About us
Our story
In January 1991, we met at the Prinsenhof, which was then the place where young people from Sijsele (Damme, West Flanders, Belgium) and the surrounding area came together. We clicked immediately: we became best friends, and not much later, a couple. Three years later, in January 1994, we got married. I (Marleen) left my native village of Sijsele behind and moved to Beernem, Thomas’s home base. In November 1995, our daughter Kimberly was born—the most beautiful gift we could have wished for.
Our careers both took place in the construction sector. Thomas joined his father’s family business in 1995, where he worked with heart and soul for years, despite the physically demanding work. I started at N.A.V.B. (now Constructiv) in Brussels in 1992 and remained actively involved there for over thirty years with great dedication and satisfaction.
Despite our great jobs, something was gnawing at us. We had everything going for us, but we missed time for each other and for ourselves. The thought of a new life abroad kept simmering — a dream we had shared since the beginning of our marriage, but which never seemed within reach. Until Kimberly suggested one day to start a B&B. That idea stuck with us.
We talked about it a lot, weighed the pros and cons. Eventually, we took the course ‘Running a small-scale accommodation’ at Syntra Brugge. There we not only learned a lot, but also met people who fueled our dream. In that same year, we often went to France to visit properties. The search was intense and sometimes discouraging, but it also gave us energy.
And then the unexpected happened: through Kimberly, we came into contact with Ronny and Jip, the owners of Mas Bouzige. From the moment we entered the inner courtyard, we felt it — this was our place. The atmosphere, the soul of the house, the warm welcome from Ronny and Jip… everything just clicked.
Today, we look back on that adventure with pride and gratitude. What was once a distant dream became reality. Mas Bouzige is not just a house for us — it’s the place where our passion, our work, and our hearts come together.
What do our customers say about us?
