Introduction

The city of Antwerp in Belgium has a long history as an important trading centre. Back in the 16th century, Antwerp was to Belgium what New York is to the US today. In fact, Antwerp is home to the world’s first purpose built stock exchange that was established to trade in commodities. You can visit a replica of the old stock exchange just off the main drag in the city centre. Antwerp has a large harbour that plays an important role in the shipment of non-containered goods. There is also an inconspicuous little alley not far from the central station where most of the world’s diamonds are bought and sold.

Location

The Radisson Blu Antwerp Centre is located facing the railway station at Antwerp Central Station. Personally, I think that Antwerp is worth a visit for its railway station alone. It’s an extraordinary building in so many ways. The original steel canopy and the main building were built at the end of the 19th century.

Originally, there were ten tracks under the canopy and Antwerp was the end of the line. However, at some point the SNCB wanted to expand the station with the construction of transit platforms that would make it possible for high speed trains between Amsterdam and Brussels and Paris to serve the station without having to reverse back out of the station on departure. As a result, today, only six tracks remain on the original platform level. A further four tracks with platforms were built right below them, and then another four below that, so that trains now stop on three levels – with the long distance trains passing through at the bottom level.

Check-In

I arrive at the hotel just after 14h and I’m seen to straight away. The young lady explains that check-in isn’t normally until after 15h, but she’ll check if anything is available. Fortunately, my room has already been done. She hands me the key card to my room on the eighth floor and wishes me a nice stay.

Premium Room with City View

The eighth floor is in the attic of the building. The corridors are starting to show their age and have an odd, musky smell. However, the room I’m in is modern and well maintained. There are a few things about the configuration of the room that seem a bit strange, though. For example, there is a small table right near the entrance with the kettle and a Nespresso machine on it. The entry space isn’t very big to start with, so that the little table just ends up being in the way, especially if you’re trying to enter the room with a suitcase. The underlying issue is that there are hardly any electric sockets in the room.

The room is rather large, but there’s quite a lot of wasted space. Opposite the door is the living area with a large sofa, a coffee table, an armchair and another coffee table next to the armchair. What the room does not have, is a desk.

The room has two large, round bay windows looking out towards the centre of the old town. Off to the right I can even see the harbour from up here.

The bed is large. However, the mattress is very soft, which is a killer for my back. By the time I wake up after my first night, I’ve already made a mental note to call my chiro again when I get back for him to set me straight again.

The bathroom is fairly large and features a separate bath and shower. The pressure in the shower is good, but it’s still a fail on the tried and tested Knight of Malta flood test. By the time I’m done showering, there’s water on the bathroom floor between the shower and the toilet. The cosmetics are Radisson Blu branded.

Amenities

Just as I arrive in my room after check-in, there’s a knock at the door. I open to find a young lady from the hotel waiting. “You beat me to it”, she says and hands me a card that she’d planned to already have in the room when I got there.

In addition, there are two bottles of spa water – one still and one sparkling. As previously mentioned, there’s also a kettle and a Nespresso machine – although the capsules are not Nespresso originals and the selection of tea bags is a bit strange.

Dining

I only have breakfast at the hotel, which is served in the restaurant on the second floor. There’s a good selection of food options to choose from – including a fairly large cheese board. Alas, the coffee is disgusting, to the point of being impossible to drink. More importantly, though, the restaurant has a great view of the railway station on the other side of the square. I have breakfast early, at seven in the morning, and the restaurant is quiet. However, if you go for breakfast later, it’s much, much busier.

Conclusion

In a way it’s always the same with the Radisson Blu hotels. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed at one of their properties and thought, “I can’t wait to be back!”, and the Radisson Blu Antwerp City Centre is a very good example of that. There’s nothing wrong with the hotel and despite the room’s quirks, it was clean and everything worked. Even so, I don’t think I’d go out of my way to stay here again.