A process for the preparation of a furfural derivative includes (i) reacting a fructose- and/or glucose-containing starting material with a liquid hydroxyl group-containing organic compound in the presence of an acid to produce an acid reaction mixture including the furfural derivative; (ii) neutralizing at least part of the acid reaction mixture obtained in step (i) to provide a partially neutralized reaction mixture, (iii) separating at least part of the partially neutralized reaction mixture obtained in step (ii) to obtain a stream depleted of furfural derivative and a stream including furfural derivative; (iv) contacting at least part of the depleted stream obtained in step (iii) with a solvent to obtain a mixture of the solvent and the depleted stream; and (v) separating at least part of the mixture obtained in step (iv) into solvent containing the furfural derivative and a stream further depleted of the furfural derivative.