Police Raid Van der Valk Hotels in Human Trafficking Probe

More than 130 federal police officers and 35 social inspectors raided five hotels in Belgium’s Liège province on Tuesday morning, arresting five people in a major investigation into human trafficking and undeclared work by an external cleaning subcontractor. The operation, coordinated by the Labor Auditor’s Office of Liège-Namur-Luxembourg, targeted four Van der Valk hotels and one independent establishment that had contracted services from the same cleaning company.

Background of the Investigation

The investigation traces back to late 2024, when an inspection by the National Social Security Office (ONSS) at a hotel alerted authorities to potential worker rights violations. An investigating judge was assigned the case in 2025, and the probe was entrusted to the Federal Judicial Police of Liège’s human trafficking section. According to the Labor Auditor’s Office, the alleged offenses date back to 2023.

According to VRT NWS, the investigation covers serious charges including criminal organization, human trafficking, forgery and use of false documents, and employment of workers without residence permits. The potential damage to the Belgian social security system is estimated at nearly €2 million.

The Raids and Arrests

Twelve coordinated searches were executed across five hotels and private homes. The hotels searched included Van der Valk Liège Congrès, Van der Valk Selys in Liège, Van der Valk Spa, Van der Valk Verviers, and Landgoed Altenbroek in Fourons — the latter not being part of the Van der Valk chain.

Five people were taken into custody, including the manager of the external cleaning company identified by RTBF as “société B.” Approximately 30 presumed victims have been identified, primarily chambermaids from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa working in irregular immigration status.

“More than 130 judicial police investigators and more than 30 ONSS social inspectors were mobilized,” said Jérôme Deumer, spokesperson for the Labor Auditor’s Office. He added that the wages paid “would constitute economic exploitation, sometimes less than one euro per hour.”

Van der Valk’s Response

The Van der Valk group issued a statement emphasizing that it is not the direct target of the investigation. “The investigation focuses on an external service provider with which our establishments collaborate,” the group said, as reported by VRT NWS. “Compliance with social legislation, administrative obligations and labor rules is an absolute priority.”

Catherine Carolus, HR Director of Van der Valk in the Liège region, told RTBF that the hotel chain quickly realized its own workers were not involved. “Very quickly, we realized that it was not our workers, who are perfectly in order, who were concerned, but those made available by an external service provider,” she said. The group has suspended its collaboration with the provider for the duration of the investigation.

The DH/Les Sports+ reported that Van der Valk’s contract with the provider explicitly required compliance with minimum wage and labor laws. The group also noted its active work with integration organizations to employ disadvantaged people legally.

Broader Implications

A central question in the investigation is the extent to which hotel management knew about the working conditions. The Labor Auditor’s Office stated the investigation must determine “in what measure the situation of the workers was known within the hotels that used the suspect company’s services.”

David van Brakel, management of Landgoed Altenbroek in Fourons, told RTBF: “We categorically reject the practices described and in no way wish to be associated with them.” He added that if employees of the external provider were harmed, the hotel is “willing to talk to them and help them find a suitable solution.”

This case highlights ongoing issues with labor exploitation in the Belgian hospitality sector, particularly involving subcontractors providing cleaning and maintenance staff. The use of third-party service providers creates a layer of separation that can enable labor abuses while shielding the primary business from direct legal responsibility.

What’s Next

The investigation continues with analysis of data collected during the raids and interviews with suspects. Victims who wish to come forward can be directed to specialized organizations that support victims of human trafficking. The case may prompt increased regulatory oversight of subcontracting practices across the Belgian hospitality industry, potentially leading to broader reforms in how hotels vet and monitor their external service providers.

This article was compiled from reports by VRT NWS, RTBF, DH/Les Sports+, and La Libre Belgique.