First time driving to Belgium.

vixmony

Hello, first time driving to Belgium next week. Any useful information and tips please?. Also I believe they drive on the same side as France,? so am a bit used to that. Also anyone found any great places in Belgium that would interest a 2 year old and 7 year old boy.?. We driving from France to Belgium, and Google is showing as 3 hrs tops to get to Brussels?. Thanks in advance.

martindow

The AA has some advice here

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/belgium.pdf

mcfisco

vixmony wrote: »

Hello, first time driving to Belgium next week. Any useful information and tips please?. Also I believe they drive on the same side as France,? .

Now wouldn't that be fun if they didn't?
Hurtling down the A16 at stupid MPH and suddenly have to change to the other carriageway
That could liven up what's normally a very boring drive.

Gloomendoom

mcfisco wrote: »

Now wouldn't that be fun if they didn't?
Hurtling down the A16 at stupid MPH and suddenly have to change to the other carriageway
That could liven up what's normally a very boring drive.

They could always try something like this proposed Macau flipper bridge...



or something low tech like this 1960's Norway/Sweden border crossing...

ronmiel

I haven't driven in Belgium for several years, but one of the problems we found was that road signs would suddenly change from French to Flemish or Dutch, not sure which. We spent ages one evening trying to go from Belgium to France and we were looking for the signs for Lille, in the end we had to ask for help. It appears that Lille can suddenly change to Rijsel depending on the area you are in.
You may find this helpful
http://brussels.angloinfo.com/information/transport/driving/useful-driving-words/

maman

vixmony wrote: »

Hello, first time driving to Belgium next week. Any useful information and tips please?. Also I believe they drive on the same side as France,? so am a bit used to that. Also anyone found any great places in Belgium that would interest a 2 year old and 7 year old boy.?. We driving from France to Belgium, and Google is showing as 3 hrs tops to get to Brussels?. Thanks in advance.

I haven't found the driving any different from France. We've often hopped each side of the border.

May I ask why you've chosen to go there? Did you have a plan of what you want to see/do or where you're going to stay? I've enjoyed Bruges and suppose your children might like a ride on a canal boat or a trip around on a horse drawn carriage. To be honest, I've mostly gone there visiting war sites and cemeteries, never thought of it as a venue for small children.

johnnyreggae

maman wrote: »

never thought of it as a venue for small children.

Great beaches

peachyprice

Yes, brilliant long, clean sandy beaches. OP, if you're along to coast the sand sculptures at Blankenberge are amazing, http://www.zandsculptuur.be/index.asp?taal=en and if I remember correctly there's a Sealife centre close by.

There's the Atomium in Brussels that's worth a visit especially with Mini Europe model village next door
http://atomium.be/
http://www.minieurope.com/

There's also a theme park aimed at younger children, yours won't know who the characters are, but it's still a nice day out
http://www.plopsa.be/plopsaland-de-panne/en

There are some wonderful little towns to visit along the coast too, De Haan is lovely, so is Knokke, which is right on the beach. There's also a tram that goes right along the coast if your children like tram rides.

Bruges is a nice day out with some lovely little shops and horse & carriage rides from the central square that they might like.

If the weather isn't all that you can get day tickets to the water parks at Sunparks in De Haan and Oustduinkerke.

Enjoy Belgium, we had many a great holiday when ours were little, it's a country that so many people dismiss as not being a holiday destination when in reality there's loads for families to do.

martindow

ronmiel wrote: »

We spent ages one evening trying to go from Belgium to France and we were looking for the signs for Lille, in the end we had to ask for help.

I think many countries' national pride prevent them from giving signs to towns across the border no matter how large.

maman

johnnyreggae wrote: »

Great beaches

Thanks for that. I'll certainly explore further on my next trip.

Tarry

mcfisco wrote: »

Now wouldn't that be fun if they didn't?
Hurtling down the A16 at stupid MPH and suddenly have to change to the other carriageway
That could liven up what's normally a very boring drive.

That made me giggle :rotfl:

Imagine that.

De Panne (not sure how to spell it, I might have just mentioned the baguette you know) looked really interesting last time I went over there but parking seemed expensive.