Belgium’s largest second city, Antwerp is a charming city with a delightful medieval heart and various café-filled narrow lanes. Antwerp has been a magnet for fashion lovers, diamond dealers and art enthusiasts. Its glory started back in the 16th century when Antwerp was one of Europe’s most important cities. Today, Antwerp is a vibrant city of cultural contrast, an urban wonderland which is a true melting pot of nationalities.
When staying in Antwerp, the city centre is a prime location. On our romantic trip to Antwerp, we stayed in the 17th-century Boutique Hotel Antwerp: De Witte Lelie.
Boutique Hotel Antwerp: De Witte Lelie
De Witte Lelie is an exquisite small luxury hotel located right in the centre of Antwerp. It is built in the 17th century and it offers 10 exclusive rooms and suites. De Witte Lelie is a tranquil oasis in an otherwise vibrant city. What you are going to learn next is not the ordinary experience you might expect from a hotel. Instead, you are opening the door onto a world, that is steeped in history, decadence and glorious experiences.
De Witte Lelie: Facilities
From the moment you enter De Witte Lelie, you know you are in an intimate world of luxury. The hotel features a beautiful floral courtyard, two sitting rooms with an open fire and a contemporary-chic bar. The reception is open 24/7 for your convenience and you can opt-in for VIP services. There is free wifi across the hotel and there is free minibar available in all rooms. De Witte Lelie is also pet-friendly and has a few seats outdoors, in the leafy garden where you can find your inner tranquillity, whilst enjoying a refreshing Belgian beer ordered from the Bronze Bar during the happy hour which is between 17h and 18h every day.
De Witte Lelie: Rooms and Suites
There’s a gorgeous range of room options here. All rooms at De Witte Lelie are individually designed and have free wifi, free minibar, fruit and water as well as Hermes toiletries. We were obsessed with the Hermes Jardin sur le Nil shower gels and creams which had such refreshing and subtle smell.
During your stay at De Witte Lelie you can get a classic room, deluxe room, luxury suite or the presidential suite. The classic rooms are decorated in white which makes them look really chic. At first glance, you will think you are in a Belgian cottage in the countryside and forget you are in the midst of a busy city.
The Deluxe rooms feature an elegant shower with Italian Bisazza mosaic. The Deluxe room number 10 also features a private terrace for added relaxation.
The Luxury suites offer a walk-in closet and king size bed with incredibly soft Treca de Paris bedding.`
The Presidential suite is the most beautiful and authentic room. Also called the honeymooner’s suite, one glance at it and you could understand why this makes the perfect nest for a romantic getaway. We stayed in the De Witte Lelie’s Presidential suite and let us tell you: it was easily one of the most strikingly designed luxury rooms we’ve seen thus far. This suite is 90 sqm/965 sq ft large and it has a beautiful bedroom with a kingsize bed, a living room with decorated in Louis XIV-style and a large bathroom with a gorgeous bathroom and separate rainforest shower.
The living room features an open fireplace, large couche with two comfortable shell chairs, a desk with soft armchairs and gold painted elements on the ceiling. The bathroom has two sinks and myriad cabinets all filled with soft and fluffy towels. The mosaic in the bathroom creates beautiful sakura flowers and the walls are decorated with marble and soft cushions. The bedroom is as decadent as you imagine: after all, you enter the honeymoon suite. It also features an open fireplace and gold decorations on the walls, but perhaps the most interesting part of the room were three tall, red lights resembling the shape of mushrooms. At night, their red light hypnotises, creating a seducing and luring ambience.
Every evening, you receive a turndown service. Just before night, the staff enters the room to turn down the bed sheets and to freshen the room, making it ready for night use. At De Witte Lelie they also switched on the “love lights” available in the honeymoon suite.
De Witte Lelie: Breakfast
After one of the most comfortable nights in De Witte Lelie, we made our way downstairs to enjoy breakfast. All tables had white cloth and a real candlelight. For a romantic getaway, this was a rather nice touch. There was tailored service available with a dedicated cook to prepare warm breakfast and make coffee. Alternatively, there was a wide range of continental options including fruits, juices and cereals, as well as French cheeses and meats for non-vegans. If you prefer, you can also enjoy breakfast in your room, just make sure you leave your request outside your door before 6 AM.
Our opinion of De Witte Lelie
We loved the quiet garden and really liked the different decor in the lobby and Bronze Bar. We thought the Honeymoon Suite looked incredible, truly decadent and sophisticated. We believe De Witte Lelie is an exquisite option for couples who wish to experience a truly romantic weekend in Antwerp. This was one of the best luxury-hotel experiences we’ve had and we would most certainly go back in a heartbeat. Click to book your room at De Witte Lelie.
Important Information about De Witte Lelie
Hotel De Witte Lelie, Keizerstraat 16, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium | +32 3 226 19 66 | [email protected] | www.dewittelelie.be | Facebook | Instagram
Thanks to Visit Flanders and De Witte Lelie for hosting us during our stay in Antwerp. As always, thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely our own.
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