La Butte aux Bois: pearl in nature

The domain of the five-star superior hotel La Butte aux Bois is celebrating its centenary. A milestone that dates back to the year 1924, when it was built as a noble country house by Knight Lagasse de Locht. In the late 1980s, it was transformed into a hotel. Today, it has become one of the most exclusive accommodation in Belgium.

La Butte aux Bois has sixty rooms, forty of which are at suite level. The tower room was recently converted into The Moonlight Suite, with a view of the park. This is called rethinking, as it used to be a meeting room. 

Renovation

"We have worked hard in the last three years on several renovations, such as the full glass canopy of Bistrôt Le Ciel, The Moonlight Suite, the Wunderkammer for private dining and so much more," says Jochen Leën. Together with Rüdiger Pohl, he has owned La Butte aux Bois since 2020, as well as Urban Hotel & Golf Retreat Stiemerheide in Genk.

"People come for the unique location at the foot of the Hoge Kempen National Park, but certainly also for our two-star restaurant Ralf Berendsen or the delightful pampering programme of the spa, the only Shiseido Ginza Tokyo Institute in our country."

Local connection

The spa and wellness, accounting for 1,200 square metres, is the ultimate place to completely unwind. And this for both body and mind. There are various packages and you get unlimited use of sauna and pool facilities anyway. 

"In doing so, the gym is also used and the yoga classes attended by non-hotel guests, often people from the region. So we have a strong local connection."

Museum quality

Jochen Leën knows better than anyone that sensory experience is highly valued. "In addition to fine dining and a top-notch stay, we are betting on museum quality. It's an extra layer, where our visitors let their senses run wild. Our motto is not for nothing: 'Rest, relax and learn'. Experts give guided tours and pique guests' curiosity in the hotel's catacombs where a real space landscape has been recreated, including the most beautiful meteorites from Mars and our Earth's oldest space rocks."

Getting the full picture right does not always prove easy if you want to ensure that visitors return more often. Yet it happens, as there are guests who book their regular day every week and companies who stay for several days time and again. This is because of the wide range of facilities and the fine, human contact. 

Younger audience

A great added value is certainly the décor and atmospheric interior. The characteristic Bar Papillon overlooks Bistrôt Le Ciel, the cosy heart of the hotel. Nothing on the plate rests on chance. But those who want to dine even more delicately and subtly can visit star chef Ralf Berendsen. A gastronomic experience you won't soon forget. Striking in this respect: the audience has rejuvenated in recent years.

"I'm 43 myself," explains Leën. "Since the revamped interior, we note many mid-forties and fifties. We are short on time with all kinds of initiatives and events, think for instance of our house DJ, who provides weekly entertainment."

This often brings famous people into the house, where discretion is not only a quality, but also a competence. Among others, Sir Anthony Hopkins passed through, European agriculture ministers were guests here, alongside footballers from Chelsea and Liverpool, to American rock band Pearl Jam. 

Future

Plans for the future are also in place. For instance, our host La Butte aux Bois wants to expand by 20 rooms. Necessary to attract larger groups. Given the licensing policy, he expects to realise this by 2028.