Bilderberg Hotel "De Bovenste Molen" in Venlo, Holland

The FREE PARKING LOT was just across the road from the restaurant/hotel and a little above it. It was full with about 50 autos or so parked in the middle of the woods! We had a lovely view of the Restaurant/hotel as we parked and walked down and across the street towards the entryway.

The steps leading down to the Reception area are covered with a canopy so that in rain or snow the steps stay dry, and so do you. There is a small reception area, but very luxurious to see. It is a combination of ultra-modern and antique, a style that many hotels are adopting these days, especially the Bildederberg group of hotels, to which the Bovenste Molen belongs. The architect must have had an eye for detail, for everywhere you look, you see the littlest things, arranged in pleasing ways, for example, the large lamp over the reception area is identical to the smaller table version on the desk, or the large round shiny black vase sitting on the wide window sill with the red twisted branch jutting out from it.

When the waiter greeted us, we opted to sit outside on the very large terrace, as it was a rare and lovely warm day. The patio is cement decking surrounded by a small decorative metal fence. The fencing is to keep guests from accidentally falling into the beautiful lake, which is too large to be called a pond. In the distance, on the other side of the lake and along its perimeter, there are weeping willows which are reflected in the water, as well as a Japanese style foot-bridge. White swans swim up to the terrace area and, while we were there, some of the guests with children came out from the restaurant with baskets of old bread to feed the swans, just as I have fed ducks in local lakes and ponds.

It was all very serene and pleasant.

The wait staff is fast and very efficient, yet friendly and helpful. They have a separate menu in English as well as Dutch. Coffee is 2.50 Euros, as well as beer (with a special 'beer of the month' for 3.75). Cherry pie with whipped cream comes in at 4.25, but it is lovely. A ham and egg sandwich, 7.75 and the club sandwich is 14.75. There are a variety of salads, soups, sandwiches and French fries available. They also have a 4-course menu for 37.50. Our coffee was served with a cookie and a chocolate! While we ate, we never felt any pressure to hurry and we thoroughly enjoyed the restful afternoon.

From the hallway near the reception area, you can smell a very faint chlorine smell from the swimming pool. We took a little tour of the facilities, and they have a not-too-large swimming pool, squarish and angular in design, with blue tiles and a diving area. Here were two boys swimming and diving. There were dark blue deck chairs and lounges around the pool. There is a gymnasium, hot tub and sauna. And they also give massages. The prices can be found on their website.

They have conference rooms for business people and organizations to hold meetings. They will provide coffee/tea/drinks and sandwiches at your request.

This is not a cheap hotel. We didn't go inside the bedrooms, but a room for 2 persons is listed at 124 Euros, excluding breakfast, which is an additional 16 Euros. They will, for a additional 30 Euros, make you a picnic basket, if you so desire, to take with you as you wander around the many paths and the woods surrounding the hotel. They have no 'smoking rooms' in which to stay, so if you are a smoker, be warned! Smoking is allowed in the Restaurant (at least for the rest of 2007!) and on the Terrace.