Hotel Rubens – Grote Markt

That rare thing: an independent hotel. This recommended 36-room, three-floor boutique establishment, opened in 1992, is located in a quaint and quiet side street just round the corner from Grote Markt. The building is old enough, while the basement is positively medieval, and the hotel boasts a (decorative) tower going back to Spain's 16th-century occupancy, now classified as a national monument. No gym. Rooms are modern and sleek, while prices are all over the place, depending on various factors. The hotel takes pleasure in offering the personal touch and qualifies as a best-kept non-secret.