To find the perfect holiday destination in autumn is difficult and often depends on good luck. This season gives no guarantee for constantly good weather and so you should always have some bad weather day-trip destinations close by. We took a closer look at the Netherlands and Belgium and found some interesting spots - even attractive in autumn - for you.
It is only a stone's throw from the Lower-Saxonian city of Nordhorn and the Emsland to Lattrop and the Romantik Hotel Landgoed de Holtweijde. Discover the stylish country life between meadows and pastures, where indulgence plays a mayor role. And if the weather does not invite you to spend your time outdoors, you might enjoy the indoor pool, named 'most beautiful hotel pool in the Netherlands', and the library with billiard room and its unmistakable authentic English club atmosphere.
An excursion destination worth a visit is the gallery and sculpture park Groeneveld in Almelo, with 800 sqm exhibition space and a 1.5 hectare sculpture garden one of the largest art centres in the Netherlands. Besides changing exhibitions there is an incredible collection of bronze sculptures, paintings and glass works.
Further south in the province of Limburg, but also close to the Dutch-German border you will find the Romantik Hotel Hostellerie de Hamert in Wellerlooi. Located on the bank of the slowly flowing river Maas all rooms have a large balcony offering a view on the Maas or the nearby forest. The bathrooms offer a whirlpool and a separate shower, so that relaxation is easy to achieve.
The close-by Venlo is known as the heart of the largest horticultural area of the Netherlands and the region is called the 'green carpet to Europe'. In the year 2012 it will celebrate the 'Floriade', taking place every ten years and officially known as the 'world horticultural exhibition'.
If you follow the Dutch-German border further south you will come to the Romantik Hotel Kasteel Daelenbroeck in Herkenbosch. The palace dates back to the year 1311 and today guest rooms and suites are located in the estate close to the castle and the castle itself. Special highlights are the two-storied suites around the inner yard, all of them with their own terrace.
Take some time to visit Roermond. Not just the Designer Outlet Centre, but also the historical inner city is worth it. Old trading houses and lovely churches grace the city centre of the former Hanseatic city. On the outskirts you can find the Maas lakes, the largest water sports area in the Netherlands that even in late summer attracts numerous sailors, surfer and water skier.
In the corner furthest to the south of the Netherlands the Romantik Parkhotel Het Gulpdal in Slenaken is located. Housed in a villa in the English style you can expect to find calm and relaxation. Take a seat on the sun-drenched terrace and enjoy la dolce vita.
The nearby Valkenburg has a long touristic tradition, dating back to the 19th century. Today the region is especially famous with bikers, who try to emulate their idols from the 'Amstel Gold Race' and other well-known races on the sometimes hard climbs. Besides Valkenburg is known as the 'Christmas City', opening the festive season with a grand parade and attracting guests with unusual subterranean Christmas markets.
As well far to the south, on the Dutch North Sea coast, you can visit the Romantik Hotel Auberge de Campveerse Toren in Veere. For more than 500 years the building close to the water is an inn. The list of famous guests starts with the wedding dinner in 1575 of Willem van Oranje and Charlotte de Bourbon and definitely does not finish with Prince Rainier of Monaco and his wife Gracia Patricia. In fact every guest is treated and pampered here like royalty.
Veere (thanks to today's Romantik Hotel and the afore-mentioned wedding dinner) as well as Middleburg are located on the so-called Oranier route, which even takes you across borders to Schwerin, Oranienburg and Potsdam in Germany and which keeps you travelling in the footsteps of the Dutch royal family. Stroll through the narrow, cobble-stoned alleys of Middleburg, enjoy the incomparable panorama of the city on a boat trip on the canals or let yourself be taken back to the middle ages in the cathedral.
A short travel to the north takes you to the Romantik Hotel Hostellerie Schuddebeurs in Schuddebeurs. Since centuries the region is a popular travel destination. In its 300-year-history the house, surrounded by splendid country estates, was used as inn and as tea house. Do not miss trying the regional products of the season like lobster from the Oosterschelde and scallops from the Lake Grevelingen.
Apropos Lake Grevelingen: A dam seperates the former estuary, 11,000 hectare in size, since 1971, and forms today one of the most beautiful and cleanest saltwater inland seas in Europe. Besides professionally led nature excursions you also have the possibilty to dive or do kite-surfing. Sometimes you even have the chance to see seals or porpoises.
As well on the North Sea coast, but on the Belgian one, you can find the Romantik Hotel Manoir Carpe Diem in De Haan. Just 400 metres from the beach and the popular promenade the elegant villa is located close to the dune forest. Relax in the lovely decorated guest rooms and enjoy the garden in the English style with a heated swimming pool.
De Haan has the longest beach on the Belgian coast. Put on some warm clothes and take a stroll on the sand, which still lets you feel the summer warmth. Watch the tireless and bad weather resistant kite-surfers, whose colourful sails set accents. Belle Epoque style dominates the village and numerous balconies, bay windows, turrets and roof dormers make for a beautiful picture.
Half an hour's drive to the inland you will find the famous and popular Bruges and therefore the Romantik Pandhotel. The elegant mansion from the 18th century is located on an avenue beautifully lined with plane trees. The rooms, decorated with numerous antiques and delightful flower bouquets, remind you of a private home, the breakfast, served at the table, will be unforgettable. Every afternoon (from Monday to Friday) you might join in a tour of the city, where the highlights of Bruges are presented to you by an insider.
From September 17th, 2010 to January 30th, 2011 Bruges is all about the city festival. Every five years this festival of contemporary art takes place with an extensive programme of exhibitions, concerts, movies, dance and theatre. A highlight of the upcoming festival is the exhibition 'Van Eyck to Duerer'. When you come to the 'world capital of chocolate' you should definitely not miss a visit to the chocolate museum. And did you know that there even is a French fries museum?
Further south in the province of West Flanders you arrive at Poperinge and the Romantik Hotel Recour. Whereas the guest rooms in the category 'Romantik' are all named after Greek muses, in the category 'Design' famous names like Van Der Rohe and Le Corbusier are the inspiration. In the design-rooms much attention is paid to the right light, taking into consideration the experiences with light therapy. The extra-wide beds - there is even a room with a waterbed - invite you to being lazy.
The nearby Ypers is one of the best-known fighting grounds of the First World War. Numerous military cemeteries and various museums remind of the history in all its gruel facets. They are reminder and warning at the same time. Every evening the military tattoo is played below the mighty arch of the Menentor monument.
Dilsen-Stokkem is located in the north-eastern part of Belgium. Here the Romantik Hotel Hostellerie La Feuille d'Or welcomes its guests. Host Jan Martens is also the chef and known and praised for his French orientated cuisne and his fabulous desserts. Due to the fact that the palace build in 1868 is located in the middle of a large park, it offers the ideal setting for relaxation.
It is not far from Dilsen-Stokkem to Hasselt, the capital of the province of Limburg. Here there are two quite different museums that are worth a visit: On the one hand there is the National Jenever Museum (maybe more interesting for the men), located in a historical distillery. Learn everything about the production of the so-called Dutch gin and try one or the other glass. On the other hand there is a fashion museum - probably more interesting for women. On the occasion of he Virga-Jesse-festivities, which take place every seven years, they show a special exhibition on the context of contemporary designer fashion and religion until January 9th, 2011.
Stavelot and the Romantik Hotel Le Val d'Ambleve are to be found in the province of Liege and the city is often called the 'pearl of the Liege Ardennes'. Located in the middle of a park with 100 year old trees the hotel offers the right mix of peaceful quietness and friendly pampering.
Stavelot is the oldest village of Belgium. Today its abbey houses three fascinating museums on very different subjects. One of them is dedicated in a modern, intelligent and at the same time playful way to the principality of Stavelot-Malmedy, which was influential far across the Belgian boundaries. The Museum Guillaume Apollinaire commemorates the author of the same name, whose lyrics are among the most important French literature of the beginning of the 20th century. In the splendid cellar vaults you might take an unusual look at the nearby racing course of Spa-Franchorchamps, to many 'the most beautiful racing course in the world'. Original racing cars and pictures, which are up to now unpublished, increase the racing fever.
'There is no bad weather. There is only unsuitable clothing.' - This phrase is true, no doubt. And with our excursion tips we tried to show you, that the Netherlands and Belgium have a lot to offer, in good and in bad weather. Just ask your Romantik hosts - they always have one or the other (secret) tip for their region.
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