History

In 1522, the building on the site was sold to the city and turned into a prison. It’s thought that this may have given the current hotel its name; 16th-century Spanish soldiers are said to have mistaken the word “vrunt”, meaning prison, for “vriend” (friend). Thus, the shift to “amigo”, the Spanish for friend.

Today, several of the original 17th-century flagstones remain. Worn smooth by time, they remain part of the fabric of the building that became Hotel Amigo, built in the 1950s by the Blaton family to host the world’s royalty and visiting nobility, who came flocking to the city for the Brussels World's Fair in 1958. The legacy of the Blaton family endures. Much of their impressive collection of fine art and antiques, from original Magritte works to 18th-century Flemish tapestries, are still on display today. 

We made Hotel Amigo part of the Rocco Forte family in January 2000, and carefully, extensively renovated it, restoring the building to its former glory, protecting its artistic heritage and helping it reclaim its place as the best luxury hotel in Brussels—and one of the Leading Hotels of the World.