Hotel Review: Van der Valk Houten Utrecht

4 days ago
3 min read

During a recent stay at Van der Valk Houten, just outside Utrecht, I wanted to see how accessible this large, modern hotel would be from a wheelchair user’s perspective. Van der Valk hotels often promote their hotels and my experiences at other locations have generally been positive. This visit, however, turned out to be a bit of a mixed picture.

Location, Parking & General Accessibility

Van der Valk Houten is a large hotel just outside Utrecht, making it convenient for travelers arriving by car or attending meetings nearby. One practical advantage is the covered parking, especially helpful in bad weather. There were also sufficient designated disabled parking spaces close to the entrance, which made arrival and departure much easier.

Inside, the hotel feels spacious and modern. Public areas are wide and generally easy to navigate with a wheelchair. Elevators, corridors, and entrances allow comfortable movement without constant maneuvering challenges.

Spa & Wellness Facilities

A standout feature of the hotel is its renovated spa and wellness area. The space feels modern, clean, and welcoming. Doors are wide, and I was able to reach the facilities independently in my wheelchair, something that immediately makes a difference in how inclusive a space feels. The swimming pool itself is accessible to reach, but there is no pool lift. This limits independent entry into the water and may require assistance. For a hotel of this size and standard, the absence of a lift feels like a missed opportunity to make the wellness experience fully accessible. Still, for a spa-focused day or a short wellness visit, the general layout is workable for manual wheelchair users.

Dining & Hotel Amenities

The hotel offers convenient dining options, which is especially useful if you prefer not to travel elsewhere for meals. Lunch and dinner in the restaurant are comfortable and accessible experiences, and room service is also available, a welcome option after a long day. The breakfast buffet was decent in terms of selection, but from a seated position it was quite high. Many items were difficult to reach independently, which can take away some of the convenience of a buffet-style setup. Overall, the hotel works well if you’re visiting for a spa day or attending a business meeting, where you want most facilities under one roof.

The Accessible Room - Expectations vs Reality

The hotel does offer an accessible room, but this is where my experience became more complicated. Rather than being purpose-built for wheelchair users, the room felt like a standard room with a few accessibility additions. The sleeping area itself was reasonably spacious, but practical usability was limited. The carpeted flooring adds resistance when maneuvering a wheelchair, making movement more tiring. The bathroom, the most critical area - was quite tight for wheelchair use. Entering the shower area required careful positioning due to limited space.

There is a bathtub with a loose shower stool rather than a roll-in shower. For wheelchair users who can independently perform a bath transfer, this may be manageable. For many others, it presents a barrier.

Additional limitations included:

A sink mounted too high for comfortable seated use
A mirror positioned too high to be usable from a wheelchair
A heavy door that is difficult to open independently

Grab bars and a shower chair were present, but these additions alone don’t compensate for a layout that wasn’t originally designed with wheelchair accessibility in mind.

Not for everyone

Based on my experience, this room may be workable for a single-night stay if you use a narrow manual wheelchair and can independently transfer into a bathtub.

However, I would not recommend this hotel for guests using larger or electric wheelchairs, or for anyone planning a longer stay. The bathroom layout and room setup would likely become frustrating and physically demanding over time.

Van der Valk Houten offers good general accessibility in public spaces, convenient covered parking, and a modern spa area that is mostly reachable for wheelchair users. Dining options and room service add comfort, especially for short visits or business stays.

The accessible room, however, feels adapted rather than designed. While usable under certain conditions, it does not meet the needs of many wheelchair travelers, particularly electric wheelchair users or those requiring more space and true roll-in bathroom access.

For a short, practical stay, especially centered around wellness or meetings - it can work if your mobility needs align with the room’s limitations. For longer stays or higher accessibility requirements, other locations may offer a more comfortable experience.