, and the perfect place to come home to after a day of exploring. The house is listed as cultural heritage in Flanders.

We are a Belgian couple in our early sixties, proud grandparents of one granddaughter and two grandsons. We started renting out this cottage back in 1996—almost 30 years ago! At that time we were true pioneers, spreading the word with brochures and leaflets. From the very first day, we loved welcoming guests into our romantic farmhouse, and we still do. This house has always been close to our hearts. It was originally the weekend and summer retreat of Sabine’s parents, who lived in Brussels. Her great-grandfather had been a reverend in this small Protestant village—an island of Protestantism in Catholic Flanders—and her grandmother lived in the same street until she was 13. Sabine’s family spent many joyful days here. Her father taught himself woodworking and iron forging as hobbies, while her mother tended a vegetable garden, learned spinning and weaving, and above all loved cooking big meals for the many friends who came to visit. Sabine and her brother joined the local youth club in the village, and it was there that she met Dirk. They married in 1990 and lived in the cottage for several years. In 1995, after her father passed away in the house next door, the young family—expecting their second child—moved there, and so the holiday home adventure began. Over the years, countless guests have enjoyed their stay here, and Sabine has always taken care of the house with great love and attention. It is also her greatest joy to decorate the terrace and windows with blooming flowerpots and baskets, giving the house its welcoming charm in every season.

The village is small but lively, with everything close at hand. There is an excellent organic shop with fresh vegetables, breads (sourdough and yeast, wheat and spelt), dairy products, and dry goods. Just 500 meters from the house you’ll find the local bookstore and newsagent (De Horebeekse Boekhandel), where you can enjoy a good coffee—or even a local beer. There are also two chip shops, “Fredje Friet” and “Den Trap Op,” a quality butcher, a pharmacy, and more. The cottage is located in a unique little Protestant village - one of the few in Catholic Flanders. It has a peaceful atmosphere and a beautiful cemetery with an ancient weeping beech tree. At the front of the cemetery stands the “New Church,” while at the back you will find the remains of the “Old Church.” During the Spanish Inquisition, Protestants were not allowed to build churches; later, they were permitted under strict conditions: no tower, a house-like appearance, and attached to another building. Open-air services, known as “hagepreken,” were once held here as well—hence the name of our holiday home, Den Haegepreeck. From the doorstep you can start a walk or bike ride into the rolling green hills of the Flemish Ardennes. The landscape is dotted with fields, forests, and charming villages, perfect for both short strolls and longer adventures. Many guests also come here to visit the historic Flemish cities—and even Lille across the French border—before returning to the cottage. After a day of sightseeing, it feels wonderful to relax in the garden and enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside. And of course, this region is world-famous for cycling: the legendary Tour of Flanders passes very close by. Each year, the atmosphere is electric as both professional riders and cycling fans take to the cobbled climbs and winding roads. For cycling enthusiasts, it is a dream to ride part of the course themselves; for everyone else, it is a joy to witness the excitement and energy this event brings to the area