About Zonnedauw
Our youth hostel is tucked away among the greenery of the Kempen and is a location filled with fun and possibilities. There are 5 hectares of woodland and fields for you to explore and let loose. The welcoming Kempen region also has a wealth of options for unforgettable days out.
Locations within 5km of Zonnedauw include:
- A theme park packed with roller coasters
- A train station
- A variety of nature and recreation areas
- Forests and fields
- A cycle high way, with pedestrian and cycling junctions
- The Kleine Nete river or the Herentals-Bocholt Canal
Jef is the main name you need to know at Youth Hostel Zonnedauw. This is because we have Jef De Saedeleir as the owner and Jef Vandecruys as the caretaker. With extensive backgrounds in youth work, as well as always being the first in line when it comes to having fun, both of them know better than anyone what it means to have a good time.
Youth Hostel Zonnedauw has been a home away from home for youth groups filled with freedom and joy for more than 62 years. This only works if there are a good set of rules to follow. This is why we keep a fair (and sometimes strict) watch over how our house rules are being followed. We are not generals or priests, just two approachable managers.
Our history
The story of Youth Hostel Zonnedauw starts in 1957 with the curate of Larum, E.H. Tavernier. He bought the 5 hectare estate and mansion with the intention of living there. In his spacious gardens he set up swings, a roundabout and a see-saw swing. Youth work and activities have taken place here on the site ever since. During the summer holidays, families from in and around Larum, Geel and Olen flocked to the site. While children enjoyed themselves in this playground paradise, parents could enjoy a drink at the bar next door. It became a vibrant and well-known location among locals.
The look of the site began to change and soon space was made for caravans. It looked as if Zonnedauw would become a campsite.
The look of the site began to change and soon space was made for caravans. It looked as if Zonnedauw would become a campsite.
Then all of a sudden the development stopped. E.H. Tavernier died unexpectedly in 1989. SIlence fell over Zonnedauw The gates were shut. After being closed for 7 years, the De Saedeleir family saw the site's potential. They bought the park, determined to bring back youth tourism to the Kempen. And they did exactly that...
Jef De Saedeleir and his wife Katrien are the second generation of the family to run the youth hostel. Both of them have backgrounds in youth work in Geel-Larum and know better than anyone how to give young people a great camp experience.
Why are we called Zonnedauw?
The site was named Zonnedauw by E.H. Tavernier himself. Zonnedauw (known as 'sundew' in English) is the name of a rare species of plant that eats insects. Tavernier found specimens of the plant growing in the grounds of the estate. If you try to look for it today however, you won't have much luck. Sundews can now be found growing undisturbed in nearby nature reserves.
