We like to take you to a special place, August in Antwerp. The beautifully renovated Augustinian monastery has a hotel, bar, restaurant, wellness spa, shop and three walled gardens, one of which has a natural swimming pond. The Augustinian Convent of the Military Hospital was left abandoned for twenty years. Fortunately, hotelier Mouche van Hool saw the potential in the historic site close to the center. Together with Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen and chef Nick Bril, she slowly but surely transformed the five buildings into a wonderful 'modern sanctuary'.
August has a homely atmosphere. The monumental buildings have been carefully renovated, preserving as many original elements as possible. A nice detail is that we made the By Mölle linen throws in sea shell in extra large format (145 x 270 cm) especially at the request of Mouche for the styling of the beds of Hotel August. These throws can be purchased online and in the August store.
"August is hospitable, warm and thoughtful. Everybody is welcome. You can relax in the gardens, visit the spa or dine in our restaurant or at The Jane. I love craftsmanship, high quality and pure materials. No plastic badges here, but a real key gives access to your room. " Mouche van Hool hotelier August
architectural heritageThe Military Hospital was built in Antwerp in the early 1900s for Belgian soldiers. The eight-hectare domain consists of a main building, pavilions, service buildings, a central chapel and a monastery. The sisters Augustinian lived in an L-shaped eclectic building around a courtyard with a Lourdes grotto. Together with heritage architect Wouter Callebaut a lot of thought has gone into how to turn a 1912 monastery into a contemporary hotel while retaining the original details of the Flemish neoclassical architectural style. The renovation was a titanic job involving about three hundred people. And it shows. For example, the former chapel has been converted into a lounge with a bar with nine authentic stained-glass windows and high ceilings. Beautiful in combination with the modern stylish interior of Vincent van Duysen.
"My style is understated. It's very subtle. It's timeless. In a way, there's a modernity with a touch of conservatism." Vincent Van Duysen
a serene ambianceThe interior is pure and serene, which fits well with the history of the monastery. Where the nuns of the monastery once lived you can now find rooms and suits with a unique interior design. A warm tribute to monastic life. Everything is custom made in detail, designed by Vincent van Duysen. The furniture, the lighting, the carpets, the glassware in the bar, the lamps in the spacious rooms and the garden chairs in the courtyard. The marble in the chapel, where the bar is now located, is authentic. Just like the round stained glass window and the floor tiles, all cleaned piece by piece. Once used as a place for prayer, the Lourdes Grotto in the garden is now a lovely place to retreat and soak up the sun.
The JaneTip from us: Combine your stay at Hotel August with a dinner at The Jane. About a hundred meters away from August star chefs Sergio Herman and Nick Bril run one of the most beautiful restaurants in the world. The restaurant with two Michelin stars is housed in the former chapel of the Military Hospital. Studio Piet Boon designed the restaurant and, together with countless craftsmen and artists, ensured that The Jane became a gem.
Hotel August
Jules Bordetstraat 5, Antwerpen (Groen Kwartier), België.
Photography Robert Rieger