De Haan – Families of seriously ill children now have access to affordable vacation accommodations on the Belgian coast, thanks to a new initiative by the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund. The new holiday home at Center Parcs De Haan in West Flanders offers families a chance to unwind during challenging times — all for just 25 euros per night.
The vacation home, designed specifically for families with seriously ill children, features a private terrace, barbecue, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen, comfortably accommodating up to eight people. This new facility is the second of its kind in Belgium, following the success of the first Ronald McDonald vacation home in the Ardennes.
Among the first guests at the De Haan facility were 11-year-old Matisse and his mother, Els. Matisse, a kidney cancer survivor, found comfort in the coastal retreat after enduring an exhausting treatment journey.
“We received a huge number of requests for a stay in the cottage,” said Hilde Celeste De Jonghe of the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund. “Opening a second location was a logical step to give even more families the peace and quiet they deserve.”
“For many families, caring for a sick child consumes so much time and energy that there’s no space — financially or emotionally — for a vacation,” she added.
Els echoed that sentiment: “Traveling just wasn’t an option for us — not financially, and not practically. A nurse at Ghent University Hospital told us about this opportunity through the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund. Everything here is focused on the wellbeing of my son. After two difficult years, it’s amazing to finally relax.”
According to the Belgian health institute Sciensano, one in 500 children in Belgium suffers from a serious chronic or life-threatening illness, such as cancer, congenital disorders, or organ diseases. In Flanders alone, over 2,000 children are admitted each year for long-term treatment. Ghent University Hospital remains one of the largest paediatric care centres in the region.
Despite the need, a 2023 report by Kind & Gezin (Child & Family Agency) found that three in ten families with a critically ill child in Belgium hadn’t taken a vacation in over two years due to financial or accessibility barriers. The financial toll is significant: 70% of families with children in long-term hospital care report financial hardship, while 40% say they cannot afford any form of vacation.
De Haan was chosen as the site for the second Ronald McDonald vacation home due to its proximity to key hospitals in Ghent and Brussels — both less than two hours away — and its existing tourism infrastructure. Center Parcs De Haan, which previously welcomed more than 500,000 visitors per year, had never before offered accommodations specifically designed for families with ill children.
The original vacation home in the Ardennes, opened in 2021, welcomed over 300 families. A survey indicated that 92% of visiting families experienced a reduction in stress following their stay. With the addition of the De Haan facility, another 150 families are expected to benefit annually.
Partnerships have been established with health institutions such as UZ Gent and AZ Sint-Jan Brugge to refer eligible families. Priority is given to those whose children are undergoing active treatment or are in recovery.
This new development provides these families a much-needed respite, reaffirming the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund’s mission to support and uplift those facing some of life’s toughest battles.
This article was originally published by Eurotoday.
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