Rinkven International
Antwerp's tournament club, hidden in the Kempen woods. Rinkven spreads 36 quiet holes of woodland and parkland a quarter hour from the city, laid out by Paul Rolin and modernized by Hawtree. The championship North Course, a par 72 of about 6,091 metres, has welcomed the DP World Tour's Soudal Open, and the second course gives a group plenty to play.
Photo: Rinkven Golfclub via Google.
The verdict
Belgian golf rarely shouts, and Rinkven is a good example of why that is part of the appeal. Established at its present site in 1981 on a wonderfully peaceful tract of Kempen fenland just outside Antwerp, it grew into a 36 hole club with the feel of a private retreat. The Belgian architect Paul Rolin laid out the original golf, and more recently the English firm of Hawtree made significant changes to bring the courses up to modern championship standard.
That work paid off when the North Course, a par 72 of about 6,091 metres, was chosen to host the Soudal Open on the DP World Tour. It is a classic continental mix of woodland and parkland, with water in play on several holes and mature trees framing nearly every shot. The shorter South Course, a par 71 of about 5,066 metres, has a greater variety of holes and makes a relaxed companion round. For a golfer routing a city break through Antwerp, Rinkven is the round to build the day around.
Rinkven North Course at a glance
- Established
- 1981
- Designer
- Paul Rolin, Hawtree update
- Type
- Woodland parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,091 m
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, layout and length verified June 2026 from Rinkven International Golf Club and leading course databases. The club has 36 holes laid out by Paul Rolin and modernized by Hawtree: the championship North Course, a par 72 of about 6,091 metres, roughly 6,660 yards, and the South Course, a par 71 of about 5,066 metres. Rinkven is a members club; visitor access is limited and any green fee is arranged with the club and is indicative for 2026. Always confirm access and any rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The North is the one the professionals play, and it shows. Hawtree's revisions added length and bite where the modern game needed it, but the character is still classic Kempen golf: tree lined corridors, firm fairways over sandy fenland soil and greens defended as much by position as by hazard. The drive has to find the right side to open up the angle, because the trees punish a pull or a block.
Water comes into play on several holes and tightens the strategy without dominating it, so the round asks for plotting rather than pure power. The par 3s are a strong, varied set, and the closing stretch that decides the Soudal Open rewards a player who keeps the ball in play and converts the chances.
The South Course is the change of pace, shorter and more whimsical, ideal for an afternoon nine or a relaxed second round. Play the North when you want the real test and the South when you want the fun, take a caddie or a buggy if you are doubling up, and enjoy one of the most peaceful settings in northern European golf.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club; visitors welcome on a limited basis, generally midweek and with a recognized handicap |
| Green fee | No public rate published; any visitor green fee is arranged with the club (indicative, 2026); confirm directly |
| Booking | Contact the club in advance, especially around tournament weeks when the North Course may be closed to visitors |
| On the day | Buggies, clubs and a practice area on site; collared shirts and golf shoes; bring a handicap certificate |
| Getting there | Schilde and Gravenwezel, about 15 km and 20 minutes from central Antwerp |
| Best months | April to October for the Belgian season; high summer is the driest and firmest |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026 and marked indicative; policies and rates change, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Antwerp is the obvious and the best base. One of Europe's most stylish smaller cities, it pairs a world class art and fashion scene with a compact, walkable centre and a deep choice of hotels, all about 20 minutes from the first tee at Rinkven. Golf by day, the old town and the restaurants by night.
For a wider Belgian golf trip, Antwerp sits within easy reach of the country's other leading clubs and a short drive from the Dutch border, so a Rinkven round slots neatly into a Low Countries itinerary. It travels well as a city and golf combination.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Rinkven.
Build an Antwerp golf trip
We work to secure the Rinkven tee times where access allows, pair them with the best of Belgian golf and book an Antwerp base around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Rinkven questions
Who designed Rinkven International Golf Club?
The courses were originally designed by the Belgian architect Paul Rolin and later modernized by the English firm Hawtree to bring them up to championship standard.
What is the par and length of the North Course at Rinkven?
The championship North Course is a par 72 measuring about 6,091 metres, roughly 6,660 yards, while the South Course is a shorter par 71 of about 5,066 metres with a greater variety of holes.
Does Rinkven host a professional tournament?
Yes. Rinkven has hosted the Soudal Open, a DP World Tour event, on its North Course in recent seasons.
Can visitors play Rinkven?
Rinkven is a members club that welcomes visitors on a limited basis, generally midweek and with a recognized handicap. Contact the club in advance to confirm access and the current green fee.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, layout and length verified June 2026; access and indicative fee guidance verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.