Our house dates from 1673; it is the tallest building in the street and shows that the people who lived there were important. It has a very long history, with a wide variety of occupants. A doctor, a bishop, a brewery owner, a lace industrialist, a former colonial master and others who once lived here. During World War I, the house was rumoured to have been occupied for 2 years by a commander of a German U-boat.

The building was given a complete makeover around 1912. We know this because newspapers from that era had been used everywhere under the plain wallpaper. Art Deco and Art Nouveau decorations were then added. What it looked like before 1912 remains in the dark. There are certainly still things to discover in the Bruges City Archives, but that is beyond the ability.

It is a warm house. Formerly a home for a few, it is now a - temporary - home for many.