Hotel Van Cleef

In an Italianate mansion dating back 700 years, which formerly served as the home of the counts and dukes of the Van Cleef dynasty, Hotel Van Cleef is a small, quirky, family-owned boutique hotel overlooking one of Bruges’ charming canals.

• The privileged location, set back from the bustle of Bruges' tourist center (and it's the only hotel in Bruges with a private canal dock)
• The outdoor terrace, where guests can enjoy a cocktail overlooking the canal
• The intimate, sociable atmosphere and personalized service, aligned with a bed-and-breakfast-style property

On the border of Bruges’s Sint Anna quarter, Hotel Van Cleef is removed from the action—but in a city that is walkable in just under 35 minutes, it is still only a short distance from the main square and the iconic Belfry. The hotel’s piece de resistance: it sits atop one of Bruges's many picturesque canals—the only luxury property in the city to claim such a locale.

The intimate, family-owned property has sixteen rooms across the former manor and carriage house. The rooms are spacious and quirky, and the theme throughout follows an eclectic, Art Deco profile, with many furnishings and objets from Missoni and Hermès. There are no connecting rooms, but there are some suites. Many of the rooms have outdoor terraces, though some of the terraces in the newer part of the hotel look over the property’s small car park, rather than the canal, so room choice is important. (Indagare or your Trip Designer can help find the right room to score a view.)

The property is owned and operated by the Vanhaecke family, with Frederik running the show as General Manager, his wife Pascale serving as interior designer and curator of the on-property boutique, and their son, Arnaud, assisting with operations (he is also a photographer). Frederik began his career in hospitality at the Hotel Amigo in Brussels, and operated The Pand and Hotel De Orangerie in Bruges before opening the Van Cleef in 2015.

Right off the reception desk, there is a light-filled, greenhouse-style sitting room. The space was formerly the residents’ winter garden, and today it is adorned with pillows, baubles, books and furniture in varying shades of cool blue and bright green. Around the corner is a cozier sitting room done in a warmer palette with an African safari theme and fireplace. The hotel serves daily breakfast and afternoon tea in a cheerful dining room with gallery walls, and there is a small bar as well as an impressive outdoor terrace where guests can enjoy snacks.

The hotel does not have a spa or fitness center, and although there is always somebody on-property, reception closes at 11:00 p.m. nightly, when the massive wooden front doors are locked for the evening (guests have hotel access via keycard 24/7).

Visitors to Bruges who value the canal location and are happy without many bells and whistles

Travelers who need a full-service property with 24-hour reception