Jeugdherberg De Draecke

I only stayed one night, and it was perfect for me. The location is close to everything, and my reservation included a buffet breakfast with a good variety of food. Great hostel!

I booked a 6-bed female dorm for four nights in mid-August, and the other guests I met each night were kind and respectful. The common room was welcoming, with lockers, board games, and tour guides, and the dorm had decent-sized lockers, hangers, and duvets. I also found the common-area fridge useful for keeping my own food, and breakfast was included, which was a great bonus. There were a few things that could be improved. The fridge had a strong smell, and there was no bin in the bathroom. Since the toilet and bathroom are separate and the only bin was in the toilet, throwing things away was inconvenient. Bins in the room and bathroom would help. There is no air conditioning in the dorms. Mid-August weather was pleasantly cool, but the room got warm with the windows shut, and in peak summer that could be uncomfortable. Leaving them open means dealing with mosquitoes. The location is excellent, right in front of a beautiful canal with trees and benches, though it can get noisy at night, so earplugs are a good idea. I had a good stay at Hostel De Draecke and would recommend it to other travelers. :)

I expected a youth hostel, but the place felt more like a kindergarten. Large groups of children were staying there, apparently on organized school trips. They ran and shouted all day, and at times the corridors were so full of kids having reading time that it was hard to get to my room. With children shouting, running, and crying right next door, relaxing was impossible.

The rooms were comfortable, and the staff were welcoming and accommodating, meeting all my needs. I had a fun stay at this excellent hostel. The rooms can get quite hot in summer, though, so installing some air conditioning would be a good idea.