The Van Der Valk Luxembourg hotel in Arlon lifts the veil on its next projects

It sits proudly on the edge of the E411, a stone’s throw from the Luxembourg border. The Van Der Valk Luxembourg hotel in Arlon has been full since its inauguration in 2017. Due to the constant success, the managers of the establishment could rest on their laurels. However, it is quite the opposite that is happening. “The money earned is directly reinvested in this project which is so close to our hearts and of which we are very proud,” begins Steven Zeeuw van der Laan straight away. The director and owner of the hotel has made it a point of honor to continue to invest in a constantly evolving site.

The promises made two years ago, when the extension project was announced, are gradually becoming a reality. It started with the creation of a biogas plant which is now fully operational. “The hotel is now an energy-independent building,” explains the director.

Last September, the extension’s 56 new “Deluxe” rooms were inaugurated, bringing the hotel’s total capacity to 181 rooms. And then, last December, the long-awaited wellness area also opened its doors. In addition to a large fitness room, the place has several types of sauna, including a salt sauna, a hammam, treatment areas, a relaxation area but also (of course) an indoor swimming pool… leading outside.

For now, this brand new offer is only available to hotel guests. But, ultimately, according to the director, the desire is to allow people outside the hotel to access these different facilities. “We must first look at how this new offer is adopted by our customers, so as not to create an overload in the event of opening to the general public.”

But the highlight of the show will undoubtedly be the creation of an indoor installation dedicated entirely to surfing. Thanks to a system of pumps and moving water, the installation, which takes place in a pool of 900 m³ of water, is capable of creating artificial waves. The “City Wave” can generate artificial waves up to a height of well over a meter. “This height can be adjusted according to the level of the surfers, making it an installation suitable for beginners as well as experienced surfers. This will even be accessible to people with reduced mobility, thanks to supports,” underlines the director. “This installation is the ultimate in the field,” he smiles.

A session, which can accommodate up to 12 people, will last no less than 45 minutes. “Each participant will be briefed for around ten minutes before starting.” With this ambitious project, which will be open to all from its opening, the hotel hopes to attract customers from throughout the Greater Region. “From Trier to Namur,” explains Steven Zeeuw van der Laan. The opening is hoped for next September. Note that a similar project is underway in Luxembourg.

With this new state-of-the-art space, managers hope to be able to attract more customers during the weekend, which is generally less busy. “We want to offer a complete offer in terms of hotels, but also in terms of catering and leisure, so that our customers can spend the whole day on the site,” adds the director. A philosophy worthy of a resort in a way!

As the establishment is in search of perpetual innovation, the projects do not stop there! Thus, a new restaurant, in addition to the existing one, will complete the extension from next summer. “In this restaurant, we want to offer more accessible cuisine, in buffet style, but while keeping the atmosphere that makes Van Der Valk so charming.”

And then, level -1 of the extension, currently empty, could be developed to offer wellness spaces, but privatized. “It would be an offer aimed at people who are not necessarily comfortable with the idea of ​​going to public wellness spaces,” points out Steven Zeeuw van der Laan, who definitely has a following in the ideas.

Also note the recent addition of two new Tesla Superchargers, bringing the total to 32 electric vehicle charging stations. “We will also install several other more traditional terminals to meet all the demand.”

“Luxembourg? We’ve been wanting to move there for 20 years.”

The Van Der Valk Luxembourg in Arlon therefore continues to think big, very big! It can also count on a large and international clientele, thanks in particular to neighboring Luxembourg. “We have to be honest: without the Grand Duchy, our hotel would not be profitable,” admits the director. In 2024, the hotel had an occupancy rate of 84%. “In 2025, I am convinced that we can aim for 100,000 visitors per year. Last year, we had around 45,000 nights for an average occupancy of 1.5 people per room.”

Once all these projects have come to fruition, what will be next for the four-star establishment in Arlon? “Honestly, after all of this, I believe we will have reached our limits, in terms of volume. The next step for us would therefore be the opening of a new establishment elsewhere.” There has long been talk of a second Van Der Valk in the province of Luxembourg, near Libin, near the Euro Space Center. “It’s a cousin who is on this project. I also think that the construction could start next year.”

Already present in several European countries, notably in the Netherlands and France, the Van Der Valk family group does not, however, have an establishment in Luxembourg. “It’s not for lack of trying,” notes Steven Zeeuw van der Laan. “To be honest, there has always been a great interest from the group in Luxembourg, and this has been the case for 20 years. However, our desire is always to be the owners of the land and buildings that we occupy. However, it is very difficult to find this in the Grand Duchy.”