From the outside, this hotel looks absolutely fabulous. Inside is nice as well but just a little disappointing because the outside is beautiful. The front desk staff was very pleasant and graciously went out of their way to turn on and heat up the sauna. The wait staff at dinner was extremely slow.

The greater Venlo area is nothing to write home about, but this portion of the city is very nice. The bicycle paths are perfect for an early evening run.

Rooms were clean, efficient but not luxurious. A very pleasant three day stay.

We stayed at the hotel for a 2 night mini break. The actual hotel and grounds are stunningly beautiful and the staff some of the most impressive & professional we've ever encountered ; nothing was too much trouble though occasionally they could be hard to locate (!)

We dined in the hotel on one of the evenings, the wine arrangement was very well balanced and the meal very good however we did feel a little let down by the main course of the set three course meal which while being 'local' wasn't actually that special

A couple of obvious omissions that slightly detracted from the overall package were no tea/coffee making facilities in the room, no air-conditioning (it did get very warm), only (expensive) WiFi access and unnecessary paid parking (you had to drive there and they had a big car park so no need to levy a parking fee). This made the difference between 'very good' and 'really excellent'

We just returned from the Chateau Holtmuhle where we spent two nights on a short golf break, using Chateau Holtmuhle as our base. This medieval castle is a real find, which I had not expected. The entrance to the chateau is very beautiful, lined with tall trees, on a cobler path leading to a fountain in front of the hotel entrance. We saw a newly wedded couple who were having their pictures taken at the chateau (I think they had their reception there, too). This was post-card perfect and made a very good first impression. What followed did not disappoint. The chateau has been well preserved and maintained over time, with the interior walls kept in their original bricks . The interior architecture and design were lovely to look at, which I would describe as elegant and stylish in its simplicity. Our room (2.09) was very comfortable, modern (flatscreen tv) and tastefully decorated. Earlier reviews indicated that the rooms were outdated, but this was not at all our experience and I think that there may have been a major refurbishing since those reviews were written. Our friends, who were across the corridor from us, also had similar rooms as we did, with fluffy pillows, nice duvet, comfy chairs, elegant lamps and well-lit attractive bathrooms. etc. Our friends complained a bit that it was too warm at night, but this was not a problem for me. Outside temperature reached the mid-20's (quite hot for this time of the year).

What really did impress me most was the quality of the service and the food served in the restaurant. Our golf break deal included hotel/breakfast/diner, something I am weary of as I usually fear having substandard meals... In this case, however, diner on both nights were top: original, well-presented, in the right amount and fabulously tasty. To top it all, I thought that the service was one of the best I received in Holland. Surprisingly! The waiters, all young and eager to please, were friendly, very well trained in gastronomy and hospitality manners and they contributed to making our stay most enjoyable. They were very professional throughout our stay.

The lounge area has an outdoor part overlooking a pond (which runs across the lenght of the chateau) which was very nice for a night cap. We took our meals in the old restaurant, which used to be the chateau's old kitchen during medieval era, so the place was a really interesting and pleasant setting and the look of it was charming and romantic.

We stayed mid-week and there were not a lot of people around (partly because of fewer business events due to the global financial crisis, I was told) , so we enjoyed the quietness of the place.

By the way, some nice golf courses within approx 40 km radius, a bit far but worth the drive.

Chateau Holtmuhle looks very nice from the outside. It starts when you arrive, the facade looks very nice. It gives a more holidayfeeling and is good for a weekend getaway. It is located near the ducth city of Venlo (which is visited by loads of Germand, you might think you are in Germany instead of the Netherlands). It is not IN Venlo, so for visiting Venlo I suggest you take a car.

Parking is no problem and for free. The hotel has a good option for breakfast and diner.

The downside are the rooms. They are quite simple and without any charm. What a bummer for such a nice hotel. So: stay as least as possible IN the room. For a good rate check TravelComparing.com The hotel makes a good option for a few nights away. I doubt if one can enjoy it for much more nights...