Hi Flanders

What Hi Flanders does

Hi Flanders (legally Vlaamse Jeugdherbergen vzw, formerly VJH) is a Belgian non-profit association that operates a network of 19 hostels across Flanders, Brussels, and Sankt Vith, providing affordable accommodation to budget-conscious travelers, school groups, families, cyclists, and associations. Founded in 1924 and rebranded to Hi Flanders in mid-2024 (dropping the 'youth' designation to broaden appeal), the organization directly manages 16 hostels and supports 3 affiliated properties across all five Flemish provinces plus Liège. It is a co-founder of Hostelling International, the world's largest hostel network, which provides international traveler access and reciprocal discounts. The portfolio is geographically diversified across city, coastal, and nature locations, with three Flemish coast hostels (Ostend, Oostduinkerke, De Haan) and bed capacities ranging from 20 to 125 per property.

The business model is anchored in overnight accommodation bookings under a mandatory membership structure (annual or daily, with the daily fee bundled into the overnight rate). Premium memberships add international Hostelling International discounts, 10% bar discounts at most hostels, and partner discounts on museums, transport, and tours. Direct-to-consumer distribution runs through a website booking platform (www.hiflanders.be) with payments via Ingenico Group (3D-secure, SSL-encrypted) using Bancontact/Mister Cash or Visa/MasterCard, supplemented by phone/email booking and dedicated enterprise channels: a schools booking portal (schoolklassen.be) and a group reservations department. Ancillary revenue includes breakfast (often included), bar/restaurant sales, bike rentals at select hostels, and association/school group bookings. Ten of 19 hostels hold Green Key ecolabel certification, with a stated goal of certifying all hostels by 2030.

The technology stack is standard hospitality infrastructure: Google Analytics for web analytics, social-media sharing cookies across Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and a proprietary booking/property management system. Marketing is multi-channel, combining content marketing (blog, Experiences platform), email newsletters, SEO, regional tourism partnerships (Westtoer, Tourism Flanders), and Hostelling International network referrals. The customer base is diversified across multiple segments handled through distinct channels: school groups (enterprise via schoolklassen.be), individual travelers and backpackers (long-tail consumer), families, cycling tourists (with bike storage for up to 100 bikes and e-bike charging at select locations), associations, and people with disabilities (hostels certified by Tourism Flanders, including Hostel H at accessibility level A+). The organization also serves as a sector support point for the broader Flemish hostel ecosystem, providing training via Horeca Vorming Vlaanderen.

Name

Hi Flanders

Legal name

Vlaamse Jeugdherbergen vzw

Website

https://hiflanders.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hi Flanders is a Belgian non-profit operating a 19-property hostel network across Flanders, Brussels, and Sankt Vith, providing affordable accommodation to school groups, families, individual travelers, cyclists, and associations via a membership-based direct-to-consumer model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hostel Accommodation

NAICS

All Other Traveler Accommodation (721199), Traveler Accommodation (7211)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Student & Youth Hostels (Youth Organization/HI-style) (THAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Traditional Dormitory Hostels (THAGAGAA), Traditional Dormitory Hostels (THAMAIAA)

Keywords

• Hostel accommodation
• Budget travel lodging
• Group hostel bookings
• School trip accommodation
• Hostelling international membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Antwerp

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Overnight accommodation bookings: Primary revenue from booking beds and rooms at 19 hostels across Flanders, Brussels, and Sankt Vith. Online bookings are confirmed upon payment via Bancontact/Mister Cash or credit card (Visa/MasterCard). Membership (annual or daily) is required to stay, with annual members receiving 10% discount on accommodation costs. Daily membership fee is included in the overnight stay price.
2. Premium membership program: Annual membership card provides discounts on bookings at Hi Flanders hostels, 10% discount on bar orders in most hostels, international discounts at Hostelling International locations, and discounts on museums, transport, tours, and activities. Membership card is valid for 12 months.
3. Food and beverage: Revenue from breakfast service (included in room rate at Hostel H), bar sales, and restaurant services for groups upon request. Premium members receive 10% discount on bar orders.
4. Additional services: Additional revenue streams include group restaurant bookings (on request), bike rentals at select hostels (e.g., Herdersbrug), and potentially other ancillary services at individual hostels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hi Flanders operates a network of 19 youth hostels across Flanders, Brussels, and Sankt Vith in Belgium, providing affordable overnight accommodation with shared amenities including free breakfast, free WiFi, bike storage, guest kitchens, and on-site bars/restaurants at select locations. The primary offering is budget-friendly hostel accommodation sold through a membership-based model (annual or daily membership required), targeting individual travelers, families, school groups, associations, and cyclists. Complementary offerings include a Premium membership program with discounts, dedicated school and group booking portals, and curated local experiences.

Product overview

Hi Flanders is a hostel network operated by Vlaamse Jeugdherbergen vzw (VJH), offering 19 youth hostels across Flanders, Brussels, and Sankt Vith in Belgium. The portfolio includes 16 directly managed hostels and 3 affiliated hostels. The core offering is budget-friendly overnight accommodation with amenities such as free breakfast, free WiFi, bike storage, restaurants, and guest kitchens, positioned for solo travelers, families, school groups, and associations. The product portfolio is anchored by the hostel network itself and extended through a Premium membership program (offering discounts and bar benefits), the Hi Flanders Experiences platform (curated local activities), a Schools Reservation Portal (dedicated school trip booking), Hostelling International membership (global hostel access), a Blog content platform, and a Green Key sustainability initiative (ecolabel certification targeting all hostels by 2030). The organization rebranded from VJH to Hi Flanders in mid-2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hi Flanders Hostel Network A network of 19 youth hostels across Flanders, Brussels, and Sankt Vith in Belgium, offering affordable overnight accommodation in city, coastal, and nature environments. Hostels provide free breakfast, free WiFi, bike storage, guest kitchens, and on-site bars/restaurants at select locations. The network includes 16 directly managed hostels and 3 affiliated hostels.
• Hi Flanders Premium Membership Annual premium membership tier valid for 12 months, providing 10% discount on accommodation at Hi Flanders hostels, 10% discount on bar orders in most hostels, international discounts at Hostelling International locations worldwide, and reduced rates on museums, transport, tours, and activities.
• Group Booking Services Specialized booking services for organized groups including schools, associations, families with children, and people with disabilities. Services include the option to book large groups or privatize entire hostels, tailored activity programs, and flexible booking terms with custom contracts.
• Hi Flanders Schools Reservation Portal A dedicated website portal for schools to easily reserve multi-day class trips, project weeks, or seaside classes for primary, secondary, higher, and special education. Schools can book hostels with or without pre-arranged activity programs, and a dedicated email ([email protected]) handles school-specific operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 hostels currently hold Green Key certification, with a goal to achieve certification for all 19 hostels by 2030
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hostelling InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHi Flanders (Vlaamse Jeugdherbergen vzw) is a founding member of Hostelling International, the world's largest hostel network. This membership provides international brand recognition, cross-border traveller flows, access to the global HI booking platform, and international discount benefits for Premium members. All HI hostels must meet certain quality, comfort, and safety standards.
• Green Key InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Key is the international ecolabel for sustainable tourism and leisure activities, active in 65 countries with over 3,200 certified locations. Ten Hi Flanders hostels currently hold the Green Key certification. The partnership drives Hi Flanders' sustainability positioning and environmental credentials.
• Tourism Flanders (Toerisme Vlaanderen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism Flanders is the Flemish tourism authority that provides the Accessibility Label to hostels. Several Hi Flanders hostels have received accessibility certifications from Tourism Flanders, and Hi Flanders serves as a recognized support point for hostels accredited by Tourism Flanders.
• WesttoerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWesttoer is the West Flanders tourism organization that runs the 'Happy Trip' promotion. This initiative makes travelling to West Flanders (coast and cities) more affordable and accessible, with Hi Flanders hostels serving as accommodation partners for the promotion.
• Les Auberges de Jeunesse (Wallonia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHi Flanders collaborates with Les Auberges de Jeunesse (the Walloon youth hostel organization) on initiatives like the 'Say Hi For Peace' charity campaign. The partnership extends charitable initiatives across the entire Belgian territory.
• Les Petits Riens - SpullenhulpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partnership for the 'Say Hi For Peace' campaign. Donation boxes are placed in Hi Flanders hostels across Belgium, and collected items are delivered to the nearest Spullenhulp location. The initiative supports people in need by collecting clothing and other items.
• Horeca Vorming VlaanderenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoreca Vorming Vlaanderen offers free training for hospitality workers. Hi Flanders offers this training to its employees and also opens certain training courses to employees of affiliated hostels outside the Hi Flanders network.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hiflanders

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hi Flanders