- Daily & Weekly newsletters
- Buy & download The Bulletin
- Comment on our articles
Family fun days out
In need of some inspiration for what to do with the kids over the holidays? Look no further…
BRUSSELS
ART BASICS FOR CHILDREN (ABC)
Huge, open-plan art centre offering a wide range of art activities for kids aged four to 12. ABC also houses an excellent resource centre and holds various workshops throughout the year – book early.
13 Place Gaucheret, tel 02.502.00.27, www.abc-web.be
STARDUST PARK
Near Forest National lies the biggest indoor playground in Brussels. Three floors of fun for kids aged two to 12 with race cars, mazes, climbing frames, restaurant and disco.
36 Avenue du Globe
tel 02.306.53.69
Open: Wednesday 12.00-19.00, Thursday, Friday 16.00-19.00, Weekends, school & public holidays 10.00-19.00
OCÉADE
Family water park featuring 14 slides, including the 140m colour-changing Cameleon and the duo-tube Barracuda, Belgium’s longest slide.
Bruparck, 3 Avenue du Football et du Championnat, tel 02.478.43.20, www.oceade.be
Open: weekends, public & school holidays 10.00-21.00; Wednesday- Friday 10.00-18.00
SCIENTASTIC MUSEUM
Interactive science exhibits exploring the five senses through light, sound, vision, touch, vision, smell and even illusions.
Bourse pre-metro station, level 1, Boulevard Anspach, tel 02.732.13.36, www.scientastic.be
Open: weekdays except Wednesday 10.00-17.30; Wednesday & weekends 14.00-17.30
TOY MUSEUM
In an old townhouse spread over 1,000 square metres, the Toy Museum houses a vast collection of toys, some dating as far back as 1830, and visitors are free to play with many of them.
24 Rue de l’Association, tel 02.219.61.68, www.museedujouet.eu
Open: daily 10.00-12.00 & 14.30-17.00
ROYAL OBSERVATORY OF BELGIUM
Discover the magic of the universe in this planetarium with a half-sphere dome, or look at the stars and the moon through powerful space telescopes.
10 Ave de Bouchout
tel 02.474.70.50
Open: weekdays 9.00-17.00; weekends, public & school holidays 10.30-18.00
FLANDERS
ANTWERP
ANTWERP ZOO
Next to Antwerp’s Central station, one of Europe’s oldest zoos has a population of more than 5,000 animals.
26 Koningin Astridplein
tel 03.202.45.40
Open: daily from 10.00; Easter holidays-June until 18.00
GENK
DOMEIN BOKRIJK
Special Easter celebration in the outdoor museum and adventure park featuring egg decorating and Easter bread baking workshops, plus Easter egg hunts on both days at 11.15 and 14.45.
1 Bokrijklaan, tel 011.26.53.00 www.bokrijk.be
April 8 & 9 10.00-18.00
GROOT-BIJGAARDEN BRUSSELS
KART EXPO
Indoor and outdoor karting for individuals and groups. Children’s sessions, Wednesday 12.00-16.00.
11 Alfons Gossetlaan
tel 02.467.28.00
Open: daily 12.00-midnight (weekends from 9.00)
HUIZINGEN-BEERSEL
PARK HUIZINGEN
Popular family park in 45 hectares of woodlands with a wildlife park, boating lake, tennis court, adventure playground and more.
100 Torleylaan, Huizingen-Beersel, tel 02.383.00.20
Open: April to September, daily 9.00 to 20.00
DE PANNE
PLOPSALAND
Theme park on the Belgian coast with figures from the Flemish TV children’s series. Includes numerous roller coasters, playgrounds and water rides.
68 Depannelaan, tel 058.42.02.02, www.plopsa.be
Open: from April 1, daily 10.00-18.00
ZWIN
NATURE RESERVE
Nature workshops for children, plus guided nature walks (on Sundays, 10.00-12.00).
8 Graaf Léon Lippensdreef
tel 050.60.70.86
Open: Easter holidays 9.00-17.30
KASTERLEE
BOBBEJAANLAND
Family amusement park founded by the late pioneering Flemish country singer-songwriter Bobbejaan Schoepen. It offers attractions for all ages, including thrill and water rides and a spinning coaster called Dizz, created for the park’s 50th anniversary in 2011.
45 Olensteenweg
tel 014.55.78.11
Open: March 31-April 15 10.00-17.00; weekends until 18.00
MECHELEN
PLANCKENDAEL ZOO
This animal park was originally a reserve of Antwerp Zoo. The two zoos now share animal collections, which include everything from zebras and giraffes to bonobos and koalas.
582 Leuvensesteenweg
tel 015.41.49.40
Open: Easter holidays 10.00-18.00
HOFSTADE
SPORTIMONIUM
Learn about sports history at this Olympics-recognised museum, while taking the opportunity to try your hand at a few games.
Bloso-domein Hofstade
Tervuursesteenweg, Hofstade
tel 015.61.82.22
Open: weekdays, Sundays & public holidays 11.00-17.00
NEDER-OVER-HEMBEEK
LE SORTILÈGE
A mediaeval experience with walks and games in the middle of a nature park, featuring the Accrobranche Adventure, an obstacle course inviting you to swing across the treetops.
Val du Bois des Béguines, 420 Trassersweg, tel 02.370.61.11 www.windbag.eu
Open: April 7-November 4, weekdays 13.00-18.30
WALLONIA
BLEGNY
COAL MINE
Industrial heritage site just outside Liège. Guided tours and group visits plus a cruise programme and gourmet tour.
23 Rue Lambert Marlet
tel 04.387.43.33
Open: daily 11.00, 11.30, 13.30, 14.00, 15.30, 16.00; Sunday also at 14.30
TRANSINNE
EURO SPACE CENTER
The educational and recreational centre offers day visits and a (monthly) two-day astronaut training programme called Mission Discovery in French (ages nine and up).
1 Rue Devant les Hêtres
tel 061.65.64.65
Open: 10.00-16.00, daily during school holidays
BRUGELETTE
PAIRI DAIZA
Formerly known as Parc Paradisio, the 55-hectare zoo and theme park includes an Indonesian village and Chinese garden. Animals on show include elephants, giraffes, rhinoceroses, monkeys, birds, fish, reptiles and bats.
1 Le Domaine, tel 068.25.08.50 www.pairidaiza.eu
Open: March 31-November 4 10.00-18.00 (July & August until 19.00)
CHEVETOGNE
DOMAINE PROVINCIAL
Nature park close to the town of Ciney. The 550-hectare site includes themed recreation areas, nature museum, sporting facilities, restaurants and accommodation.
Domaine Provincial de Chevetogne, tel 083.68.72.11
Open: March 31-November 4 9.00-18.00
DINANT
RAIL-BIKES
Ride the railway tracks on special trolleys in the scenic valley between the Meuse and Sambre rivers. Departs from either Warnant or Falaën with a choice of tracks (90 minutes to three hours).
116 Rue de la Molignée, Warnant 82 Rue de la Gare, Falaën
DURBUY
ADVENTURE
Belgium’s largest adventure park is hidden away in an 800-hectare wooded site, just outside the country’s self-proclaimed smallest city, Durbuy. The Ardennes park offers more than 60 nature sport activities plus numerous accommodation options.
1 Rue de Rome, tel 086.21.28.15
Open: from March 24 10.00-17.00; weekdays until 18.00
HAN-SUR-LESSE
CAVES
Spectacular underground natural domain near Rochefort. Plus tourist train, safari and themed events throughout the year.
2 Rue Joseph Lamotte
tel 084.37.72.13
Open: until November
TOURNAI
ECOPARK ADVENTURES
Treetop adventure park with numerous options for families, plus more than 60 workshops and activities, including two 300m-high zip wires (ages six and up).
1 Rue de l’Orient
tel 0474.07.70.68
Open: Wednesday, weekends & public holidays 13.00-19.00; open daily during the school holidays
WAVRE
ADVENTURE PARK
Treetop adventure for all the family at Bierges. Three courses graded by difficulty plus free-climbing area, bungee jump and new forest jump.
152 Rue Sainte Anne
tel 010.22.33.87
Open: from March24 10.00-18.30
WAVRE
WALIBI & AQUALIBI
Theme park plus tropical swimming pool complex with a 4D cinema, water toboggans and a kids-only area among other attractions.
100 Blvd de l’Europe, tel 010.42.15.00, www.walibi.com
Open: March 31-November 4 10.00-18.00
ANSEREMME-DINANT
LESSE KAYAKS
Paddle down the River Lesse on blue kayaks through a landscape with mediaeval castles, prehistoric caves and rocky cliffs. There are two routes: a five-hour 21km route and a three-hour 12km route for one, two and three people.
2 Plave de l’Eglise, 5500 Anserremme-Dinant, tel 082.22.43.97 www.lessekayaks.be
Open: April 1-October 31
FRAMERIES
PASS
Scientific adventure park featuring interactive science exhibitions for children and adults plus themed activities.
3 Rue de Mons, tel 070.22.22.52 www.pass.be
Open: Easter holidays daily 10.00-18.00
