‘Where comfort, hospitality and a carefree stay come together’

Van der Valk Hotel Antwerp

We chose the Van der Valk Hotel Antwerp as the venue for Louwers Mediagroep’s annual meeting. Our teams from the Netherlands and Belgium came together to discuss current developments, plans and ambitions. Where do we stand now? What developments are underway? And where do we want to grow in the coming period?

For me, it all came together nicely. Over the past few months, I hadn’t had many opportunities to stay overnight away from home, so this was a great chance to set off a day early on behalf of Hotelvak Nederland and check in for this feature.

Accommodation

I arrived in Antwerp in the early evening. I checked in, dropped my things off in my room and then headed to the restaurant for a bite to eat. The hotel is located at 66 Luitenant Lippenslaan and is, above all, conveniently situated. It’s not right in the hustle and bustle of the historic centre, but it is easily accessible. Especially when teams from
It’s great that the Netherlands and Belgium are so close together. It’s easy to drive there, park at the hotel and be inside in no time. No hassle. And for a business trip – especially given the heavy traffic in Antwerp – that’s exactly what you want.

I don’t really need to explain the Van der Valk concept. Whether for leisure or business, you usually know what you’re getting. Spacious rooms, comfortable beds, a lovely breakfast and plenty of facilities. You’re never really left wanting for anything. Here in Antwerp, too, the basics are spot on. As soon as you walk in, the hotel feels spacious and well-maintained. The lobby is uncluttered, the bar looks great and everything has a cosy feel to it.

My room was a perfect match for this. Quiet, clean and practically furnished. Everything was laid out logically. No odd light switches, no hunting around for sockets and no design that only looks good in photos. At Van der Valk, everything is, above all, well organised. And that’s worth a lot.

In the end, I realised there was still plenty of time before the spa closed. To make the most of my stay, I decided to make the most of it. The swimming pool and the sauna were lovely. After briefly making some preparations for the next day, I went to bed in good time.

At around nine o’clock, I decided to check out early. I was able to leave my suitcase behind, after which I joined my colleagues, who were now gradually trickling in. As a group, we received an enthusiastic and warm welcome. Not only had everything been arranged for us, but genuine interest was also shown in our business operations and the developments within our media group. The arrangements were top-notch and, for us, it was a successful day. Inside, you’ll find peace and comfort. That combination works well for business; for a weekend away, I’d personally be more likely to choose Van der Valk Park Lane. What I like about this hotel is that it’s designed primarily for convenience. You can park there, stay overnight, have breakfast, hold meetings, dine at Bistro Stiel and even pop into the wellness centre in between. Everything’s under one roof. That might sound obvious, but for us – given that we were also looking at the location amidst Antwerp’s heavy traffic – this was a great choice. No one has to search for a place, jostle for space or head back into the city. The day can simply go ahead as we’d planned.