It is the oldest and biggest spa resort in the Netherlands… and you could say Themae 2000 has been a roaring success.
That would be quite apt as this sprawling hotel and wellness centre is set on what once was a popular zoo.
It’s entirely possible that where you might now either lay your head at night or relax in the whirlpool during the day was the very spot where Klant Zoo once upon a time exercised their elephants or trained lions.
That all came to an end in 1989 when Thermae 2000 first opened. The zoo animals went their different ways and, instead, thermal spas, restaurants, wellness facilities and, a few years later, hotel rooms replaced them.
What did remain (and had to as it is deemed protected by law) is a very large and impressive Mammoet tree, one of the world’s largest, heaviest, and oldest tree species. The new centre had to be built around the tree and, today, it still stand proud among all the state-of-the-art facilities.
The centre is located in the southern part of the country, just a short 90 minute or so drive from Brussels.
It’s not just the oldest and biggest of its kind in the Netherlands but, surely, the one with the most distinctive design.
Thermae 2000 resembles the eye-catching shape of a pyramid which is convenient as it is wedged on the Cauberg, probably the most famous “mountain” in the country, just outside the pretty and popular small town of Valkenburg.
It was founded by a couple of Dutch physio- therapists: Marcel Jaspars and Mijndert Verschuur.
That is appropriate because this is the perfect place to head for should your body feel in the need of a bit of a recharge and TLC (Tender, Loving, Care).
When it came to naming the centre, the two men came up with a novel idea – they chosen the first letter from their Christian names – M – and put them together to come up with MM which, as every Latin scholar will know, means 2000 in Latin, hence Thermae 2000.
The two went their own ways but reunited a few years back once more for a big staff reunion to celebrate the centre’s 30th anniversary.
Today, the centre comprises just about all you’d need for a relaxing get-away-from-it-all short break: wellness centre, spa treatments, a four-star hotel and restaurants where, while on a par with any of those you might find in nearby Valkenburg, you don’t even have to change for dinner as dining in your bathrobe is perfectly acceptable.
The wellness facilities are second to none and include what must be the largest number of saunas on any one site in the whole country. In fact, you could stay for a week, trying a different one each day and still have quite a few left over to experience.
Largest and most popular is Infinitum, which comes with huge windows with splendid panoramic views of what is very unspoilt and easy-on-the-eye surroundings.
But there’s a lot more to this terrific centre than the assorted saunas (both indoor and outdoor). You may also like to pamper yourself, while here, to a spa treatment and, if so, here again you really are spoilt for choice.Whichever you opt for those aching bones and muscles are likely to feel that much less tense.
There’s even a “relax cinema” where, for a relatively small extra charge, you can watch a nature-themed film while relaxing on a massage chair.
As with much else about this lovely place, it is probably the friendly Dutch staff who really make it what it is and one good example is Patricia, one of the longest serving of the team having worked as a masseur here for over 30 years.
One of her specialities is the “Lomi Lomi” massage which is likened to the therapeutic effects of waves on a Hawaiian beach. You are covered from head to toe in fragrant oil and then gently massaged for the next 50 minutes. Another of several treatments available is the “Lotus” massage, again lasting 50 minutes, which covers the front and back of the boy , plus the face.
The newest spa treatment is called the Japanese head spa which focuses on cleansing, soothing and revitalising the scalp. It involves specially developed products and a nourishing mask that is carefully massaged in.
The treatment is finished with a nourishing conditioner, leaving your hair feeling supple and healthy. You can opt for a 45-minute treatment (€89.95), which focuses on deep cleansing, steam therapy and a refreshing scalp massage, or a 75-minute treatment (€114.95) for a more extensive and intense experience with extra attention to the back, neck, face and scalp.
For the friendly Patricia, working here is a family affair as her husband does the same thing at the centre.
While many of those using the centre, which has a well appointed gym, are day visitors, this wonderful experience may wet your appetite for something a tad longer than just a day visit. If so, Thermae 2000 also has a small hotel featuring some recently opened new suites.
These were opened one year ago in what used to be humble offices. The offices were relocated to be replaced by some truly wonderful guest rooms, featuring their own infrared sauna (yes, yet more of them), all mod cons and some cracking views of the adjacent countryside and the gardens, also recently renovated. The rooms here are all connected to the wellness centre so you can just meander around in a bathrobe all day. Note the spa has dedicated swimwear-nude days so best to check beforehand. There are 74 rooms in total, of which 14 are wellness suites.
Another long-serving member of staff, Patty, who works in the wellness part, explains how the centre first came about and, here, you discover a curious link with the past.
Patty, who joined five years after it opened in 1989, recalls that her uncle used to both work (as a lion tamer) and actually live at the zoo that preceded Thermae 2000.
If the friendliness of staff like Patty leaves you with a feel-good feeling then so, too, will the very nice food they have here. There are, in fact, several places to eat, including “Bread & Bites” which has direct views of the pool and wellness and some very tasty dishes to sample which, currently, include butter chicken curry, crispy-skin salmon fillet, pork tenderloin skewer, plus burgers and local delicacies such as Flammkuchen goat’s cheese.
It is ideal for a lunch between all those aforementioned activities.
Close-by is another eatery, slightly more sophisticated, called The Lounge Bar which is, it seems, the evening choice of most who eat here.
This very pleasant resto, ideal for a lunch between all those aforementioned activities, has a slightly smaller choice but, still, very nice. Current offerings include veal fillet, aubergine-filled ravioli and Zander fillet. There’s also a great choice of beers and wines and, considering the excellent quality, the prices are very reasonable.
For a quick bite to eat or drink there is even an on-site food truck.
Again, the welcoming staff at all of these places makes the visit even more memorable and are a credit to the owners. Near-perfect English is spoken throughout (all the info etc here is also in English) which, maybe, is of use for those from the other side of the channel who may be looking for a nice, short break in Benelux.
Not everyone immediately thinks of the Netherlands for a formal holiday and, while this modest country does not pretend to compare necessarily with the South of France or Tuscany this centre undoubtedly does have something quite “unique” to offer.
One particular unique feature of this place is the source of the many gallons of water it must go through each year to supply the pools etc. This is all pumped from its very own 381-metre deep thermal spring from the Cauberg, which dates back thousands of years.
But the owners here do not rest on their laurels and while this centre, once a zoo, really has been a “roaring” success over the past 37 years it is constantly evolving.
The garden, for instance, was redesigned last year and, last June, it unveiled a fully renovated lobby along with those 12 new luxury hotel suites, each with a balcony.
Time permitting, you should also try to check out nearby Valkenburg, where parking is free for the first hour and, currently, you’ll enjoy seeing the “Everyday People”, local street art featuring lifesize concrete sculptures of “real people” (this runs until June 8). There are caves and castle ruins nearby to make this a great day out.
So, if you’re looking for a nice short break this spring (or summer) and do not want to venture too far away from Belgium, then you should give Thermae 2000 serious consideration.
It will not let you down, including the warmth of the welcome you get…. you’re even offered a glass of bubbles when you arrive.
Further info: https://www.thermae.nl/
