-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                               EXHIBIT (a)(3)(i)

                                    OFFER BY

                      VAN KAMPEN SENIOR FLOATING RATE FUND

                        TO PURCHASE FOR CASH 13,165,587
                            OF ITS COMMON SHARES AT
                        NET ASSET VALUE PER COMMON SHARE

                                                                January 17, 2003

To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,
     Trust Companies and other Nominees:

     Pursuant to your request, we are enclosing herewith the material listed
below relating to the offer of Van Kampen Senior Floating Rate Fund (the
"Trust") to purchase up to 13,165,587 of its common shares of beneficial
interest with par value of $0.01 per share (the "Common Shares") at net asset
value per Common Share ("NAV") determined as of 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time on the
Expiration Date (defined below) upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in the Offer to Purchase dated January 17, 2003 and in the related Letter
of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Offer"). The Offer and withdrawal
rights will expire at 12:00 Midnight Eastern Time on February 14, 2003, unless
extended (the "Expiration Date"). An "Early Withdrawal Charge" will be imposed
on most Common Shares accepted for payment which have been held for less than
one year. The Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum number of Common Shares
being tendered but is subject to certain conditions as set forth in the Offer to
Purchase.

     If more than 13,165,587 Common Shares are duly tendered prior to the
expiration of the Offer, the Trust presently intends to, assuming no changes in
the factors originally considered by the Board of Trustees when it determined to
make the Offer and the other conditions set forth in the Offer, but is not
obligated to, extend the Offer period, if necessary, and increase the number of
Common Shares that the Trust is offering to purchase to an amount which it
believes will be sufficient to accommodate the excess Common Shares tendered as
well as any Common Shares tendered during the extended Offer period or purchase
13,165,587 Common Shares (or such greater number of Common Shares sought) on a
pro rata basis.

     No fees or commissions will be payable to brokers, dealers or other persons
for soliciting tenders of Common Shares pursuant to the Offer. The Trust will,
however, upon request, reimburse you for customary mailing and handling expenses
incurred by you in forwarding any of the enclosed materials to those of your
clients who have requested such materials. The Trust will pay all transfer taxes
on its purchase of shares, subject to Instruction 5 of the Letter of
Transmittal. However, backup tax withholding may be required unless an exemption
is proved or unless the required tax identification information is or has
previously been provided. See Section 15 of the Offer to Purchase and
Instructions 8 and 9 to the Letter of Transmittal.

     For your information and for forwarding to those of your clients who have
requested them, we are enclosing the following documents:

          (1) Offer to Purchase dated January 17, 2003;

          (2) Letter of Transmittal to be used by holders of Common Shares to
     tender such shares to the Depositary directly or through their broker,
     dealer or other nominee who is not the registered owner;

          (3) Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number;

          (4) Letter to Clients which may be sent to your clients for whose
     account you hold Common Shares registered in your name (or in the name of
     your nominee, with space provided for obtaining such clients' instructions
     with regard to the Offer); and

          (5) Return envelope addressed to the Depositary.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT
EASTERN TIME ON FEBRUARY 14, 2003, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. TO ENSURE
PROCESSING OF YOUR OR YOUR CLIENT'S REQUEST, A LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR A
MANUALLY SIGNED FACSIMILE OF IT (TOGETHER WITH ANY CERTIFICATES FOR COMMON
SHARES AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY ON
OR BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE (FEBRUARY 14, 2003).

                                                                 20 SFR009-01/03
                                                                      BDR
                                                                   SRBDTND-02/03
(tear along dotted line)


     The Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on
behalf of) holders of Common Shares residing in any jurisdiction in which the
making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with
the laws of such jurisdiction.

     Additional copies of the enclosed material may be obtained from Van Kampen
Funds Inc. at the address and telephone number set forth in the Offer to
Purchase. Any questions you have with respect to the Offer should be directed to
Van Kampen Funds Inc. at (800) 421-5666.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         VAN KAMPEN SENIOR FLOATING RATE FUND
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOU
OR ANY OTHER PERSON THE AGENT OF THE TRUST OR THE DEPOSITARY OR AUTHORIZE YOU OR
ANY OTHER PERSON TO MAKE ANY STATEMENTS OR USE ANY MATERIAL ON THEIR BEHALF WITH
RESPECT TO THE OFFER, OTHER THAN THE MATERIAL ENCLOSED HEREWITH AND THE
STATEMENTS SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN SUCH MATERIAL.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------