A refined escape where nature, gastronomy, wellness and quiet luxury come together

Some hotels make an impression from the moment you arrive. La Butte aux Bois belongs to another category - one where the beauty of the estate reveals itself slowly, through details.

Located in Lanaken, on the edge of the Hoge Kempen National Park, this five-star superior hotel is one of Belgium’s most elegant retreats. Dating back to 1924, the historic estate was originally built as an aristocratic hunting lodge and has since evolved into a destination where heritage, nature and contemporary hospitality meet with remarkable discretion. For Luxury Brussels, we discovered La Butte aux Bois during a one-night stay with a +1 and our small dog Willy - a detail that made the experience feel even more personal. Because yes, refined hospitality can also be dog-friendly. And when a hotel of this level manages to welcome a four-legged guest without compromising its atmosphere, that is a luxury detail worth noting.

A Historic Estate With a Five-Star Superior Spirit

La Butte aux Bois recently reaffirmed its place among Belgium’s leading luxury hotels by regaining its coveted 5 Superior classification under the stricter Belgian hotel standards introduced in 2025. More than a label, this recognition reflects what one feels throughout the stay: a strong attention to service, comfort, refinement and experience.

The estate has also joined Small Luxury Hotels of the World, further confirming its international appeal while preserving the intimacy and personality of an independent property.

There is no ostentation here. The luxury of La Butte aux Bois is quieter, more mature. It is found in the softness of the surroundings, the professionalism of the welcome, the rhythm of the service, the beauty of the architecture and the sense that every detail has been considered without ever becoming theatrical.

With 62 rooms and suites spread across the estate, La Butte aux Bois offers several atmospheres within one domaine. Our room was located in the Manoir, the heart of the property, where the reception, La Source, Bistrôt Le Ciel and the bar are housed under the same roof.

The Manoir carries the soul of the estate beautifully. It feels historic, intimate and elegant, with that particular kind of charm that cannot be manufactured. It belongs to places that have lived, changed and refined themselves over time.

The Green Side of Luxury

One of the most striking aspects of La Butte aux Bois is its relationship with nature.

Set beside the Hoge Kempen National Park, the hotel is surrounded by greenery, gardens and forest. The atmosphere is immediately different from a city hotel. The pace softens. The eye rests. The air feels quieter.

This is perhaps where La Butte aux Bois is most successful: it does not simply use nature as a backdrop. It allows nature to become part of the experience. From the gardens to the spa, from the view outside the windows to the decorative objects inside the hotel, the estate creates a dialogue between the outdoors and the interiors.

Guests can explore the surrounding region by hiking, cycling or horseback riding, making the hotel a beautiful base for those who want to combine a luxury stay with the calm and beauty of the Belgian landscape.

It is a green escape, but not in a rustic way. It is nature interpreted through refinement.

Art, Minerals and Natural History

Beyond its architecture and natural setting, La Butte aux Bois has another distinctive layer: its connection to art, geology and natural history.

Throughout the property, one can discover decorative objects, minerals, fossils, crystals, petrified wood and gemstones. These are not random decorative accents, but part of a broader hospitality concept where rare geological objects and natural history contribute to a “rest, relax and learn” experience.

The collaboration with GRANADA is visible across the hotel, creating a sense of discovery from one space to another. It gives the property an identity that feels both intellectual and sensory: luxury not only as comfort, but also as curiosity.

There is also a beautiful connection with jewellery through Jochen Leën, Belgian jewellery designer and rare gem collector. Inside the hotel, jewellery pieces and exceptional stones continue this narrative of nature, craftsmanship and rarity. It is a subtle but fascinating bridge between hospitality and high jewellery.

At La Butte aux Bois, the decorative language feels grounded in the earth itself.

A Dog-Friendly Luxury Stay With Willy

Travelling with a dog often means compromise. At La Butte aux Bois, the experience felt surprisingly seamless.

Willy was welcome to join us at the hotel, and the property handled the dog-friendly aspect with ease and elegance. For guests who travel with a small, well-behaved dog, this is a genuine added value, especially in a destination that lends itself so naturally to walks, greenery and slow mornings.

Of course, there are certain spaces where dogs are not allowed, such as inside Le Ciel during dinner, which is completely understandable. But overall, the stay felt comfortable, warm and thoughtful.

For us, having Willy there made the escape feel even more personal. It transformed the stay from a beautiful hotel experience into a complete lifestyle moment: refined, peaceful and shared.

Dinner at Bistrôt Le Ciel

Our dinner took place at Le Ciel, the timeless bistrôt of La Butte aux Bois.

If La Source represents the fine dining expression of the estate, Le Ciel offers a more accessible yet still refined culinary experience. Chef Pieter Beurskens describes the cuisine as Franco-Belgian with global influences, translated into dishes that are both accessible and surprising.

The atmosphere of Le Ciel is elegant. There is a sense of ease, but also attention. The setting continues the hotel’s natural-history story, with decorative objects such as ammolites, gogottes, crystals, minerals, petrified wood and gemstones woven into the space.

Our three-course dinner felt thoughtful, refined and beautifully rooted in the spirit of La Butte aux Bois. A perfect balance: a calm dining experience that reflected the character of the estate itself.

Le Ciel extends the same language of discretion, quality and understated sophistication.

The Shiseido Institute: Wellness With an International Signature

Wellness is another essential part of the La Butte aux Bois experience.

The hotel is home to the Spa & Wellness Shiseido Institute, the only Shiseido Institute in the Benelux and one of only five in the world. This gives the spa a unique international signature within the Belgian luxury hotel landscape.

The wellness facilities include an indoor pool, panoramic sauna, hammam, infrared cabins and more. During our stay, we experienced the Spa Wave session, a touchless wellness moment combining sound, gentle vibration and light therapy. It is not a traditional massage, but rather a sensory relaxation experience designed to help the body slow down and reset.

The spa feels connected to the surrounding nature, not separate from it. There is a quietness to the space that echoes the forest outside: soft, calm, restorative. For guests looking for a deeper wellness stay, the Shiseido Institute also offers a range of treatments, making La Butte aux Bois an appealing destination for those who see wellness as an essential part of luxury travel.

The Bentley Touch: D’Ieteren Luxury Performance

Another detail that caught our attention upon arrival was the presence of Bentley at the entrance.

La Butte aux Bois has entered into an exclusive partnership with D’Ieteren Luxury Performance, the official distributor of prestigious automotive brands such as Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Rimac and Maserati in Belgium.

The collaboration feels very aligned with the hotel’s identity. A great idea to extend hospitality beyond the hotel walls. Guests may be picked up from the airport in a Bentley Bentayga or taken on a scenic drive through the region, while extraordinary vehicles from D’Ieteren Luxury Performance are regularly showcased on the grounds.

For Luxury Brussels, La Butte aux Bois offered exactly what a Belgian luxury retreat should: elegance, calm, character and a sense of place.

A five-star superior escape in Belgian Limburg, rooted in nature, elevated by gastronomy, and made memorable by the details.