On a hot summer day, there is nothing better than splashing into the refreshing water of a beautiful swimming pool. In the tropical backyard of Van der Valk Hotel Nivelles-Sud, you can feel like you are wonderfully at the Mediterranean. And all of this in the center of Belgium.

EVA VAN MEIJL

PHOTOGRAPHY: NOPOINT STUDIO'S
MAKE-UP: JACKY LEE

Just a twenty-minute drive from Brussels lies Van der Valk Hotel Nivelles-Sud. A beautiful base to explore the Belgian capital, as well as the province of Walloon Brabant. After a nice day out, you can completely relax in this stylish hotel that Bert Wohrmann opened in 1977. Fifteen years ago, his son Bob took over the management together with his wife Emilie. In 2018, the major renovation of the hotel began, eagerly awaited. The main building was demolished, the restaurant relocated, and new rooms, suites, and a conference center were added. A fantastic transformation for the hotel.

Bob says: "After more than forty years, the hotel was due for a renovation. It became a completely new hotel that we are very happy with. My father had the outdoor swimming pool built about 25 years ago, and since the new construction, we also have an indoor swimming pool, wellness area, and fitness center. These extras are highly appreciated by guests, as we definitely see that the rooms with access to the wellness area are well booked, especially on weekends. A hotel with both a heated indoor and outdoor swimming pool is not something you see often. There are over 2000 square meters of solar panels on the roofs, used among other things to heat the water in the pools." In the wellness area, you can find a sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, and beauty salon. The spacious fitness center is equipped with the latest sports equipment, and guests can participate in group classes.

Sure, please provide me with the text you would like me to translate.

UNDER THE PALM TREES

The heated outdoor pool has been a reason to book a stay at Hotel Nivelles-Sud for decades. The pool is exclusively accessible to hotel guests and opens every year on May 1st. You can swim there until early October, or even longer into the fall, depending on the weather. Not only for guests looking to book a vacation, but also for couples getting married who have been choosing this location for years because of the pool. Bob says: "Regularly, there are photoshoots here for newlyweds. The wedding car can be driven right up to the pool, which makes for spectacular photos."

We have planted plenty of palm trees and olive trees, which makes it very nicely decorated. Furthermore, our vineyard surrounds it. Due to this atmosphere, we often hear that our hotel guests feel like they are in the South of France. You can relax on the sun loungers by the pool. Our waiters take orders there and serve the tastiest drinks and snacks. The pool and the terrace around it is also a beautiful place for a party, upon request we then set up an outdoor bar. Many rooms have a balcony or terrace overlooking the outdoor pool. A table tennis table and a petanque court complete the holiday atmosphere.

OUTDOOR ENJOYMENT

After relaxing and enjoying the water fun, you can have a delicious dinner on the terrace of the restaurant, or inside if it's a bit too chilly outside. The restaurant features an à-la-carte section, a brasserie, Live Cooking buffet, and a lounge bar. Bob says: 'Our terrace has a fantastic location with plenty of sun on beautiful days. It is also one of the largest terraces in this region. Every Thursday, there is a DJ playing and a special cocktail bar. Let's hope for a sunny summer, so we can fully enjoy it outside! And there is more to come, as we have plenty of plans for expansion. We are planning to build a large four-story parking garage and are considering adding a casino. This way, we will have an even more complete Hotel Nivelles-Sud!'