Looking for a stay where everything revolves around an atmospheric group experience in a unique location? Then an overnight stay in the protected St. Bartholomew's Church in Diksmuide might be just the thing for you!

Bed & Bar Tolomeus is the first champing (church camping) in Flanders. With this special accommodation, we cater to groups of up to 12 people looking for a shared and exceptional experience combined with basic comfort. And all this in a relaxed atmosphere.

The concept of champing originated in England. It stands for ‘camping in a church’. It is an ideal way to relive a church in a different way and to prevent church vacancy at the same time.

We offer our guests an unique experience to stay the night in a real church. All the original elements such as the church bell, the pulpit, the altar, the benches and the confessional, are still at the site. These can be used freely, with respect for their historical value, of course.

Because God sees everything 😉

There are 6 unique wooden sleeping pods provided in the church, each accommodating 2 people. These champing pods were carefully designed by us to highlight the architectural qualities of this Neo-Gothic church. For instance, each pod has its own patron saint watching over its guests. From the pod, you get a unique view of the bas-relief as well as the church's illuminated wooden barrel vault.

Furthermore, each pod offers every couple extra privacy from the rest of the group, as well as a sense of security to ensure a comfortable sleep within the large church. Four of these units have double beds (160cm) and the other two have single beds (80cm). The 6 units are always rented out as a group and cannot be booked separately.

You can enjoy time with your group in the dining area, the seating area, or at the small bar with a games area (foosball table, darts, etc.). The sanitary block consists of 2 separate units, each with a shower, washbasin, and toilet. These two units are shared by the entire group.

Our kitchen is equipped with basic amenities such as an induction hob, sink, dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator, as well as crockery, glasses, and cutlery for 12 people. However, although there is no oven, it is possible to prepare and/or heat up simple items. Naturally, a coffee maker, kettle, and toaster are also available for a hearty breakfast to fortify the inner man.

Until further notice, water is not yet being turned into wine (#John 2:1-12).

In addition to the bar with a games area, our church offers various other recreational options. For instance, in the rood screen—where the choir used to sing—there is a cinema room where you can simply connect your laptop to our projector and Chromecast to project onto a large screen. The church also features a 38-meter-high spire that can be climbed by those who dare to take on the challenge. The reward is a beautiful panoramic view of the Westhoek. Or, while you're at it, ring the original church bell, go to confession with one another in the confessional, or address your company from the pulpit.

#Idleness is the devil's workshop.

The Church of St. Bartholomew (Sint-Bartholomeuskerk in Dutch) is a typical reconstruction-era church. The original church and the village of Kaaskerke were largely destroyed during the Battle of the Yser in the First World War. After the war, a new church was built at a distance of 500 m (0,3 miles) from the original site. The original stones were reused in the new building. It is for this reason that this church does not have a graveyard.

Upon entering through the porch, the esthetic qualities of the church catch the eye. The balanced geometrical proportions, the intricately decorated stained glass window behind the original altar and the magnificently lit wooden barrel vault give this simple church its timeless beauty. The church has a surface of 540m2 (5.813ft2). Guests can freely use the large garden that surrounds the building. In a quiet area in the garden, guests will find two picnic tables, a few lounge chairs and outdoor games. 

We collaborate with a local baker who delivers a delicious fresh breakfast. The breakfast consists of 2 crispy rolls, a fresh croissant, cheese, ham, chocolate spread, and jam. Coffee and tea are available on-site. Would you prefer to provide your own breakfast or opt for a luxury breakfast? Just let us know.

Fancy a picnic during a day trip? Upon request, a picnic can be brought to the church in the morning or delivered to an agreed location and time nearby to ensure it stays nice and fresh. The picnic includes sandwich triangles, wraps, quiches, and seasonal fruit, and is provided by Caterer 't Festijn for the price of €17 per person.

For dinner, Caterer 't Festijn can really pamper you. There is a choice between various hot menus or a cold buffet, with prices ranging from €15 per person to €40 per person. You choose the formula that best suits your group. Additionally, there are many good restaurants in the region. We can already recommend Water en Vuur, ´t Notarishuys, and Lettenburg.

You are free to bring your own drinks, but for your convenience, we also provide a selection of beverages at reasonable prices. In particular, we would like to recommend our selection of Belgian cellar beers and wines.

• 4 wooden sleeping units (champing pods) with a double bed

• 2 wooden sleeping units (champing pods) with two single beds

• Including duvet, pillows, fresh bed linen and towels

• 2 sanitary units, each with a shower, sink and toilet

• Dining area with extra long dining table

• Induction hob

• Large refrigerator with cooling compartment and freezer

• Dishwasher

• Coffee maker, kettle, microwave and toaster

• WiFi

• Cinema room with projector and large screen

• Infrared heating

• Indoor storage possible for bicycles

• Indoor play area with darts board and football table

• Picnic tables and lounge chairs in the church garden

• Outdoor toys such as kubb

• Playground for young children

For an overnight stay in this unique setting, you pay € 711 per night, or €59.25 p/p. From the 2nd night onwards, you receive a discount on this base price. Thus, a 2-night stay comes to € 1,280, and for 3 nights to € 1,875. During weekends and holiday periods, we require a minimum stay of 2 nights.

Breakfast, final cleaning, bed and bath linen, and tourist tax are included. Electricity and gas are charged additionally based on consumption. Lunch and dinner are optional.

A few other details:

• Accessible to people with disabilities (except for the choir loft and tower)

• Pets are not allowed

• No parties or loud music are permitted in the church

• We do not rent to youth groups

• A deposit of 300 euros is required

When renting Bed & Bar Tolomeus, you can also make use of several supplementary services offered by local partners.

- Gastronomically, there is a choice of various breakfast and meal options ranging from basic to elaborate, which are delivered on-site. Upon request, a picnic can also be delivered in the morning to take along on a day trip, or you can arrange a time and location for the picnic delivery. For breakfast, we collaborate with Fijnbakkerij Vandooren and de Brooderie. For the picnic and dinner, we work with Traiteur ´t Festijn.

- During your stay, you can make use of the extensive drinks selection in the church. This consists of drinks from the summer bar on the one hand, and an additional selection of special wines and a selection of Belgian aged beers (also competitively priced) on the other.

- In terms of activities, there is plenty to do in the region. The outdoor sports organization ´t Buitenbeentje offers a wide range of active leisure options that can be combined with tailor-made group outings. A selection from their offerings: canoe and bicycle rental, go-karts, raft trips, paintball, traditional games, kayak polo... Various packages are also available, for example including visits to WWI sites, a brewery, a deer farm, a cheese factory, a chocolatier, cafes, etc. A guided nature or city walk is also definitely worthwhile and can be booked through the Tourist Office in Diksmuide.