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

Van der Valk Hotel Antwerp

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

This came together nicely for me. Over the past few months, I hadn't had many opportunities to spend the night away from home, so this was a great chance to travel out a day early on behalf of Hotelvak Nederland and check in for this feature.

Stay

I arrived in Antwerp in the early evening. Check in, put my things in the room, and then headed to the restaurant for a bite. The hotel is located at Luitenant Lippenslaan 66 and is particularly convenient. Not right in the hustle and bustle of the historic centre, but easily accessible. Especially if teams from
The Netherlands and Belgium coming together, that's nice. You can easily drive there, park at the hotel, and be inside quickly. No hassle. And for a business trip, especially with the busy traffic in Antwerp, that's exactly what you want.

The concept of Van der Valk Hotels doesn't really need explaining. Whether for private stays or business trips, you generally know what to expect. Spacious rooms, good beds, a fine breakfast, and ample facilities. You're rarely left wanting. Here in Antwerp too, the basics are well covered. Upon entering, the hotel feels spacious and well-maintained. The entrance is clearly laid out, the bar looks good, and everything appears comfortable.

My room was well suited to this. Quiet, clean and practically furnished. Everything was logical. No strange light switches, no hunting for sockets and no design that only looks good in photos. At Van der Valk, everything is mainly well organised. And that's worth a lot.

Eventually, I noticed there was still enough time before the spa closed. To make the most of my stay, I decided to take advantage of it. The swimming pool and sauna were lovely. After a brief bit of preparation for the next day, I went to sleep on time.

Around nine o'clock, I decided to check out early. I could leave my suitcase, after which I joined my colleagues who were slowly arriving. As a group, we were enthusiastically and warmly received. Not only was everything made ready 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, this was a successful day. Inside, you find peace and comfort. That combination works well for business; for a weekend getaway, I would personally choose Van der Valk Park Lane. What I find pleasant about this hotel is that it's mainly set up for convenience. You can park, stay overnight, have breakfast, hold meetings, dine at Bistro Stiel, and even make use of the wellness facilities in between. Everything is under one roof. That might sound obvious, but for us, who were also looking at the location within the busy traffic of Antwerp, this was a great destination. No one has to search, shuffle, or go back into the city. The day can simply proceed as we had planned.