Gustav, Knokke
It’s been over a week since I last updated the blog, which I feel really bad about. I spent some time with the family back in Belgium, in my new adopted hometown of Knokke, a lovely seaside village. Knokke is a pretty unique place in Belgium; for one it is the only town in the country where shops are allowed to be open on a Sunday. There’s a great selection of high-end boutiques and is packed with art galleries. In summer, there’s a non-stop stream of events which makes this is THE place people flock to, to see and be seen.
Summer pop-up shops are nothing new around here, but Gustav is something else. When I first heard about the project, it made me a little sad. It is set in the old villa which used to be home to Gustave Siska, a legendary waffle house where I have spent countless afternoons as a child, playing in their garden and eating their iconic heart-shaped waffles. Unfortunately, it is no more; after summer it is to be demolished to make place for a new hotel.
But until that happens, Gustave Siska gets to have one last glorious summer, with a collective of creative people taking over the villa for 3 months. Although it was with a tinge of melancholy when I went to visit, I soon forgot. As you arrive, you are greeted by Aktion II, the amazing shop/installation by A.F. Vandevorst. In the former conservatory they’ve set up a makeshift hospital, with their clothes on the beds instead of sickies, and X-rays of people wearing their shoes. There’s cabinets with religious and medical paraphernalia, all in theme with the red cross A.F. Vandevorst uses as a logo.
Next door there’s the actual shop, which right now features the SS10 collection at discount prices, there’s a makeshift changing room behind a folding screen. My gorgeous friend Marie-Laure ended up buying a T-shirt dress and matching leggings. I bought some canvas bags for just €15 a piece, which are not only big enough to fit a few small children (if that’s what you like), but even the way they were wrapped was gorgeous. Fashion lovers, eat your heart out!
In the old kitchens next door, there’s an art space by young and edgy Hoet Bekaert Gallery. I stupidly forgot to take pictures in there, but check out their website here. On the other side, you’ll find Furniture Love, a Belgian vintage furniture shop. Their amazing timeless pieces fit this old space just perfectly.
Going up the crooked stairs, there’s a few more rooms, the first one being a shop for art-jewellery by Caroline Van Hoek Gallery. Here you’ll find some of the most unique art-slash-jewellery you’ve ever laid your eyes on. Cheap it definitely isn’t, but for jewellery lovers like myself, it’s a real feast for the eyes.
Next door you’ll find the eclectic world of Kavan Ronsey. A selection of artworks, jewellery, design items and even fashion, you don’t know where to begin looking upon entering the room, all of it is equally covetable.
Last but definitely not least, there’s the lovely café downstairs, Barista. The original is in Ghent, but now Knokke gets to enjoy their delights for a summer. Their sandwiches are delicious, the brownies make you forget about any kind of diet and the coffee is even better. For a special brunch, lunch or afternoon tea, they’re offering picnic baskets filled with their yummy delights, all depending on the time you’re having it (breakfast in the morning, etc). The luxury one boasts a bottle of cava and some warm food as well.
You can have the picnic or your coffee in the unkempt garden, which is filled with picnic tables as well as outdoor furniture by Belgian design company Extremis. Gustav may not be the waffle house I so fondly remember from my childhood, but it’s even better. If you’re in the neighbourhood, or fancy a truly original experience, I strongly suggest you pay a visit, and make sure you have a few hours to spare!
Gustav, Zoutelaan 229, Knokke
Open every day from 11am to 7pm. From September, opening is limited to Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
