Van Oys Maastricht Retreat open under excellent star power 

New luxury destination hotel gets many bookings from the US right away 

Van Oys Maastricht Retreat - the new luxury hotel with a total of 81 rooms and suites in the South Limburg municipality of Eijsden-Margraten - can look forward to great interest from far abroad. If the omens do not deceive, the hotel will soon be a well-known international destination. 

The rural hotel, which largely focuses on the cittaslow philosophy - has only officially opened since Friday 6 June, but is already receiving a remarkable number of bookings from the United States, says Kim Defaux, Director of Sales and Revenue at Van Oys. ,,Based on signals we are getting, we can assume that this interest will only increase in the coming period. Especially when the first guests who have been here can share their experiences with others." 

Sustainability and tranquillity 

Guests who can afford a luxury hotel experience are increasingly looking for hidden beauty, according to Defaux. ,,They prefer to go to places they do not yet know and which are also somewhat less obvious in terms of location. Today's guests are increasingly looking for beautiful places outside the hustle and bustle of the big cities. For our guests, Maastricht is not always the main destination of the trip either. This hotel and its immediate surroundings are the actual destination. People who stay here are looking for sustainability and tranquillity. From here, you can go in all directions. Around you have the tranquillity of the countryside, but if you want, you're in the centre of Maastricht within ten minutes or in the centre of Amsterdam or Paris within a few hours." 

The picturesque Van Oys Maastricht Retreat - partly housed in a castle dating back to the 13th century - is the first 5-star superior hotel in the Southern Netherlands. The luxurious accommodation - which is easily accessible from Maastricht - is part of the renowned The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), an independent alliance of over 400 luxury hotels spread across more than 80 countries, including five in the Netherlands, including the brand new Van Oys Maastricht Retreat in Eijsden. 

Quality mark 

Apart from being a partnership, LHW is also an international seal of quality. Those who choose a Leading Hotel of the World are assured of a personal guest experience at the very highest level. In Amsterdam, the collection includes Hotel Okura, Hotel The Dylan and Hotel de l'Europe. Hotel Des Indes on the stately Lange Voorhout in The Hague can also call itself Leading Hotel of the World, as can the world-famous The Ritz in London and Paris. 

That the hotel has finally opened and the response from guests has been overwhelming is a huge boost for the staff, says Kim Defaux. ,,Initially, we had hoped to open at the beginning of March, but due to some setbacks in the construction phase, we unfortunately did not make it. During the international art fair TEFAF, we were able to accommodate about a hundred guests, but immediately afterwards we closed again to finish everything in detail. We could explain it all very well. Actually, everyone was understanding. Fortunately, because you can only make a first impression once. We therefore have great respect for all our colleagues, in every layer of the organisation, who managed to remain positive despite all the setbacks. Patience is being rewarded; the first bookings for 2026 and 2027 are already in." 

Create by Guido Braeken, the fine dining-restaurant by chef Guido Breaken, has been running for several weeks. Once the hotel opens (the spa and gym will open in autumn), the second restaurant - Maes, Cuisine du Terroir opened. This restaurant is cooked by Pascal Jalhay, like Guido Breaken, a luminary of Dutch gastronomy. ,,Maes is an old name for the Meuse, the river that flows towards Maastricht a mere hundred metres behind the estate," explains Defaux. ,,That we chose this spelling has to do with the fact that the owners also happen to be called that.