Even if you’ve been to Antwerp before, strolled through the city’s fashion district, you might have missed the city is housing in its heart one of Europe’s most ambitious hospitality projects. Hidden behind unassuming 19th-century facades, Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, a proud member of The Leading Hotels of the World, transforms nearly 800 years of monastic and medical heritage into a five-star superior destination that redefines what a city-centre retreat can be.
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The sensitive restoration honours eight centuries of history while delivering every contemporary comfort. The gastronomic programme rivals any European capital. The spa promises evolution toward an even more integrated wellness offering. Botanic Sanctuary represents something increasingly rare: a hospitality project where ambition matches execution.
History Written in Stone
The story begins in 1238, when an order of monks established a monastery and the St. Elisabeth hospital on this very site, dedicating themselves to caring for Antwerp’s sick and poor. The 15th century brought a Gothic chapel and infirmary, both magnificently restored and now serving as spectacular venues for celebrations and concerts. During Antwerp’s golden era in the 16th century, when the North Sea trading port ranked among Europe’s wealthiest cities, renowned pharmacist Peeter van Coudenberghe established an apothecary and planted a medicinal garden to supply remedies for the hospital.
The site evolved through centuries of additions and renovations. In 1836, the main entrance and front buildings along Leopoldstraat were constructed, followed by a new apothecary in 1847. The botanical garden, revived in the mid-19th century by chief surgeon Claude Louis Sommé and head pharmacist Francois Verbert, became a listed space in 1950. By the time Belgian property developers Eric De Vocht and Maryse Odeurs of IRET signed a 99-year lease in 2017, they inherited five dilapidated historic buildings and a neglected 20,000-square-metre site crying out for restoration.
Restoration: Stripping Back to Reveal the Bones
The transformation required both archaeological sensitivity and bold contemporary vision. Historian Anneleen Cassiman conducted exhaustive research into the site’s layered past, providing the foundation for a restoration that would strip away insensitive 20th-century additions while preserving the ancient stonework and structures beneath. Working closely with Antwerp’s Conservation Department, architects uncovered long-hidden medieval elements, including original beams and Gothic details that now define the hotel’s character.
New structures were designed to complement rather than compete with the heritage buildings. Elegant conservatory-style glass corridors, inspired by the hospital’s 19th-century canopy, now link the various buildings while connecting interior spaces with the gardens. The three-storey Botanic Health Spa, designed by renowned spa architect Heinz Schletterer, incorporates the red-brick wall of the original orangery into its base, a respectful nod to the site’s horticultural heritage.
Natural materials dominate throughout: stone, wood, silk, linen, and wool. Artisanal details and traditional painting techniques were reinterpreted to harmonise with the buildings’ spirit. Custom-designed furniture and lighting maintain a sober, contemporary aesthetic, while botanical motifs appear subtly in wrought iron handles and woollen wall hangings.
Rooms and Suites: 108 Unique Sanctuaries
Spread across five historic buildings, Sint-Joris, Monasterium, Sint-Elisabeth, Alnetum, and Filips Van Marnix Huis, no two of the 108 rooms and suites are alike. Many feature original fixtures such as centuries-old overhead beams, while wood-shuttered windows frame views of courtyards, gardens, or the stained-glass windows of the 15th-century chapel.
The top-floor suites deliver Flemish artist atelier vibes with exposed beams and dramatically pitched ceilings. Some include winding wooden staircases and cosy corners that evoke childhood hide-and-seek adventures. First-floor rooms offer airy serenity during warmer months. Throughout, colours remain soft and warm, sage, putty, clotted cream, sand, creating spaces that feel like sanctuary rather than spectacle.
The Diamond Suite and Spa Suite elevate the experience further with private spa treatment spaces, Finnish saunas, whirlpools, Technogym bikes, and air filtration systems. Every room benefits from exemplary soundproofing, reliable Wi-Fi, and the kind of thoughtful details that distinguish truly exceptional hospitality. Furthermore, every room is unique, with design team carefully working on developing details corresponding with Botanic Sanctuary’s overall sentiment.
Gastronomic Constellation
Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp has rapidly established itself as a culinary destination, with three Michelin stars distributed across its restaurants. The flagship Hertog Jan helmed by chef Gert De Mangeleer and maître-sommelier Joachim Boudens, earned two stars within seven months of opening. The intimate interior by Benoit Viaene provides no distractions from De Mangeleer’s omakase-style tasting menu, a culinary expedition where guests shift tables mid-meal to a dome beside the kitchen.
Fine Fleur, awarded one Michelin star, showcases the cosmopolitan talents of Jacob Jan Boerma and Thomas Diepersloot. Their cuisine draws inspiration from Asia, Spain, southern Europe, and North America, with local ingredients taking the lead. Bar Bulot, a De Mangeleer/Boudens spin-off, delivers impeccably executed Franco-Belgian bistro classics, the vol-au-vent for two has achieved legendary status.
Henry’s Bar and Bistro, named for 19th-century Botanical Garden director Henri-Ferdinand van Heurck, offers a more casual atmosphere under Senior Executive Chef Johan Aarts. The space flows from intimate bar to bright conservatory to terrace, serving robust French and Belgian favourites.
High Tea by Atelier van Damme, held in the historic monastery kitchens, showcases the artistry of renowned pastry chef Roger van Damme. Thursday through Sunday, guests enjoy Veuve Clicquot Brut alongside handmade finger sandwiches, house-baked scones, and sweet creations that blur the line between confection and art. An experience worthy a stop on your Antwerp schedule.
Breakfast unfolds beneath the soaring ceilings of Catalpa, where a lavish buffet features collaborations with local producers, including Antwerp’s Van Tricht family of cheese affineurs. Sunday brunch transforms the 15th-century chapel into a celebration of excess, complete with Nicolas Feuillatte Blanc de Blancs Champagne and live music.
Botanic Health Spa: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science
The 1,000-square-metre spa across three floors represents the hotel’s commitment to holistic wellness. The 18-metre panoramic swimming pool, Finnish sauna with herbal infusions, Himalayan salt-stone sauna, infrared textile sauna, steam bath, and infinity whirlpool provide traditional relaxation options. Ten treatment rooms offer everything from massages to facials using medical-grade Swiss skincare lines Méthode Physiodermie and Clinical Swiss Organics.
The spa’s philosophy centres on the revolutionary Mylife Changer concept, a research-driven botanical approach to addressing the ageing process through hyper-personalised treatments. Spa directors Tamara Brnelic and Xavier Le Clef, oversee advanced programmes that honour the site’s centuries-old healing traditions while embracing contemporary science.
The top-floor Botanic Health Club offers 24/7 access to state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, with floor-to-ceiling windows blurring boundaries between interior workout spaces and the ancient rooftops beyond.
Botanic Sanctuary Welcomes the Most Sought-After Pedicurist
Late last year, Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp has elevated its wellness offering through an exclusive partnership with Bastien Gonzalez, the legendary French pedicure-podiatrist often referred to as “the king of pedicures” and a true foot virtuoso. Gonzalez pioneered the concept of Pédicurologie over two decades ago, transforming foot care from routine maintenance into an art form that merges medical precision with luxury spa indulgence. His client list reads like a who’s who of international celebrities, and his Pedi:Mani:Cure Studios now feature in the world’s most prestigious hotels, from Mandarin Oriental and One&Only to Raffles properties globally.
What distinguishes Gonzalez’s approach is his philosophy built on three pillars: education, emotion, and impeccable technique. His signature dry pedicure method, developed alongside renowned Parisian osteopaths, leaves traditional tools in favour of chamois leather buffing and bespoke massage protocols that leave nails naturally luminous and feet genuinely transformed. During our visit, Bastien himself was on-site exclusively, offering access to the master and his iconic Révérence de Bastien product line. For anyone who has experienced a Gonzalez treatment, it becomes the benchmark against which all future pedicures are measured, a truly unique addition to Botanic Sanctuary’s already exceptional spa programme.
Beyond the Sanctuary
The hotel’s 2,450-square-metre congress centre, spread across 14 multifunctional rooms including the 325-square-metre Larix auditorium, positions Botanic Sanctuary as Antwerp’s premier meeting destination. The 15th-century chapel, now deconsecrated, serves as an unparalleled venue for weddings, classical concerts, and celebrations.
The surrounding neighbourhood, once overlooked, is experiencing renaissance. A public street runs through the hotel grounds, connecting guests to this emerging quarter. The historic centre with its cathedral and Rubens’ House lies ten minutes away on foot; the newly renovated Royal Museum of Fine Arts, twenty minutes in the opposite direction.
Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, Lange Gasthuisstraat 45, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium. Member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
For more info and booking log on to: botanicantwerp.be.
