Holidays in Belgium ?

Quenastoise

Long story short but the husband has decided that we (including 6 year old) should have a holiday in Belgium and/or neighbouring countries (Holland, Southern Germany, border with France).

It's just plain daft in my book - the way I look at it Belgium is just not geared at all for tourism. At a push, I can imagine spending a long weekend at the atomium/mini Europe/Walibi but I can guarantee that the medieval beauty of Brugge and Ghent would leave my little boy cold.

The only thing I can think of would be a sort of camping holiday in the Ardennes but I cannot find anywhere decent - even a holiday park with a play area is too much to ask for apparently.

What do you think ?

Thank you in advance

Takecareofthepennies

The Belgians tend to flock to their coast for weekends & holidays. This area definitely is "geared up" for tourism.

Cross the border into Germany and you find the "Phantasialand" amusement park outside Cologne.

I'm fairly sure there used to be one or two Center Parcs in the Netherlands, if you must.

mikey72

http://www.sunparks.co.uk/EN/GB/Home

in Belgium is good

peachyprice

Was just going to suggest Sunparks too, we went there many times when the children were younger and had some lovely holidays.

If you choose De Haan it's only a 10 min walk from some beautiful sandy beaches and only 30-40 mins from the ferry at Oostende.

The country is clean, the people are very polite, everyone speaks some English, the food is good, the beer even better! I think you'll be suprised at just how geared up Belgium is for family holidays.

Voyager2002

Holland, not to mention other regions of the Netherlands, would be a good option. The only time I tried to visit Belgium, it was basically closed for the summer.

peachyprice

I've just noticed that De Haan isn't on the Sunparks website anymore, it's now a Centerparks.

http://www.centerparcs.com/EN/GB/villages/park-de-haan

z1a

Reasonable beach at Ostend, lots of reasonably priced hotels as well.
Park Paradisio - good zoo with lots of free roaming animals.
Plopsaland in De panne - brilliant theme park for young kids (And adults)
Bellewaerde park another good zoo combined with a funfair.
On the minus side, if you're driving, lots of speed cameras!

unmissable

Agree with previous post. Plenty of good things. I lived there with kids when they were 4-6 years.

Go to Brugges and take the water taxi-boat tour. Kids love the ride, you enjoy the commentry.
Ghent Castle is great.
Atomium and mini Europe are great
Beaches on coast are surprisingly good, great promenades, hire 6-seater bikes, etc
Park Paradisio, although off the beaten track is fantastic.
Even took kids to battlefields around Ypres, they loved the Hill 62 museum with reconstructed Trenches etc.
There is a woodland themed 'theme Park' which I can't remember name of in the Ardennes which is aimed at younger kids.
Plankedael Zoo (especialy the tree tops walk).

Google them, and choose ones near where you are staying. The Belgians have kids too and have plenty for them to do.