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The Hainaut Children's Home
During the second half of the 19th century, several homes and sanatoriums were built on our coast. This was in response to the effects of industrialisation and poor living conditions in the cities. After World War I, Bredene served as a suitable location for building several children's homes due to its less mundane character with undeveloped dunes and no constructed dike. In 1923, the non-profit organisation ‘Le Home des Enfants du Hainaut’ decided to build a home for 200 sick and needy children from the province of Hainaut. Under the high patronage of Queen Elisabeth, several architects drew up designs. In the end, the proposal by Brussels architect Jean Jules Eggerickx was chosen.
The Foundation Stone
In August 1926, the foundation stone was laid in the presence of Queen Elizabeth, who also had the patronage over the home. During the initial construction phase, the H-shaped main building, an administration building, a laundry and boiler room and the infirmary were erected. Between 1931 and 1937, a school building and additional sleeping facilities were added and the infirmary expanded. In the second half of the 20th century, the original school building was demolished and replaced by a new building with a different architecture. In the 1960s, the estate came into the hands of a monastic order, which renamed it ‘Home Elisabeth’ and used it as an orphanage until the mid-1980s. During this time, the building underwent no further changes.
Horizon non-profit
On 7 February 1986, Rudy Joseph and Frieda Decapmaker founded Horizon (NPO). They took over the estate to run it as a youth holiday centre. It was renamed ‘Horizon Domain’. The buildings were spruced up here and there, but did not undergo any major changes.
In 2001, Tom Buyse and Petra Wynant joined Horizon NPO and took over the management of Horizon Domain. Together they embarked on an ambitious project. They gave all the buildings their current names (Alk, Strandloper, Kokmeeuw, Zeekoet, Stern, Duinpieper). Between 2004 and 2013, the estate was thoroughly tackled by several renovations and even a reconstruction. Over the years, the large dormitories gave way to smaller rooms with their own sanitary facilities.
Horizon, The Modern Youth Holiday Centre
On 28 July 2008, Domain Horizon received recognition as a protected monument for its functional architecture and concrete structures. Later, on 24 September 2009, it was officially established as architectural heritage.
Renovation began in late 2018 with the Stern, restoring visible elements to the original design. Inside, it was modernised into a contemporary youth holiday centre. In the coming years, other buildings will be gradually renovated and ecological investments will take place to make Horizon ready for the next two decades.
