A 50-year-old office complex is making way for a brand-new student residence near Watersportbaan
01/07/2026
‘De Steiger’ can accommodate 103 students and is introducing ‘twin rooms’ for family and friends
The former industrial site on Rijsenbergstraat in Ghent will soon make way for a brand-new student residence with plenty of green space. From the 2029–2030 academic year, ‘De Steiger’ will be the new home for 103 students, close to the popular Watersportbaan. “As well as offering comfort and tranquillity, we’re also introducing a unique concept: ‘twin rooms’,” says project developer ION. “These consist of two separate rooms which share access to a single bathroom via a communal entrance hall. Ideal for siblings or friends who want to live together whilst still enjoying the privacy they need.”
The site at 148 Rijsenbergstraat has served as a hub for numerous businesses in the Ghent area since the 1970s. However, it has been clear for some years now that the building on the site no longer meets today’s standards for comfort and energy efficiency. Property developer ION took over the site some time ago and received the go-ahead from the City to build a modern student residence with a large courtyard garden there.
In this project, all the elements fit together perfectly. On the one hand, Ghent is facing a structural shortage of more than 10,000 student rooms; on the other hand, the city needs more green spaces in many areas. With ‘De Steiger’, we are addressing both these challenges. And we are doing so in a prime location for students: close to the Watersportbaan, a few minutes’ walk from Ghent-Sint-Pieters station, several campuses and just a few minutes’ cycle ride from the lively nightlife.
92 rooms and studios
In the spring of 2027, demolition work will begin on the commercial building on Rijsenbergstraat, which is over 50 years old. The site will then be prepared for geothermal energy facilities. Construction work can then begin in the spring. Specifically, a three-storey building totalling 4,160 square metres will be built, which, in addition to student accommodation, will also house a number of office spaces. ‘De Steiger’ will consist of two separate sections with a 425-square-metre courtyard garden in the middle where people can meet and relax.
We offer a total of 20 rooms with 9 shared bathrooms, 51 rooms with en-suite facilities, 17 studios with en-suite bathrooms and kitchenettes, and 4 so-called ‘twin rooms’. These consist of two separate rooms which share access to a single shared bathroom via a communal entrance hall. These rooms are particularly popular with students who like to have a brother, sister or close friend nearby, without compromising on privacy. Parents who will have several children at university in a few years’ time also see such a ‘twin room’ as an attractive investment.
Furthermore, ‘De Steiger’ – a nod, incidentally, to the nearby Watersportbaan – also has space for a caretaker’s flat, eight communal kitchens, a laundry room and a bicycle shed with space for 114 bicycles. Thanks to the fossil-free heating system, future students will also benefit from lower energy costs.
It’s a deliberate choice that gives the project additional advantages. The offices literally bring companies and students together under one roof. For students, this represents a unique opportunity: not only do they live close to their campus, but they’re also right next to potential employers. They can do an internship there, find a student job, or even take their first professional steps after graduation. This cross-pollination makes “De Steiger” more than “just” a student residence—it could even be a real springboard to a promising professional career.
Start of the 2029–2030 academic year
If all goes to plan, the first students will move into ‘De Steiger’ at the start of the 2029–2030 academic year. The rooms have recently been put up for sale, with a starting price of 154,500 euros (excluding costs). This is by no means ION’s first venture of this kind. Over the years, it has specialised as a developer of student accommodation throughout Belgium. Its portfolio ranges from entirely new-build projects, such as ‘Mint’ in Leuven, ‘De Kroon’ and ‘De Speurder’ in Ghent, and the 53-metre-high ‘The Sky’ in Kortrijk, to conversion projects such as ‘Meyboom’ and ‘La Rosée’ in Brussels.
