Koru Hotel
— The project —
Travels as Guiding Thread
The creation of Hôtel Koru was a five-year journey — from the first architectural sketches to finding the perfect location, building the structure, and carefully selecting every material and decorative detail.
Bernadette van Empel, the hotel’s owner, fell in love with this former tree nursery in 2011.
The guiding theme of the entire concept is travel. Inspired by a one-year journey through Australia, New Zealand, and Asia (2009–2010), each suite — as well as the garden — reflects memories, cultures, and emotions from that transformative adventure.
Our Story
The Story of Bernadette & Stéphane
Bernadette, originally from the Netherlands, was born in the South of France, in the Cévennes region (Gard).
After moving to Belgium in 1999 to study tourism and event management, she fell under the spell of the Brabant Hesbaye countryside, and in particular the charming village of Autre-Église, where her dream project would come to life.
Stéphane, a native of Tienen (Tirlemont), grew up in the hospitality world, spending part of his youth working in the local café on his street — while balancing his passions for motocross, football, and billiards.
Having always lived around Autre-Église, Stéphane worked as an accountant in Orp-le-Grand and later in Poucet, where the two of us met.
He joined the hotel project in 2016, and what began as a great friendship gradually turned into a shared life journey.
Together, we are delighted to welcome you — in French, Dutch, English, or German — to our little haven of peace and hospitality.
Different sites
Underneath, you can find a link to the different websites for all the visit possibilities in our nice region.
If you enjoyed your stay with us, please leave a positive comment on Trip Advisor, Facebook or Google Reviews.
