From Pancake Restaurant to Hotel Chain

More than 80 years ago, in 1935, Martinus and Riet van der Valk opened a café called ‘de Gouden Leeuw’ in Voorschoten in the Netherlands. They sold exclusively coffee and lemonade in the first few years. Later on, they also began to sell pancakes and refreshments. Business went so well that they rapidly extended the café. At the same time, they opened a butcher's shop to provide ‘de Gouden Leeuw’ with fresh meat. The family's aim was to produce all the products the restaurant required themselves and sell them. That same business strategy was followed at all the hotels and restaurants they subsequently opened. Today, the Van der Valk Group includes interior design firms, furniture manufacturers, kitchen fitters and tour operators.

The road on which ‘de Gouden Leeuw’ was located was widened in 1939. Consequently, the restaurant had to be demolished. A new restaurant with the same name and a small hotel with 10 rooms were erected at a new location. When, in 1947, the family opened several new restaurants, the Van der Valk Group began to take shape.

Martinus van der Valk died in 1969. At the time, the Van der Valk chain already consisted of 16 hotels and restaurants. Each of his sons and daughters was given control over one establishment. Today, the establishments are run by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Martinus van der Valk. Although it has grown enormously, the Van der Valk Group is still a family business, and that explains the homey atmosphere. Wherever you see the toucan sign in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Netherlands Antilles or Florida, you know you will find a hotel and restaurant to your liking.

Van der Valk Hotel Antwerp

Van der Valk Hotel Antwerp is a four-star hotel that has recently been added to the Dutch hotel chain. Our aim is to become one of the top three of four-star hotels in Antwerp. To this end, the hotel was transformed into a four-star-plus hotel. 

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