Alderman Peeters lays the foundation stone for a new student residence
27/03/2026
Ghent is making way for 67 rooms outside the traditional student district
Construction work has begun on the new student residence ‘De Kroon’ on Tolhuislaan in Ghent. This morning, Christophe Peeters, Alderman for Finance, Urban Planning, Heritage and Administrative Simplification, laid the symbolic foundation stone alongside Kristof Vanfleteren, CEO of property developer ION. The new student complex, featuring a spacious courtyard garden, helps to address the ongoing shortage of student accommodation in the city. The high demand is also evident from the sales figures: the 67 rooms were snapped up in record time. The first students will move in from the start of the 2027–2028 academic year.
Following the demolition of the former CEMSU local supermarket and the laying of the foundations, the actual construction work on the new student residence is now set to begin. This is expected to take around 1.5 years. Project developer ION is constructing a three-storey building with a so-called BEO field underground: a sustainable geothermal system that uses ground heat for heating and cooling. The roof slab will be poured this summer. The building will be wind and watertight by the end of this year. After that, the 67 student rooms and the communal cooking, shower and relaxation areas will take shape. The icing on the cake will be created behind the building: a large 760 m² garden with trees, plants, lawns and benches.
Over the coming months, we will be working step by step towards creating a high-quality, sustainable student accommodation complex that also blends in beautifully with the neighbourhood from an architectural perspective. We are proud to be able to play our part in creating a pleasant and eco-friendly environment where students can sleep, study and socialise. The garden will also bring a little more fresh air and tranquillity to the city centre. We are already looking forward to welcoming the first students here from September 2027.
Variety in student life
‘De Kroon’ marks the first time a new part of Ghent’s city centre has been repurposed for student accommodation. It is unlikely to be the last. The new campus of Artevelde University College at Dok Zuid – due to be completed by 2028 – will ensure a wider distribution of student life across the city in the coming years. The area around Tolhuislaan has everything it takes to develop into an attractive new student neighbourhood. Even before the first brick was laid, all 67 student rooms at ‘De Kroon’ had already been sold. The need for student accommodation therefore remains particularly high. Project developer ION is therefore working with the city to explore the possibilities of creating additional student accommodation at other locations.
Around half of the students need accommodation in our city, but there is a shortfall of around 10,000 student rooms. Every additional high-quality student room is therefore a significant step forward. Moreover, it is of great benefit to Ghent to spread students as widely as possible across the city. In this way, we not only enhance the quality of life but also the vibrancy of neighbourhoods outside the traditional student areas. Students bring life to the neighbourhood and provide local traders with additional opportunities. We are convinced that ‘De Kroon’ will also give the neighbourhood a positive boost in this regard.
