Several Van der Valk hotels raided in human trafficking and illegal employment probe

According to the Labour Inspectorate, 12 searches were carried out. Five people have been arrested, including the manager of the external company. The matter under investigation dates back to 2023.

Van der Valk’s management states that all staff cooperated fully and provided all the information requested. According to the company, it is not the direct target of the investigation. “The investigation focuses on an external service provider with whom our branches collaborate,” the chain said.

Francophone media outlet L-Post, which broke the news, refers to ‘serious breaches of the law: forming a criminal organisation, human trafficking, forgery and the use of false documents as well as the employment of workers without residence permits’.

According to Francophone broadcaster RTBF, several female workers employed by the suspect company to clean the hotels were reportedly not registered. Their wages were said to have amounted to “less than one euro an hour on occasion”, according to the public prosecutor’s office. Around 30 victims have been identified.

“We were not aware of the allegations levelled against this service provider,” the Van der Valk Group adds. “Compliance with social legislation, administrative obligations and labour regulations is an absolute priority” for the company.

Two of the premises searched are in Liège, one in Spa and another in Verviers, according to L-Post. A fifth hotel in Voeren (Limburg), which is not part of the Van der Valk chain, is also said to be involved.

A Dutch company, Van der Valk operates around 100 hotels in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Spain.