Van der Valk Hotel Mechelen
A converted 1924 swimming pool, now a hotel
About this hotel
Van der Valk Hotel Mechelen occupies a genuinely striking building: a sophisticated four-star hotel set inside a converted 1924 former swimming pool, nine minutes' walk from the Kazerne Dossin memorial and close to the Rode Kruisplein area. The chic bar and restaurant lean into that architectural history rather than hiding it, and the fitness room and business-centre facilities cover the practical side of a longer stay. Pet-friendly rooms mean a family travelling with a dog doesn't have to choose between this distinctive setting and a straightforward pet policy. It's a short taxi ride from both the old town's core and Plopsaqua's Nekkerspoel site, making it a workable base for a trip built around more than just the water park.
- Historic building
- Pet-friendly
- Fitness centre
- Restaurant and bar
Our take
Van der Valk Hotel Mechelen suits a family drawn to architectural character, a four-star hotel built inside a former 1924 swimming pool, with a restaurant and fitness room to match. It sits slightly further from Grote Markt than the cathedral-adjacent hotels, so it works best for a group happy with a short taxi into the old town rather than a direct walk.
- ✓Ask for a room overlooking the original pool architecture if the building's history is part of why you're booking.
- ✓Confirm pet-friendly rooms and any fees when booking, since policies can vary by room type.
- ✓Use the fitness room on rest days between Plopsaqua visits rather than only the hotel pool history.
Why we love it
- Converted 1924 swimming pool building
- Pet-friendly rooms
- On-site restaurant and fitness room
- Near Kazerne Dossin memorial
Why guests love itThe building itself is the story here: a hotel built inside a 1924 swimming pool, with a chic bar that leans into the architecture rather than covering it up. Being pet-friendly meant we didn't have to compromise between the setting and travelling with our dog, and the short taxi ride to both the old town and out to Nekkerspoel made it a workable, if not the most central, base for the trip.