Marijke Schreiner, managing director of Stayokay Hostels:
"Eindhoven had been on top of our wish list for some time as a location to open a hostel. We’re excited that we can now offer our guests a great stay in Eindhoven. Our newest hostel is in Strijp-S, a unique and characterful area within the city."
A place for everyone
Whilst the hotel will gain shared hostel rooms, it will retain the atmosphere and character of the Blue Collar Hotel. Marijke Schreiner says: "A beautiful concept has been created by Bart and Sis van den Dijssel and their team. It’s distinctive and appealing to many national and international guests, and will continue to breathe this atmosphere under the Stayokay banner."
Bart and Siska van den Dijssel, founders of the Blue Collar Hotel, confidently hand over the baton to Stayokay. "After 10 years of putting our heart and soul into the success of the Blue Collar Hotel, we are now happily, albeit with a little pain in our hearts, transferring the hotel to Stayokay. We are convinced that Stayokay, like no other, can ensure that it remains accessible and a place for everyone."
Phased transition
Stayokay is taking over the ongoing operation and will make a number of changes in a phased manner throughout 2024. For example, more beds will be added and the Stayokay name will be integrated. The unique bar/restaurant concept on the ground floor will continue to bear the name Blue Collar and will remain a place where, alongside hostel guests, the residents of Eindhoven and far beyond are welcome to enjoy a delicious lunch or a friendly drink. Meetings and parties will also remain among the possibilities.
Growth ambitions
The acquisition of the Blue Collar Hotel is part of Stayokay's growth strategy to offer affordable and sustainable accommodation in more locations in the Netherlands. This may take form by taking over existing ho(s)tel operations or by redeveloping properties that currently have a different purpose.
For press (not for publication)
About Stayokay Hostels
Stayokay is the largest hostel chain in the Netherlands with 21 surprising locations, from Terschelling to Maastricht. Stayokay has been offering (inter)national guests the ideal place to stay since 1929; they can sleep in private or shared rooms. But Stayokay is also the right place for meetings, parties and business events. Stayokay provides almost 900,000 overnight stays annually and aims to be a pioneer in sustainable and social initiatives. Stayokay is a member of Hostelling International: a network of more than 2,600 hostels worldwide.
About Stayokay Eindhoven - Blue Collar
The hostel is located in the Klokgebouw. This building was built in 1928 to a design by A. Broekert, architect at Philips Ingenieursbureau. It served for a long time as a Philite factory that produced bakelite for the many Philips products. The building gets its name from the large clock in the tower that incorporates the letters of Philips. The name Blue Collar refers to the blue collars of the workers who worked in this building for a long time.
The Klokgebouw is a national monument and today serves as a business centre with more than 100 entrepreneurs from the creative sector. Owner of the building is the Eindhoven housing corporation Trudo.
Address: Klokgebouw 10, 5617 AA Eindhoven, The Netherlands
