Our story

For longer than an elephant's gestation, we carried, nurtured and cherished our project with great love. On 28 January, our baby officially sees the light of day and Youth Accommodation Centre (JVC) Schotte opens its doors. But what is our story? You'll find it below …

The sword of Damocles had been hanging over Scouts and Guides Sint-Kristoffel ("Kroffel" for short) for some time, but the final verdict came: the premises on Capucienen in Aalst would be demolished.

A scout down and out doesn't exist, so former scouts and current scouts joined forces and VZW Kroffel was born. The team set out to find a sustainable and definitive solution for housing the scouts. The quest ended with the purchase of the former director's house on the Schotte site on Kapellekensbaan in Aalst.

The Schotte site and Kapellekensbaan harbour not only a rich past in the Dender region, but are also located in an exceptional spot in Aalst's green lung, right between the Osbroek and Gerstjens nature reserves, the city park, adjacent to a sports complex and within walking distance of the city centre.

The size of the building and the extraordinary location quickly gave the project a very ambitious direction. The decision was made to renovate the building into a youth accommodation centre with 55 beds. A unique meeting place was born and the major renovation works began.

Thanks to private investments, sponsors, subsidies and other support measures, we are also well on our way to balancing the financial picture.

Not only the contractor worked hard here; many helping hands pulled JVC Schotte across the finish line. Blood, sweat and tears, but above all lots of motivation and fun will echo in our corridors for a long time to come.

JVC Schotte has long ceased to be the dream of a small group of idealists, but a unique youth accommodation with an exceptional history, in which Kroffel has written a new and exciting chapter …