In the heart of the historic center, Seppe Vandeweerdt (36) and his wife Tine opened the doors of Hostel Uppelink in 2012. Every year, around 15,000 unique visitors enjoy the most beautiful bedroom view in the city. In the building where King Philip II of Spain used to rub the sleep from his eyes every morning in the 16th century, they now serve hostel guests a Fairtrade breakfast. It’s no coincidence that this gem in Ghent has been voted the best hostel in Belgium five years in a row.
Seppe: “The world of fair trade really opened up for me when I met Tine. Her mom has been a dedicated volunteer at Oxfam for many years, so ecological awareness was ingrained in her upbringing.”
“Our hostel obviously needs to be commercially viable first and foremost, but we like to balance that by investing in the right cause. As a hostel, you can’t offer a fully fair trade breakfast, products like milk and bread have to come from nearby. Currently, about thirty to forty percent of our breakfast is influenced by fair trade.”
Seppe: “Many people appreciate our product choices and value that we support fair trade in this way. Especially Dutch guests often praise us for it. They are familiar with fair trade products and know exactly what they stand for. We also see this reflected in our online reviews. People who live an ecologically conscious life choose to stay here.”
“As we grow, we have more financial leeway to expand our fair trade offerings. Because this choice does require an investment. It’s three times more expensive than market alternatives, but the producer does get a fair price. Respect is central to our concept. The building is a cultural heritage site and requires a dignified approach. We consciously avoid being a party hostel; bachelor parties are turned away. More than once, they’ve wrecked the place and scared away our friendly guests.”
Seppe: “Step by step, we want to create more meaningful impact. That’s why we find it important to open our doors to great local initiatives. Regularly, groups of Amnesty International volunteers come here to write letters. Members of EVA and Natuurpunt also get discounts on overnight stays or kayak trips.
In addition, we collaborate with IVIO Binnenhof, and students from their cleaning training program gain practical experience working here. This way, our hostel can also offer opportunities to others.”
Seppe: “That awareness matters. First and foremost, I want to live life to the fullest, and I want to do that as consciously as possible. My wife was already a vegetarian, but I only followed after finishing the book Eating Animals.
Still, I look to the future with hope, because I believe in human inventiveness. In ten years, Uncle André, who insists on his traditional Sunday steak, will most likely be served a plant-based, 3D-printed version, and he probably won’t even notice the difference.”
Hostel Uppelink (Sint-Michielsplein 21, Ghent) is one of the ethical and sustainable spots in the city that you should definitely visit during Fair Trade Week.
Melissa works as a freelance journalist and loves writing about psychology, relationships, and sustainability. Her heart beats for bouquets from local flower growers, for finding hidden fashion gems in second-hand treasure troves and fair fashion shops, and for living more kindly and consciously in every aspect of life.
