This week Geert Verbeke popped up two times on Flemisch television, with his amazing, nobody-knows art venue ‘The Verbeke Foundation‘. Don’t know what happens but the media finally discovered this out-of-the-ordinary out-en indoor fairyland for artists. It’s about time.
Strangely enough Geert Verbeke mentioned this fact to me, when we last visited the site in Kemzeke with my students Trendwatching
(Erasmus Brussels Campus Dansaert). We were there to evaluate the student’s first ‘coolhunt’. It was time our students got to know this ‘museum’ too.

We all ready visited The Verbeke Foundation for the first time years ago and fell in love straight away with this strange, nonconformist art collection, their avant-garde owners and their story.
Besides the fantastic, unconventional collection, the museum is in a non stop state of construction, as some artists work on their art piece for weeks, and stay over at the venue. In tents, in one of the many glasshouses, also stuffed with installations.

Huge fans as we are, we also stayed one night with our kids, in the Casanus by Studio Joep Van Lieshout. We are talking 2008, a beautiful summer night and the only guests apart from us were some resident artists who stayed the night in some tents.
Because it was such a great, but unusual night in this ‘Bed and Breakfast’, here are some pictures of our stay then. The Casanus is located in the middle of the 12 hectares(30 acres) outdoor part of the museum, on a tiny ‘island’ in a small lake, and can be reached walking over some wooden beams. One hotel room, surrounded by nature.

Unpacking our luggage, and try to find Joep’s ‘Anus’….

Maui still looking for our place to stay.

Found it, at the small lake.

Ivan standing next to the famous end of the human intestine

Maui and Ivan looking out of a window, inside of the Casanus. Love this picture!

Maui closing the door of the Casanus for the night.

Ivan still asleep.

Because the other sleeping accomodation (The camping flats) were not available because of wind conditions, we were offered to sleep in the Casanus, that just had an exceptional cancellation. We very happy, and so the kids stayed with us. Just that you know, this was an EXCEPTION, not a rule!!

Maui and me, brushing out teeth in the morning.

Breakfast in the morning, with the resident artists.

2008, yeah the kids were still so little…

My favorite art work, I visit the horses every time.

© All pictures by Kate Stockman and Ivan Missinne

If you are curious and love to see it for yourself, here you go. Remember: only pass this address to spirit-like people, who truly appreciate this kind of little treasures. Others better check in in a Radisson or Novotel.

http://www.verbekefoundation.com/joep-van-lieshout.html
A night in  CasAnus is about 120 euro for two, including breakfast.  


Reservation: info@verbekefoundation.com