On a huge, soft beige dune – proudly carrying the name ‘De Blanke Top’ since generations – sits a 4-star superior hotel which of course is named after this most beautiful dune top in Cadzand-Bad. In this third generation family hotel which has just been renovated and expanded from top to bottom the De Milliano family scores high marks with top gastronomy and wellness.
When we arrive at the reception via an impressive black steel staircase – a major eye-catcher – the tone is immediately set. The interior is stylish but also very cozy. “My grandparents took over this hotel in the 1960s and today the third generation is at the helm,” says Kimm de Milliano, Manager Blanke Top spa & wellness. “Because we still are convinced that a family character is paramount, there is always a family member present when the hotel is open, despite the fact that we now have 93 rooms.” Not much later, when we discover our room with terrace and sea view and descend into the wellness area, we are already impressed.
With 1,500m2, De Blanke Top has one of the largest wellness centers in the Netherlands and the hotel is popular all year round. In the summer months everything revolves around the sea and the beach, when things get colder outside, guests favor a gastronomic or wellness stay. When we relax in the sauna and watch an immense ship sail by, we understand why. This setting is certainly unique. “I’ve always hated wellness areas that make you feel closed in. ” says Kimm. “ I took my inspiration during a wellness tour through Austria, Switzerland and Germany where you have a lot of saunas with beautiful views. We wanted the same for our guests. Our aromatized saunas and hammam, infrared sauna, bio sauna, Finnish sauna, family sauna and the 15-meter indoor pool all offer a sea view. ”
Coming right from the sea
The wellness treatments also fit into that maritime character. In addition to the French brand Sothys, used for the Relax signature treatment, they work here with Thalion, also a French brand that adopts various active ingredients ranging from seaweed, sea plants to algae and all this fits in nicely with this seafront location. When Linda, our therapist on duty, massages us, it is clear that she knows her craft. She lets us choose from a floral-smelling Carité butter, a wax or Arnica massage oil that massages more finely and less stiffly than almond oil. We opt for the butter and while Linda approaches our body with a well-thought-out protocol, we are in total ecstasy.
At De Blanke Top in Cadzand you enjoy the pinnacle of wellness and gastronomy with a stunning view of the dunes
Much more
We found other eye-catchers such as the cosy wine house. In this winery where you can enjoy your aperitif with a maximum of six people in complete privacy; there was also the international cuisine of the gourmet restaurant Le Sommet, and last but not least the shrimp croquettes in Bar Brasserie Henriëtte, based on a recipe by Kimm’s grandmother of the same name. “She was also known for French classics such as her delicious bouillabaisse or steak. Once a month we organize a ‘fruits de mer’ weekend, where which we offer large dishes with seafood, completely in the same style my grandmother used to do things. ” In short, in De Blanke Top you will find everything to comfort and restore the inner and outer person.
All around
There is also a lot to experience in the surroundings. “Here in Cadzand-Bad you can enjoy a lot of peace and nature,” says Kimm, “and a lot has been invested in the last five years. The beaches are wide and grand, all beach pavilions, hotels and cycle paths have been renewed recently , the Zwin has been expanded and those who wish, can cycle from Knokke to Breskens and back. All this is of course very inviting. The Polder landscape is also very beautiful with a few nice villages such as Groede, Breskens, Sluis. And Knokke is only a twenty minutes (bike ride)away…
De Blanke Top, Boulevard de Wielingen 1, 4506 JH Cadzand, The Netherlands, tel. +31 117 392 040, reservation@blanketop.nl, www.blanketop.com