- 23/5/2025

De Hoorn wants to bring even more people together in the city

2 min

Catalyst for urban renewal

The story of De Hoorn, in its new form, began in 2007 with an iconic building that had seen better days: the De Hoorn brewery on the Vaartkom in Leuven. The place where the legendary Stella Artois was once brewed still retains a rich history. But where others saw decline, seven young entrepreneurs saw potential. Their idea? Renovate the building and create a meeting place where creative ideas could flourish.

And so it happened: "In 2012, De Hoorn opened its doors with spaces for coworking and events, as well as a bar and restaurant," says Fien. "The seven founders didn't just want to set up a company to make a profit. They wanted to make a positive impact on society and create added value for the city. The Vaartkom was a neglected, run-down industrial zone, and the renewal of De Hoorn brought new life to it. It was a catalyst for Leuven's urban renewal project.”

Room to grow 

As the concept caught on, De Hoorn expanded in 2020. The area was more than doubled with additional offices, event rooms and lofts with stunning views of Leuven. To finance that expansion, the company sat around the table with relationship manager Jan Jacobs of BNP Paribas Fortis.

"We collaborated to find the best solution," explains Jan. "This resulted in a loan with a two-year capital deferral, giving the company the room it needed to implement its plans and make them profitable, without having to make heavy loan repayments immediately."

Jan adds, "Our cooperation goes beyond just finance. I've been following De Hoorn's story closely and have been actively involved in the expansion process. I regularly visited the construction site during the works, and now that the building is finished, you can often find me and my colleagues at De Hoorn for meetings or company events. It's a vibrant place full of energy and activity."

A proactive and trusted partner

"Jan and his colleagues are very engaged," confirms Fien. "We feel that they truly believe in our projects. They think ahead and consider how we can bring our ideas to life, even before we have a finished business plan. Because we have a relationship built on trust, we feel comfortable sharing our ideas with them as soon as we spot opportunities."

They're not just stopping at De Hoorn, either. In 2022, they acquired the legendary Manhattan disco studio, located further down the Vaart. The Zuidoever and other buildings are also being revitalised.

"We want to create even more vibrant meeting places in the city," Fien concludes. "This is more important than ever, especially in today's digital age where everyone is glued to their mobiles.”

“Because we have a relationship built on trust, we feel comfortable sharing our ideas with them as soon as we spot opportunities."
Fien Paepen, De Hoorn CEO