Cindy-Lou Dale

No sooner have social arrangements for Christmas and the New Year been negotiated, than little hearts and cupids sparkle from store windows and the commercial machine of Valentine’s Day is upon us once more. By this stage a touch of romance and a dreamy night away might be just what you need. Finding an authentic Valentine’s treat on a continent not too taken with a day observing the rituals of love is not that easy though.

Just over two hours drive from Brussels, in a landscape of small green fields akin to a shaken-out quilt just settling back onto a bed, lies the steepled village of Arcen, a hidden treasure our Dutch neighbours have understandably been keeping to themselves.

 

Arcen, on Holland’s border with Germany, is a quaint picture postcard hamlet with mysterious place of interest, like the historic Watermolen Distillery where patrons appreciate Schnapps-like Ijsvogel liqueurs, distilled bitters, brandy and corn wine; or the Arcen Castle Gardens, home to Holland’s most beautiful landscaped garden of perennials, with appealing little stores selling local arts and crafts.

 

Stroll along the village main street and wander past elegant little shops, like the designer milliner Hoed van't Hof; or the renowned ice cream parlour, Clevers, who supposedly make the best ice cream in Holland; beside which is the Bekkerke bakery attracting patisserie connoisseurs from across the border; but perhaps the most peculiar attraction of all is the National Asparagus and Mushroom Museum.

 

Asparagus is big in Arcen. It was first introduced to the district some fifty years ago by the Smits family who own and run the stylish Romantik Hostellerie de Hamert restaurant - legendary across Europe for its marvellous asparagus menu. During the short asparagus season, mid-April to end-June, Chef Harold Kok, allows his creativity to flow in the kitchen, producing the most ingenious asparagus based dishes.

 

In fact, the Romantik Hostellerie de Hamert is in such an idyllic location you may decide to stay a while and book a room in their ten-room hotel adjacent to the restaurant. All their rooms are spacious, luxuriously decorated with large balconies offering uninterrupted views across the lazy Maas River on one side and woodlands on the other.

 

Immerse yourself in the perfect combination of style and Limburg hospitality. Luxuriate in an ambiance reminiscent of an old country inn and spoil your pallet with international cuisine. Enjoy a Valentine’s break at the Romantik Hostellerie de Hamert, and indulge in the ‘Romantik Package’ especially created for Away readers.

            

Start the evening with a champagne cocktail followed by a Romantik themed candle lit six-course dinner with a wine arrangement. Stay for the night in a luxury suite and be treated to a Romantik breakfast in bed.

 

This especially designed Romantik package is offered at €175 p.p. and is available during Valentine’s week, starting Monday 12^th February.

 

 

A little closer at ninety minutes out of Brussels, and just as heavenly, is the small historic Dutch town of Zierikzee, located on the southern island of Zeeland and connected to the mainland by motorway. Zierikzee has an ancient town centre with buildings dating back as far as the 15^th century and a picturesque yacht harbour straight out of travel brochure. A great expanse of biscuit coloured beach, with a seductive hush and suck of gentle waters lapping at the base of wooded dunes, reduces one to verbal beggary.

 

Just outside of the town lies Schuddebeurs, a forest enclave, surrounded by rural countryside. Only a few hundred people inhabit this charming hamlet where a 300-year old former Inn has been sympathetically restored and elegantly converted into the Romantik Hotel Hostellerie Schuddebeurs.

The Romantik Hotel Hostellerie Schuddebeurs has a long-standing gastronomic reputation which Head Chef, Bart de Bree, nurtures daily using only the finest regional ingredients when creating his lavish French inspired cuisine.

 

This character hotel offers 22 comfortable rooms and a Bridal-Suite which was once a Toll House. Four luxury bungalows have been converted into tasteful suites with terraces overlooking wild lush gardens. Throughout, the hotel oozes classic charm. The bar, which has a superb wine selection, and lounge area have a gentleman’s club feel about it with overstuffed leather chairs, a library, classic art, a maze of chandeliers and antiques.

 

If it’s an inexpressibly gorgeous oasis of rest and romance you’re looking you could not better the Romantik Hostellerie Schuddebeurs who offers Away readers a ‘Romantik Package’ which includes champagne, a six-course candle lit dinner, a wine arrangement, a deluxe room and breakfast.

 

This exclusive Romantik package offer costs €199 p.p. and is available during the Valentine’s week, starting Monday 12^th February.

 

Poperinge, Belgium’s hops capital, is a quite little town a short drive from the Channel Ports and 175km from Brussels. It is also famously linked to WW1’s British war effort.

The historical town square, surrounded by neo-Gothic mansions, has an assortment of taverns serving local brews and creative confectioners offering distinctly unique pastries such as butter caramels, cake with apple slices soaked in beer, thin waffles with a vanilla filling and hop cones in chocolate.

 

A bizarre statue stands beside the 13^th century gothic church which dominates the square. The statue is of Squire Ghybe, a peculiar Don Quichotte-like figure sitting back-to-front on a baying donkey stumbling over boulders. This figure denotes the three main cities of the cloth industry (Gent-Ieper-Bruges) which governed the county of Flanders (the donkey) in the wrong way, and tried to suppress the stubborn town of Poperinge (the boulder) in vain.

 

Down a side street leading off the square is an 18^th century mansion house, historically owned by a tobacconist, but now the Romantik Recour Hotel. The austere exterior of the Recour veils a sumptuous interior which has been sympathetically restored, incorporating many of the original relics into the design. The light classical music which meets you at the front door underlines the hotel’s stylish atmosphere, promising luxury and indulgence.

 

Nostalgia seeps from the eight spacious rooms which have all been individually decorated in muted shades of Tuscan honey, vanilla, buttercup, and soft moss against rough brick walls in hues of cocoa and bark. Dark wooden beams support high ceilings whilst four poster beds, the colour of bitter chocolate, are adorned with ice-white linens. An internal umber tinted glass wall provides visual access to each room’s peace de resistance: a palatial bathroom in shades of Moroccan suede and clotted cream, the centrepiece being a brilliant white cast iron roll-top bath tub, resting on golden clasped eagles claws.

 

The hotel, although brimming with priceless antiques, marble fireplaces and crystal chandeliers, harbours no excesses. Functional charm and modern-day creature comforts are all superbly offset against clouded-pearl and cameo coloured walls. Accents are in subtle relaxing tones of Havana and Russian lavender.

 

Explore West Flanders’ colourful past which is teaming with legends, such as the submerged castle in the surrounding woods, and a knight from Napoleon's army who rides the skies. Visit local WW1 historical sites, the hops museum or the nearby Abbey of St Sixtus at Westvleteren. Later, return to the Romantik Recour and immerse yourself in a bubble bath, soaking up the surrounding perfection and complimentary sherry before entering the elegant and stylish Pegasus restaurant - noted in the Michelin hotel and restaurant guide. Here head Chef Bert Recour’s artistic skills will tease your palette with in exotic cuisine.

The Recour is generously offering Away readers an exclusive Valentine’s Day Romantik package valid for the week commencing Sunday 10^th February with rates starting at €141 per person (luxury room) and €170 per person (superior deluxe room). Friday and Saturday night rates are slightly higher. This offer includes a five-course meal, aperitif, wine and coffee as well as a special Romantik Valentine’s Day gift.

 

SIDEBAR – Ten ways to say I Love You