Kasteel Van Ordingen

Kasteel Van Ordingen

In the village of Ordingen, in the heart of Haspengouw's orchard country, a former castle domain has become a 32 room hotel that keeps its history close. Guests sleep in the commandeurswoning or in the castle wing itself, rooms dressed by decorator Pieter Porters rather than a chain design template, which sets it apart from most castle hotels its size that either over restore the stonework or under furnish the rooms. Comfort doubles run close to 30 square metres, suites reach 55, and each room keeps air conditioning, a minibar, a safe and a proper desk, not just a bed and a view. Two kitchens work under one roof: Restaurant Aurum, where chef Arne Beirinckx builds four and six course tasting menus around North Sea and Oosterschelde catches, wild sea bass, sole, Belgian Berugi beef, and Bistro Richard next door, serving shrimp croquettes and hand cut steak tartare for guests who want dinner without ceremony. A spa area with hammam, sauna, infrared loungers and a fitness room sits beside a garden and terrace, and a conference hall covers anyone mixing work into the stay. Free parking and an EV charger make the three kilometre run into Sint-Truiden simple, and multilingual staff handle tour bookings for the orchards outside. Pets are not allowed, and pushing checkout past 11am costs 35 euros, worth knowing before booking. This suits a couple wanting a proper dinner without leaving the building and a room with some design opinion behind it. It does not suit anyone chasing a big name spa brand or a city centre address. What lands is how ordinary the extraordinary feels here: a castle that runs like a well kept small hotel. A 32-room castle hotel outside Sint-Truiden, with rooms decorated by Pieter Porters and two kitchens under one roof, chef-led Aurum and the more relaxed Bistro Richard. Spa, garden and free parking come standard; pets do not, and late checkout costs 35 euros.