Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp
Quiet luxury with monastic bones — Flemish heritage meets Scandi-esque restraint. Laid-back for a five-star, with a genuinely convivial food and drink scene rather than stiff formality.
Hertog Jan only opens two weeks per month — check dates and book before you book the room, not after
Why It Matters
Antwerp's first Leading Hotels of the World member and the first 5-star superior hotel in Belgium to hold three Michelin stars on-site simultaneously. The property sits inside the city's botanical garden, effectively making it Belgium's only hotel where you can walk straight out of your room into centuries-old monastic gardens.
A 13th-century monastery complex within Antwerp's botanical gardens, thoroughly reimagined as the city's first 5-star superior hotel in 2022. Five historic buildings — some dating back to the 12th century — now house 108 rooms and suites, four restaurants including multiple Michelin-starred kitchens, and a 1,000-sqm spa spread across three floors. The design language is wabi-sabi: scuffed plaster walls in muted tones, aged wooden beams, monochromatic marble, and soft De Witte Lietaer linens. No grand gestures, just very good taste.
Where You'll Stay
11 room types available
1 Bedroom Suite
Spacious suite with courtyard or garden views, a charming living room and a temperature-controlled wine cabinet. The wine cabinet is a recurring feature in upper categories here and it is not a gimmick — it's a proper climate-controlled unit.
Botanic Suite
The top-floor signature suite with a 68 sqm private rooftop terrace — sunbeds included. A charming living room and private bedroom make up the interior. The terrace is the headline: open sky above the monastery gardens in the middle of a major European city.
Classic Room
The entry-level room at 18–25 sqm — compact but thoughtfully designed with wabi-sabi interiors: muted plaster walls, aged beams, and a walk-in shower. Courtyard or city views. Fits two guests. Small but not cramped; every detail is considered.
21 sqm
Deluxe Room
At 25–40 sqm, this steps up with a plush double bed and a bathroom that either has a rain shower, a free-standing bath, or both depending on the specific unit. Contemporary design with fine textiles — a solid choice for a city break for two.
32 sqm
Deluxe Terrace Room
The stand-out among the standard room categories. A private terrace with views over the monastery domain, plus a sofa area and full bathroom. The terrace is the draw — it's a genuine outdoor space, not just a Juliet balcony.
Diamond Suite
A 94 sqm suite on the second floor, accessible by stairs or private elevator. Separate bedroom with bathtub and walk-in shower, a living room, a dining table for four, and a kitchenette. Views over the hotel domain make this one of the more coveted configurations.
94 sqm
Family Duplex
A two-story suite set within the ancient monastery structure. Historical character — exposed beams, aged walls — with enough modern comfort for families. The duplex layout gives parents and kids some separation.
Junior Suite
A cosy sitting area alongside a bathroom equipped with both shower and bathtub. Fits up to three guests and an infant. Good middle-ground between a standard room and a full suite.
Terrace Suite
Ground-floor suite with direct terrace access. Lavish furnishings and ample space — a quieter, more private feel given its ground-level location among the gardens.
Two-Bedroom Spa Suite
The most complete in-room wellness experience the hotel offers. At 140 sqm, it has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living area with expansive sofa, a kitchenette, a dinner table, and — upstairs — a private spa: Technogym bike, Finnish sauna, whirlpool, and heated treatment bed. An air purification system eliminates over 99% of airborne viruses and pollen. Wine climate cabinet included. Courtyard/garden views. Fresh flowers daily.
140 sqmTwo-Bedroom Suite
Designed for families or groups who need proper separation. Two sleeping areas, two bathrooms, a generously sized living area, wine climate cabinet, and rooftop views from upper floors. Fresh flowers from the hotel's own florist arrive daily.
The Property
Eat & Drink
6 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
An in-hotel lifestyle boutique at St Joris Port selling candles, bathrobes, and Botanic Sanctuary branded mementos.
Charged bike rental available through the hotel, for exploring Antwerp's flat, well-maintained cycle paths.
A dedicated butler can be arranged on request (not included by default). Available for in-room service, arrangements, and personalised attention throughout your stay.
The botanical gardens surrounding the hotel are part of the property's grounds. Guests can walk freely through the historic garden — the same one tended by celebrated 16th-century botanist Peeter van Coudenberghe, credited with inventing the orangery.
An on-site natural history gallery displaying dinosaur fossils, gemstones, meteorites, and other treasures sourced from the hotel's own sustainable mines and archaeological sites. The hotel employs its own team of palaeontologists and gemologists. Free for guests, open as part of normal hotel exploration.
Private guided tours organised through the concierge. Options include Golden Age, Hidden Gems, Impressions of Antwerp, and Belle Epoque themed walks.
The hotel's historic apothecary — in operation since the Sint-Elisabeth hospital era — has been restored and sells all-natural remedies, lotions, and fragrances made to centuries-old monastic recipes, sold in signature amber and violet glass bottles.
An exclusive members-style whisky tasting room inside the hotel where rare single malts are available. Access is restricted; enquire with the concierge for availability during your stay.
The hotel has a wine cellar accessible for private dining arrangements and tastings — enquire with the concierge.
The hotel offers unusual corporate team-building activities: music video making, graffiti art, African drumming, etiquette classes, falconry, and laughter yoga — available for event groups using the conference facilities.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
14 conference and meeting rooms accommodating up to 500 guests. Green meetings infrastructure with a large auditorium. The 15th-century chapel is available for events up to 150 guests for ceremonies, 500 for receptions.
An on-request baby package covering changing table, nappy storage bin, bath toy, thermometer, bottle-warmer, bottles, hooded towels, bathrobe, bath, step stool, baby wipes, nappies, baby shampoo, and baby lotion. Remarkably thorough.
State-of-the-art fitness club with Technogym equipment including Omnia 3 pull-up bar and Ercolina Rehabilitation cable-training station. InBody scanning system, Mywellness app compatibility, and personal trainers available.
Round-the-clock room service from the hotel's kitchen. The hotel positions this as an in-room dining experience on par with the restaurants themselves.
Charged laundry and dry-cleaning service. Spa suite guests receive two complimentary items per room per day.
Loaded with hotel services app and city guide.
Valet parking at the Leopoldstraat 26 entrance. €55/day for day guests, €65/night for hotel guests. No street parking in surrounding streets; public car parks at Nationale Bank and Oudaen are the alternatives.
Electric vehicle charging points available on-site.
Pets are not permitted anywhere on the property.
Glass-enclosed conservatory pool open 7am–10pm. Sun loungers surrounding the pool. Children permitted 10am–6pm (or pre-9am/post-5pm on non-school-holiday days).
Pre-bookable transfers via transfers@botanicantwerp.be. Antwerp Airport from €70 one-way, Brussels Airport from €110, Eindhoven from approx. €200, Amsterdam Schiphol from €325.
BUILD YOUR BOTANIC SANCTUARY ANTWERP PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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