Vacation Rentals by Owner

Absolutely perfect!

Guest: Jaci (Palm Desert, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/06/12 Review Submitted: 05/25/12

This house is amazing! We wish all of the VRBO's we've stayed in had been this nice. Marie Christine and Frances do a fantastic job of thinking of everything. The house book is so complete with valuable information and it was so helpful. The furnishings are very tasteful and oh, so comfortable. The location is great; it's just a few blocks from all the hubbub of the city and is very quiet. We tried to get into Tom's Diner (a few steps from the house) but could not, maybe next time. We tried the fries with mayo (delicious) and the waffles with ice cream and whipped cream. We were in Europe on a 3 week, 4 city tour and Bruges was our favorite city.....just the right size with plenty to see and do, and a plethora of great restaurants! Thank you for a very special time in your beautiful home!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Perfect House for a Perfect Vacation

Guest: Dana M. (Lakewood, California)
Date of Stay: 03/25/12 Review Submitted: 04/15/12

We stayed in De Hoedenmaker for 2 glorious weeks! The house is located just a bit away from the market square so you can escape the hustle and bustle of the crowds. We were just 2 in the house but it would be perfect for a small family or 2 couples. Francis and Marie Christine could not have been kinder. When I booked a rental car and realized it was across town, Marie Christine took us to pick up the car. They were available for any help we needed and cheerfully let us drop our luggage off early when we arrived before check in time. Brugge also cooperated with beautiful sunny weather for our time there. De Hoedenmaker helped make out Belgium vacation perfect.

Recommended for:

A Perfect Vacation in a Perfect House

Guest: Dana M. (Lakewood, California)
Date of Stay: 03/25/12 Review Submitted: 04/15/12

We stayed in De Hoedenmaker for 2 glorious weeks! The house is located just a bit away from the market square so you can escape the hustle and bustle of the crowds. We were just 2 in the house but it would be perfect for a small family or 2 couples. Francis and Marie Christine could not have been kinder. When I booked a rental car and realized it was across town, Marie Christine took us to pick up the car. They were available for any help we needed and cheerfully let us drop our luggage off early when we arrived before check in time. Brugge also cooperated with beautiful sunny weather for our time there. De Hoedenmaker helped make out Belgium vacation perfect.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Super!!!!

Guest: sandrine f.
Date of Stay: 03/02/12 Review Submitted: 03/23/12

Nous sommes tres heureux d'avoir choisi cette maison pour notre weekend a Bruges. L'accueil etait parfait. Francis nous a explique pas mal de chose a notre arrivee et un guide est aussi a disposition. La maison en elle-meme est magnifique et tout etait tres bien. J'ai adore le lit pour notre bebe qui avait ete prepare de maniere parfaite avec nounours, couette bebe et serviette decore pour bebe. La rue est tres calme et vraiment pas loin du centre, 15min a pied. C'est ideal! Je tiens donc a vous dire de ne pas hesiter a louer avec Francis. Tout se passera a merveille et nous avons adore Bruges.

Recommended for:

Perfect huis voor een verblijf in Brugge.

Guest: cees en gerry
Date of Stay: 12/09/11 Review Submitted: 01/03/12

Wij hebben het reuze naar ons zin gehad in de Hoedenmaker. Er valt op het huis niets aan te merken. Alles is keurig verzorgd en schoon en alles is aanwezig, er ontbreekt werkelijk niets. We werden leuk ontvangen door Marie-christine, die het huis gezellig in kerstsfeer gebracht had compleet met klein kerstboompje. Zij nam ruim de tijd om alles te vertellen en uit te leggen over het huis en over wat er te doen is in Brugge. Handig is de map met informatie, waarin je het nog eens terug kunt lezen. Wij zullen deze woning zeker aanbevelen aan familie en vrienden. Er is een heel goed restaurant 20 meter verderop (Tom's Diner), handig als je laat aankomt. Verder kun je ook goed eten in de Vlaamsche Pot. Vanwege de kerstmarkt was het gezellig druk, maar dat is het waarschijnlijk het hele jaar zo. Het was een fantastisch weekend. Cees en Gerry van den Berg, Nederland

Recommended for:

A Fabulous Find

Guest: funinsun (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 11/19/11 Review Submitted: 12/14/11

My family, (two adults, our children age 5 & 3, and grandmother) stayed in this wonderful house for 10 days in November 2011. We couldn't have been happier and the owners could not have been more helpful. The house is in a perfect location. Close enough to all the sites but just out of the hustle and bustle to be quiet and relaxing. The house had everything we needed. The kids loved their loft bedroom. The kitchen is small but expertly designed. The beds were comfortable. The heating was great as it could be individually controlled in each room. The little courtyard is a delight. There was plenty of hot water for showers. The house was a perfect size with good sized rooms even for our party of 5. My only request at all would be to ask the owners to include more restaurant recommendations featuring local cuisine and to include a power converter for US plugs. We would absolutely stay there again and recommend it to everyone. Final note: the tour books say you can "do" Brugge in a day or two. This city is beyond beautiful and it requires a lot more time than that to soak up it's charm. Thank you to De Hoedenmaker for making out trip so fabulous!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Our week in Bruges

Guest: Cheeseheads (Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 11/03/11 Review Submitted: 11/21/11

De Hoedenmaker was the perfect place to stay in Bruges. It was only a five minute walk to the Markt, but yet in a quiet neighborhood. The house was exactly as the pictures on the web site. We had plenty of room and the kitchen was well equiped. Francis even found an English speaking doctor for me to see when we arrived as I was a bit under the weather. I would definitely recommend this property.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Happy and Content Uk Visitors - October 2011

Guest: Sybilla (Hastings, UK)
Date of Stay: 10/23/11 Review Submitted: 11/22/11

De Hoedenmaker is indeed a most charming property! It is extremely well equipped, very cosy and in a quiet location. After our journey from the UK is was great to be met by such a hospitable host in Marie-Christine and the welcome chocolates and beers were much appreciated. We would not hesitate to recommend De Hoedenmaker to our friends and family.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful rental experience.

Guest: ABK (Buffalo, NY USA)
Date of Stay: 08/27/11 Review Submitted: 05/09/12

I'm quite late in writing this review but wanted to relay what a great experience my family had at De Hoedenmaker. First the location was great; far enough away from the center to have a quiet village feel but close enough to walk to the square in 5-10 minutes. Our party consisted of myself, my sister and our aunt. Marie Christine met us at check in and provided many helpful suggestions regarding activities, restaurants and directions. Although the house seems small from outside, there was more than enough room for the three of us. Be advised there are some steep stairs to navigate. I'd also like to mention how much my family and I enjoyed Brugge. There are so many things to see and do, I actually wish we could have stayed longer. It may seem a bit touristy at first but everyone we met was so charming and kind. If anyone out there is considering visiting Brugge, I would highly recommend renting bikes and venturing into the countryside, shopping for food at the bi-weekly market, eating dinner at Tom's Diner(just a few doors down!) and taking a canal cruise. And make sure to stay at De Hoedenmaker, you won't regret it!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Vacances en famille

Guest: Cantin D.
Date of Stay: 07/24/11 Review Submitted: 09/16/11

Nous avons séjourné avec nos 3 filles et nous avons adoré Bruges; et la maison y est pour quelque chose. L'accueil de Francis, la propreté, l'emplacement tout est parfait. On peut tout voir à pied et il y a ce qu'il faut tout près, épicerie, traiteurs pour se faire un bon souper en famille après une longue journée de visite. Je recommande sincèrement cette maison pour un séjour parfait à Bruges.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Gemütliches Ferienhaus

Guest: mueller
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 08/05/11

wir hatten 5 wunderschöne tage in brügge in diesem sehr gemütlichen und sauberen haus.der besitzer hat uns sehr freundlich empfangen und viele tips in und um brügge herum gegeben.danke für die leckeren pralinen und das frische bier zum empfang. das haus liegt sehr ruhig,mit einem gemütlichen innenhof, aber dennoch zentral, sodass man das zentrum schnell zu fuß erreichen kann. wir würden das haus auf jedenfall weiterempfehlen .es gibt zahlreiche restaurants und cafes in brügge und sehr viel zu besichtigen. besonders hervozuheben ist eine radtour am dammekanal an die nordsee. doch es gibt noch unzählige herrliche radtouren. in brügge kann man einige wochen verbringen, ohne dass es einem langweilig wird.das haus ist gut ausgestattet , so dass man sich wie zu hause fühlen kann.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Lovely Property

Guest: Ky. Wildcats (Arizona/Kentucky)
Date of Stay: 06/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/08/11

We (two couples over 65) stayed at De Hoedenmaker in early June 2011 and would highly recommend it to anyone. The owners met us right on time and provided us with all the information we would need for our visit, as well as some wonderful chocolates. The house and patio area are lovely and the laundry facilities greatly appreciated. The kitchen is very upgraded with everything we would need to have several meals there, but we did enjoy Tom's Diner. We would recommend renting bicycles for a ride to Damme and around the perimeter of Brugge on the bike path, and we had a great time touring the brewery.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great stay in Bruges

Guest: Erik (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/24/11 Review Submitted: 06/08/11

We recently stayed at De Hoedenmaker for a week and absolutely loved it. The street is so very quiet (we slept in until 10 most days which is really remarkable for us) but the house is also a very short walk from the center of town. All the necessities were at the house and we immediately felt right at home. Having Tom's Diner so close was also great. We actually ordered in late one night after the kids were in bed and they brought our food to the house (it is only about 50 feet away). We parked out car about 10 minutes away at night and the walk was actually very enjoyable. I loved walking the cobblestone streets and looking at the houses and seeing the history there. We would love to stay again on our next trip to Bruges and although we were there for nearly a week there is much more to see.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Place to Stay

Guest: uk_visitor (Oxford, UK)
Date of Stay: 05/13/11 Review Submitted: 07/10/11

I stayed here with y wife and parents for a short break in Spring. Couldn't have asked for a better place to stay or better hosts. Francis was extremely helpful, evening driving us to the train station at the end of the stay. Would definitely stay here again.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Charming

Guest: george (Raleigh, NC)
Date of Stay: 05/06/11 Review Submitted: 07/09/11

What a charming house! What wonderful hosts! The house is beautifully decorated in a lovely, convenient, and quiet location. No need for a car once you are here, everything is in easy walking distance, and what a wonderful area to walk. One of the best places we have rented in our travels. Thanks for the wonderful memories. Paul, Miriam, and Rob

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Lovely Place In Brugge

Guest: Lerner (United States)
Date of Stay: 04/11/11 Review Submitted: 04/18/11

We had a wonderful stay in "Little Hat Maker's Street" in April 11. The house was perfect, and just the right size for our family of five. Our middle son especially enjoyed his bed up in the loft. The house had everything we needed, especially the well appointed kitchen. Since there is a grocery store just down the street we were able to eat breakfast and dinner at the house most days, and just eat out for lunch. The location is nice and quiet, but only about 10 minutes from the market square. Brugge is also within an hour of many other nice towns in Belgium. We went to the Ypres (Ipres) WWI Battlefield in Flanders, which was a very interesting and historic tour. I would highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys military history. Parking is about a 10 minute walk, if you don't want to pay, but that was a small burden given all of the wonderful aspects of this place. The apartment was as listed, very reasonably prices for Europe (given what you are getting) with no surprises. It was clean, up to date in furnishings, and well maintained. Francis Micholt was a wonderful property manager, on time, courteous, and very helpful. We highly recommend it and will certainly stay here again if we return to this part of Belgium

Recommended for:Families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The "Sunset Maidens" Loved EVERYTHING About De Hoedenmaker

Guest: Priscilla A. (Allen, TX / USA)
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 04/12/11

Four Sunset Maidens from America, of rare and vintage years Came to Bruges for the springtime, for the culture, and the beers. We walked this ancient city, met Swedish boys who sang the blues, Ate chocolate that tasted like poetry, and omelets that tasted like shoes! We will never forget you, Brugge, though our days flow on like tears We will NEVER forget de Hoedenmaker! Did I mention, we liked the beers? An absolutely perfect house in an absolutely perfect city. Tom's Diner was not only convenient, but excellent food and lovely ambience. And there is a friendly pub just a few doors further down where we enjoyed live music and great conversation. Francis and Marie Christine are wonderful hosts, and this house is even better than expected. We highly recommend De Hoedenmaker!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

What a Treasure!

Guest: Laura (Asheville, NC, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 04/12/11

I loved our three night stay at the Hoedenmaker! We found the property to be exactly as listed, with accurate photos and impeccable maintenance. The owners, Marie-Christian and Francis, were helpful and hospitable, in the extreme. We arrived late on the first evening, but found that there is an excellent restaurant, just a block away. Marie-Christian had already stocked the kitchen with coffee, sugar, cream and a few beers. The property is about a four block walk to a grocery store and perhaps1/2 to 3/4 mile from the main square of town. A walk in Bruges is delightful, with each turn a newly interesting view. It's a clean and quiet town, except right at the main square and immediately surrounding the tourist sights. I intend to return for a much longer stay, as soon as I can. Many thanks to Marie-Christian and Francis Michot, our delightful hostess and host.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful stay in a lovely home

Guest: odie1 (Connecticut, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/23/11 Review Submitted: 04/04/11

Let me begin by saying the pictures do not do this lovely home justice. We were absolutely thrilled upon entering this charming home. My husband, myself, our daughter (8), our niece (14) and for two nights our nephew (20) stayed here for a total of four nights the end of March. This house was absolutely perfect. It was spotlessly clean and not lacking anything we needed (except a night light or two). The owner met us on arrival and showed us around. She had two house books there which included activities, sites, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. She reviewed these with us. She also went over where everything was located and how to operate all of the appliances. The living room was cozy with enough seating for five. They have an excellent assortment of local, travel books, some DVDs and there is free wifi. The bedrooms and beds were very comfortable. The bedroom with the queen bed (blue) was quite larger than the other bedroom so it had more space for luggage. It does however, have the staircase to the loft located in it. This did not bother us at all, just an FYI. The bathroom was spacious and the towels plenty. There was a hair dryer and extra shampoo/ body wash as well. The only thing I would have liked was a little more counter space for our toiletrie bags. There was individual heat for each room which kept the house toasty on a chilly evening. The owners could not have been nicer when I failed to have the rest of the payment (required upon check-in in cash). I had missed that part in the contract and was so embarassed by it but Francis insisted on us getting it to him whenever we could. I also locked us out of the house at one point and luckily I had their number in our phone and was able to call to which they responded immediately. There was a wonderful restaurant, Tom's Diner, all of 37 steps away. The neighborhood is very quiet and the home is a lovely 10 minute walk to Markt. The grocery store is 5 minutes away and has everything you could need. All in all a fantastic stay. We would return without a doubt and highly recommend it to anybody.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

De Hoedenmaker

Guest: Allan and Valerie (Nottingham, England)
Date of Stay: 12/13/10 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

Our 5th time in this house, that shows how much we rate it. Weather was very cold but the house is very cosy. This is the first time though under the new owners and the updates they have done make the house even better. The kitchen is well kitted out but there is no oven. The warm welcome we got was also appreciated, as was the cold beer and chocolate! House is on the quiet side of town, but easy walking distance to the centre. The only problem is parking, as the best option is on the opposite side of town at the station, but a bargain at €2.5 for 24 hours.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, sightseeing.

Brugge Rental Review

Guest: Steve (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 10/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/03/11

This home was well located to all the attractions of Brugge but also in a quiet neighborhood. The house was in excellent condition and newly renovated. The owners took great efforts to provide extra touches like a handbook for Brugge restaurants, tourist information, taxi services, etc. and also provided numerous guide books. I would definitely recommend this rental.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Beyond Words

Guest: Michelle & Bill (Parker, CO, USA)
Date of Stay: 10/15/10 Review Submitted: 10/28/10

We enjoyed our stay at De Hoedenmaker immensely!! This adorable Flemish home was "home away from home" for my husband and I and our two teenagers. We enjoyed dinner at Tom's and Belgium beer at the pub just steps away. Francis and Marie Christine were amazingly supportive when our vacation was at risk due to the strikes in Europe. They took time out of their evening to assist us with changing our reservations as we had no computer with us and had difficulty communicating over the phone. They were wonderful hosts! Brugge is a truly charming and relaxing city. We are looking forward to the day we can return to De Hoedenmaker.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Very nice, serene place to tour Bruges from.

Guest: Greg (Wichita, KS, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/20/10 Review Submitted: 11/04/10

Our hosts were very accomodating, above and beyond our expectations. The house was clean, spacious, and unlike the hotels we're familiar with, perfectly quiet. It was very refreshing hearing nothing most of the night. By far the best of the 3 places we stayed on this trip. Great town to spend a holiday. Hope to re-visit, will stay longer next time, preferably here again. Loved De Bier Tempel and Dumon chocolates. Advice - Bruges' historic area can confuse a Garmin Nuvi GPS. Best to study a map thoroughly before you attempt to drive it. Better yet, park at the rail station and take the bus to Markt square.

Recommended for:

Highly recommended, clean and charming

Guest: Greg (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/23/10 Review Submitted: 09/13/10

We enjoyed an excellent stay at this tastefully renovated and decorated gem. The property was perfectly maintained and well equipped. The owners were extremely courteous and helpful, but unimposing. A very reasonable walk through the wonderful streets of Bruges takes you to the city centre. We would highly recommend this property to friends or family.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

We want to live here ...

Guest: DKNS (Hertfordshire, England)
Date of Stay: 08/16/10 Review Submitted: 08/27/10

Ssh! I don't want to tell everyone about this wonderful place or it will be so booked up we will never find a spare slot ... This was our second visit and we love it. It is comfortable and clean, beautifully decorated and in a perfect location as it's quiet and yet central. Every detail is covered - we travel by car and can bring a lot of stuff yet you could equally turn up off a plane and find everything you need here to enjoy self-catering. The owners are lovely and helpful - sorry, can't find a thing to say against it! But don't all book at once - we want to go back ...

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect home base for seeing Bruges!

Guest: John (Rochester, Minnesota, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/10/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

Our family of four stayed in De Hoedenmaker for three nights in August 2010, and this lovely house was an ideal home base for our visit to Bruges. The house is immaculately clean, safe and quiet - every bit as nice as described. The master bedroom was perfect for my wife and me (with a very comfortable bed), and our two teenage daughters loved the second bedroom. My own favorite part of the house was the small, private patio - perfect for enjoying a Brugse Zot (the very good local beer) in the evening. It was also very helpful to have laundry facilities. The neighborhood is peaceful, and a short (and safe) walk to the city center and other areas of Bruges. A grocery store is just a few minutes' walk, so it was easy to stock up on food to eat in the well-stocked kitchen. Francis was a wonderful host who was waiting for us at the appointed time, and carefully explained everything we needed to know about the house and the city. He and his wife had compiled a helpful guide to the town, with tips on the best places to rent bikes, good restaurants, and such. (Note: Definitely try Tom's Diner for dinner - great food, and only a 30-second walk from the front door!) Overall - De Hoedenmaker helped to make our stay in Bruges on of the highlights of our four-city European vacation. We hope to return soon - we will certainly stay in De Hoedenmaker - and we will stay longer than just three nights next time!

Recommended for:

Bruges

Guest: Peter (San Diego, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 07/20/10 Review Submitted: 07/08/11

We truly enjoyed our stay at the "Hoedenmaker". It was clean, quiet and comfortable. The location is walking distance from all there is to see in Bruges. We were made to feel very welcome. We were five and it offered a great allternative to hotels with all the ammenities. I recommend the Hoedenmaker.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children.

Wonderfully charming house

Guest: Jana (Columbia SC USA)
Date of Stay: 06/27/10 Review Submitted: 08/27/10

My family and I stayed in De Hoedenmaker the end of June 2010. We had a wonderful time. The house is even more charming then the pictures show. The house is very clean, well organized, and beautifully maintained. The location is excellent. We were able to walk every where in Brugge. Francis was great help. He gave us a map that made finding all the points of interest much easier. He also gave us advice on the grocery store and mobile telephone use. The house has a wonderful kitchen. I highly recommend making a trip to the grocery store and cooking instead of eating out. The food at the store Francis directed us to was very fresh local fare. On Wednesday morning there is a very large farmers market in the square. Beautiful fresh fruit, cheeses, fish, baked goods all for sale. I highly recommend visiting the Belfort, the Church of Our Lady ( houses Michelangelo's Madonna), Basilica of the Holy Blood, the Groeninge Musem, Zot Brewery, and walking the canals. The city is beautiful and so very interesting. I would heartily recommend De Hodenmaker!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Brugge House

Guest: Brugge Review (Covina, California)
Date of Stay: 06/11/10 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

De Hoedenmaker was by far the best place we stayed on our European vacation. It is lovely inside and very central, yet at the same time very quiet. The owners were very welcoming and everything you could possibly need is at the house. We give it the highest possible recommendation. We rented bikes and explored the beautiful countryside nearby.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Very Nice, Convenient and Clean Apartment

Guest: cander38 (Atlanta, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/02/10 Review Submitted: 06/14/10

I stayed at "De Hoedenmaker" with my wife and a few friends at the beginning of June 2010. The home was very nice with a good "old Brugge" feel, yet with all modern conveniences. There was plenty of room in the home. The neighborhood was nice and quite, no noise to keep you up at night, nor to wake you in the morning. Only a 10 minute walk to the city center and 10 minutes to the supermarket. Brugge was a beautiful town! We would go back anytime and stay at "De Hoedenmaker" again!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect Spot

Guest: Travelers from USA (Sacramento, California)
Date of Stay: 05/10/10 Review Submitted: 05/15/10

Four of us stayed at the De Hoedenmaker on May 10 thru May 13, 2010 (3 nites). Although hard to find without a GPS unit, we eventually made it to the doorstep and were greeted by Francis, the owner. Once the door was opened we immediately knew that we had picked the right spot to stay in Brugge. The place was exactly as described plus more! It is clean and beautifully decorated. The flat had been recently upgraded and it was done superbly. The De Hoedenmaker was within easy walk to the center of Brugge and to the market. Tom's Diner is a great place to eat and is literally steps from the front door. We highly recommend staying here. The four of us felt very much at home and wished we would have stayed here longer.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

We would gladly move in permanently!

Guest: Mary and Bruce (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/27/10 Review Submitted: 05/01/10

We fell in love with the charming, beautifully-restored, immaculately clean De Hoedenmaker rental house in Brugge. It was comfortable, convenient and quiet, five minutes walk from the Burg. The Micholts (the owners) provided a warm welcome and much useful information. The house had been newly remodeled and all fixtures and furnishings were first-rate. The kitchen was well-stocked for those who would like to cook. We appreciated having a full-size washer and separate dryer. Renters should be aware that the bedrooms and main bathroom are upstairs and stair-climbing is necessary. Although we used only the master bedroom, the other bedrooms were very homey and well-decorated. The neighborhood is off the tourist track but has an excellent restaurant, Tom's Diner, a few steps away; there is also a small pub - 't Opkikkertje - full of friendly locals (and the occasional tourist) around the corner. The apartment has no internet access but there is a hostel nearby with free Wifi in the bar/reception area. There is a small well-stocked grocery store a few minutes to the east on a canal. We stayed for a week in early spring, so some flowers were in bloom in the small, beautful enclosed courtyard at the rear of the house, off the kitchen. There is a skylight in the kitchen which let much light in even on rainy days and we loved the peaceful sound of the rain on the glass. The house was a convenient base for exploration of Flanders; a visit, a few minutes to the north, to the village of Damme gave us an idea of what life in Flanders was like a few generations ago. We look forward to our next visit to De Hoedenmaker, and recommend it to anyone who wants to experience Brugges more as a "temporary native" than as a tourist.

Owner response:It is a boost for us to receive future guests on the same way. Many thanks for the great review.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A welcome respite during our Western Europe Blitz Tour...

Guest: Rebecca (Columbus, OH)
Date of Stay: 09/11/09 Review Submitted: 08/15/10

I'm not sure what happened to my original review - it doesn't appear to have posted, and I did love this house and wanted to make sure my 5 stars were recorded! My husband and I promised my nephew a trip to Europe should he graduate high school - we were desperate for him to get some direction and focus. Well, he did graduate, and we travelled September 2009 for a 3 week trip. Brugge fell in the middle of our trip. We were already exhausted and sick of each other since we'd shared several hotels over the previous 10 days. Then we arrived in Brugge, and arrived at Den Hoedenmaker. This house saved us. We had three lovely days of quiet, space and sound sleep. Mr. Michoult met us at the house, provided maps and directions to the grocery stores, tips on the best chocolate at the best prices, how to use the laundry, and provided detailed house guides explaining all of this for later reference. He also left a cell phone behind for guest use. The house was large, clean, spacious and very attractively furnished. The beds were wonderful. I can't say it enough, the house was amazing - all this space in Brugge for mere pennies compared to a hotel! It was well located, an easy walk to groceries or public transportation and about 10 minutes max to the main square. It was everything as advertised, and I, a year later, remain grateful for this home for saving me from killing my teenage nephew and recharging for our last 10 days in Europe. Tom's Diner - we visit every time we are in Brugge and it remains wonderful. We also ate at what I think translates to "The Flemish Pot", (Der Vlaamse? - sorry, I can't remember!) and it was very good too, and thanks to the card we took to the restaurant, we were provided a discount and a free beverage. Little things like that matter when you've saved your money for over a year to take such a trip! I would love to return for an entire week and would return in a heartbeat should my travels take me close to Brugge again. Do yourself a favor - book yourself a couple extra days in this house - I don't think you'll regret it!

Owner response:Dear Rebecca and family, We are pleased to hear you had a wonderful time in Bruges. It is precisely our intention to offer each guest a wonderful relaxing holiday. Thanks for the wonderful review. It touched our hearts. We hope to welcome you and your family again in Bruges in the near future.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 01/31/09 Review Submitted: 01/30/09

We have just returned from a marvelous week in Brugge. Your home was so nicely located,very cozy, and with a well stocked kitchen,all of which made the trip indeed memorable. Your agent Mr Grande was very helpful. Your house book was full of all the information needed, and contributed to a very expansive sightseeing experience. You can be assured of our return visit one day and that we will recommend your home to friends contemplating a trip to Brugge.

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Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 04/10/08 Review Submitted: 04/09/08

Your home in Bruges was the highlight of our trip...We read through your well-organized binder and enjoyed learning the history of “De Hoedenmaker...We had a wonderful time...Willy was wonderful and extremely helpful – what a nice guy!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/03/08

What a wonderful place to stay for myself and my two thirteen year old boys. So safe and quiet, but with easy access to the entire city. I rented bicyles for the week and we had a blast at de Hodenmaker! Thanks, too, to Willie, who is an accomodating and wonderful local host.

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Guest: Margaret O.
Date of Stay: 09/17/07 Review Submitted: 09/16/07

The house was a lovely surprise, more like a home than a rental. I adored your furniture, pictures, and ornaments. Everything was immaculate.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/09/07

Wonderful home. Clean, well maintained, and interesting. Great location & near to all of Brugge. Local Staff (Willy) very helpful. Highly recommended.

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Guest: Pam M.
Date of Stay: 10/22/06 Review Submitted: 10/21/06

I just wanted you to know that we thoroughly enjoyed staying at your lovely vacation home. It is so charming and warm. You obviously have put lots of heart into this home. It was fun to sit in the living room and think of how many people over the centuries have sat there too. Willy was very helpful too and we appreciated his help with maps and finding places. Thank you again for sharing your home with us.

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Guest: David B.
Date of Stay: 10/22/06 Review Submitted: 10/21/06

Superb house, super city. Excellent, we all enjoyed our stay. Very nice and clean, the garden and roof terrace were very good features. The house is very handy for town.

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Guest: John M.
Date of Stay: 10/22/06 Review Submitted: 10/21/06

Had a wonderful stay. Very interesting house; very comfortable; good kitchen.

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Guest: Elizabeth G.
Date of Stay: 10/22/06 Review Submitted: 10/21/06

I just wanted to let you know that we had a delightful stay in Brugge and enjoyed your home very, very much. It was really a wonderful experience and one that I would highly recommend to others! Thanks again for all your help!

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