Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
VB Bouw – a division of VB Group – operates in a wide range of sectors, including the hospitality industry. VB Group’s portfolio includes numerous hotel projects, such as the new construction, renovation, and/or transformation of the Van der Valk hotels in Eindhoven-Best, Zoetermeer, Maastricht, and Roermond. Currently, VB Bouw’s professionals are working in Raamsdonksveer, where the iconic water tower at the Hooipolder interchange is being repurposed as part of North Brabant’s first Postillion Hotel.
VB Bouw is constructing a modern, three-story hotel building next to the historic ‘Veerse Toren’ (built in 1925) and directly on the waterfront of a beautiful lake district. Postillion Hotel Breda-Biesbosch will feature no fewer than 150 rooms and over 4,000 m² of conference, meeting, and restaurant facilities, spread across three floors. In addition, a spacious 650 m² terrace will be created. The plan is the result of close collaboration between Bram Polak (owner of the Veerse Toren and founder of the repurposing plan), Postillion Hotels, the municipality of Geertruidenberg, Rijkswaterstaat, VB Bouw, and all other construction partners. The planning for the new construction was carried out by VB Bouw’s sister company, Huybregts Relou. The restoration of the water tower is being carried out by fellow contractor Oome, with the aim of restoring the national monument to its former glory as much as possible. The water tower will soon form the centerpiece of the hotel, featuring unique meeting rooms and a sky bar with a panoramic view of the region.
VB Bouw developed the final design for the new hotel into a construction drawing as part of a construction team. Construction officially began on April 4, 2025. “The entire hotel will be built on piles,” explains Kurt Lodewikus, Project Coordinator at VB Bouw. “This was a deliberate choice, given the unique waterfront location. To make the hotel’s construction possible, part of the lake area was filled in. A massive amount of soil was brought in for this. Additionally, we encountered poor soil conditions in some areas.”
“On top of the piles, we’ll install beams and intermediate floors made of cast-in-place concrete, after which we’ll continue constructing the hotel using sand-lime brick and metal stud walls, as well as solid slab and hollow core slab floors,” said Lodewikus. “A nice challenge here is the shape of the new building, which is oriented as much as possible toward the water. The façade finish is also unique. Whereas we usually work with wood siding and masonry, this hotel will feature aluminum window frames and aluminum composite façade panels. The roof will be covered with bitumen roofing, with a sedum roof installed at ground level. This creates a beautiful transition to the surrounding nature and the lake area.”
VB Bouw delivers the sand-lime brick and metal stud walls ready for wallpapering. “We also pour all the floors, apply the bathroom finishes, install the window sills and wooden interior door frames, and hang the interior doors,” says Lodewikus. Both the structural work, facade finishing, and interior finishing are carried out in phases, he explains, with the side wings (phases 1 and 3) being completed first, followed by the central core (phase 2). The structural work is expected to be completed by the end of June. “In March, Postillion Hotels began the interior finishing work in-house. From tiling to spray painting, wallpapering and painting, flooring, and built-in furniture.”
According to Lodewikus, the project location is particularly unique. “Even though we have a large construction site, logistics pose a challenge. This is because the earthwork is being carried out at the same time as the construction. This means we are constantly working around each other.” A temporary on- and off-ramp was constructed specifically for the construction of the Postillion Hotel, which was later removed to make way for a new connecting arch from the A59 to the A27. “In addition, just a stone’s throw away, work is underway on the restoration of the water tower and the renovation of the Hooipolder interchange, which is set to be completed this year.”
Postillion Hotel Breda-Biesbosch will open in September. This special occasion marks the 100th anniversary of the Veerse Tower and brings the past and the future together in a unique way.
