11 February 2025

A coworking space like De Hoorn? That’s working in a warm and inspiring community of entrepreneurs

What makes de Hoorn such a unique coworking space? Who better to tell us than one of our tenants, who works here every day? We spoke with Tine Vandeweerd of THE tiny COMPANY. She shares how working at De Hoorn supports her growth as an entrepreneur and what makes this community so special.

"De Hoorn is nothing like your average coworking space"

Four years ago, Tine founded ‘THE tiny COMPANY’ , a marketing and communications agency specializing in retail and hospitality. What began as a one-woman operation has since grown into a thriving business. Today, Tine runs the company alongside her right-hand, Jolien, supported by an enthusiastic team of freelancers and student workers.

In the early days of THE tiny COMPANY, Tine initially rented another office space in Leuven. However, she soon felt the need to connect more with other businesses. Having attended events and dined at De Hoorn’s restaurant, she was already familiar with the space—but she had never explored the office areas.

When she discovered that Lemonade—a company she was familiar with—had an office at De Hoorn with an available spot, her decision was made. THE tiny COMPANY was moving to De Hoorn! And it turned out to be exactly what she was looking for, as they have now been sharing an office on the fifth floor for three years. The building's unique atmosphere motivates Tine to go to work every day.

De Hoorn is anything but a typical gray coworking space. The atmosphere is palpable the moment you walk in—there’s music, creative energy all around, and a unique sense of community. After all, how special is it to work alongside other companies in the historic Stella Brewery?

"Every day here is inspiring and challenging, but never in a competitive way"

De Hoorn is more than just a coworking space—it’s a true community. Through events and activities, you can connect with other businesses in an informal way and meet new people. Spontaneous collaborations often emerge, and Tine has experienced this firsthand. The connections she made here have played a visible role in the growth of her business.

We genuinely help each other out, without any sense of competition. On the contrary, this place inspires and challenges me every day. Just walking across the hallway, I can always find someone to ask for feedback. Meeting so many new people here adds great value. For example, I recently worked with David from Eye Trix, who I met here, on one of our events. And one of the graphic designers in the building designed my posters.

"De Hoorn is definitely my workplace, but it also offers opportunities to relax when needed"

The activities at De Hoorn give tenants the perfect chance to network and meet new people without it feeling forced. They're also a great way to relax and take a break from work. This balance makes sure there’s always room for a little distraction and downtime during the workday.

De Hoorn is definitely my workplace, but there are plenty of ways to unwind and take a break from work stress. On Tuesday afternoons, I join a yoga session, Thursdays are for boot camp, and on Fridays, I like to wrap up the working week with a nice drink. Sometimes, I’ll head downstairs for a quick chat with Nathalie at the reception or read the newspaper. I know so many people here, that it's easy to message someone for a coffee break or a walk outside.

While we organize all kinds of activities, we understand that not everyone feels the need to join in. Whether you're up for participating or just want to focus on your work without distractions, both options are equally valuable. It’s all about what works best for you and what you’re looking for.

Of course, you can also stay at your desk all day and just keep working. Everything De Hoorn organizes is optional—nothing is mandatory. If you don’t feel like going to all those events, you don’t have to attend—and that’s perfectly fine. In the beginning, I participated in as much as I could, but now I know what I enjoy and only attend the events that really suit me. There are so many options that it’s easy to pick and choose what you enjoy most.

"De Hoorn is a building with true character"

At De Hoorn, we blend modern facilities with historical charm, making it one of the most unique coworking spaces in Leuven. As a former Stella Brewery, the building has soul and character—which on top of that is easily accessible, well-maintained and equipped with everything you need to work comfortably and efficiently. From high-speed internet, meeting rooms, coffee, fresh fruit, and catering to daily cleaning and technical maintenance—we make sure our tenants have everything they need and are welcome 24/7. No two office spaces are the same, creating a truly inspiring and dynamic environment.

Besides the great community, De Hoorn also has excellent facilities. It's also a really practical spot for client meetings. First of all, getting here is easy, with the Vaartkom parking around the corner and Leuven station within walking distance. There are plenty of meeting rooms to book, and if they're all taken, you can always find a spot in the café downstairs. There's always a solution! And after a long meeting, you can easily arrange lunch or enjoy a meal at the restaurant on the first floor.

Our Hoorn team is always ready to help out when needed. Tine experienced this firsthand when she urgently needed a card reader right before a deadline.

You can always count on everyone here for help. I still remember needing a card reader just 30 minutes before a deadline. The whole Hoorn team jumped in and searched with me to find one in time. They really go the extra mile to help. And if they don’t know the solution themselves, they’ll keep looking until they find a way to make it work.

“Thanks to a coworking space, you feel less alone as an entrepreneur ”

Our coworking space is more than just a place to work—it’s a place where you can grow, learn, and feel supported as an entrepreneur. We’ve created a warm and inspiring environment where you decide how much interaction you want. Whether you’re looking to connect with other businesses, get advice from fellow entrepreneurs, or just need a quiet spot to focus, it’s all up to you.

It all depends on what you’re looking for in a coworking space. I came here to connect with other companies, learn from others, and collaborate—so I fully embraced that. You’re free to interact as much or as little as you want, depending on your needs, projects, and challenges. And getting to do all of this in the beautiful setting of De Hoorn, with the Hoorn team making sure everything runs smoothly, is just fantastic.