Belgium

[Brokenfurnitureandroses]

Has anyone ever had a holiday in Belgium? We want to go in August but not somewhere too hot. Like the idea of a short flight (from Ireland) and the northern Belgian coast. Thinking of staying in a place called Diksmuide and renting a car. Has anyone been before or have any tips/recommendations? it will be a family holiday for a week.

De Haan is lovely for a beach day.

Beaches are lovely and clean.

Bruges is lovely; old walled city. We used to go in in the evenings when parking was free/50pence equivalent for the evening and just enjoy being out and about in the central square area.

Ghent is a nice day trip.

If you wanted to push the boat out and do a road trip day, and visit Les Grottes de Remouchamps caves, worth it if the boats are running. My daughter loved it when we visited.

^^ Yes to De Haan.

Lots to see and do along the coast (and inland) , definitely recommend.

Texel is lovely and quiet, near to the holiday parks, brewery's and de haan

De Haan is lovely and Blankenberge. The Belgian coast has fabulous beaches and lots of sand dunes. The bit south of Ostend is very built up though and not especially pretty - but for sandcastles etc you're fine. Bruges and Ypres are well worth visiting. There's Plopsaland theme park and things like the Atlantic Wall museum in Ostend. Parking near the sea will be near impossible in many places in August if the weather is nice. I would try to stay near public transport. The coastal tram is fantastic.

Belgium is lovely and the Belgians are really friendly and helpful. I would recommend Ghent over Bruges as it is less touristy but still beautiful and historic. The Musee des Beaux Arts in Brussels is fabulous if you're interested in art. My only word of caution for August is beware mosquitoes inland!

I also prefer Ghent over Bruges. Mechelen is lovely too.

We had a five day stay in Bruges and loved it - helps to learn a bit about the city but it's beautiful. We stayed in the city centre (in the hotel next to the one in the movie In Bruges, which I highly recommend) and walked everywhere. We did visit a friend who lived in Ghent, which is a short train ride from Bruges, while we were there, and that looked like a very nice place too.

Agree with all the pp but be warned that it can be exceptionally hot in August. We went to visit family last year and unfortunately picked the hottest week ever! I'm talking 30°+!

@Sausagenbacon I love that Mechelen has popped up on here. We visit family there once or twice a year and always have a lovely time.

@Brokenfurnitureandroses The coast is beautiful. The resorts have high rise apartment blocks which can look a bit off putting but you’d miss a trick if you ignore it. Knokke-Heist is probably the nicest, especially the Zoute, but Blankenberg is also good.

bookworm we go annually. It's just the right size and convenient for so many places.
It's just a shame that the Hof von Busleydon is closed for so long.

@Sausagenbacon My (now teenage) kids still like to visit Opsinjoorke 😂😂😂. Kazerne Dossin was very interesting too. My grandmother used to talk about it being “the bad place”.

Ghent and Mechelen are lovely. My favourite city is Antwerp though. More for shops and bars etc than sight-seeing though. Last August was exceptionally hot. It generally rains a lot in my experience :) May/June usually have the consistently nicest weather.

We went a couple of times as a kid to the Belgian centre parks.

It was great.

I think we also went when I was about 2. My first memory is being in bunk beds on that holiday and there being a terrible storm and my dad reassuring me during the night about the lightening.

Yes, we have holidayed in Belgium several times (and are currently contemplating a trip to Brussels and/or Leuven). It's a great country.

We started one trip in an Airbnb not far from where you plan to base yourselves. Do visit Ypres, even if you aren't particularly interested in military history/WW1 &2.

You aren't far from the French border there. Things might have changed post Covid, but my lasting memory was that France and the Netherlands were noticeably cheaper for food, drink and petrol. We were surprised to encounter a row of tobacco shops just off the main road (seemingly in the middle of nowhere) when we drove along the border!

Another memory is that we messed up with parking and got a ticket because we didn't have a "parking clock". Make sure that you have one in your rental car.

We liked Antwerp, particularly it's magnificent train station, but preferred to do it as a day trip from mechelen.
I must admit to really disliking Brussels.

Yes! We've been to Belgium several times and think it's a really under-appreciated country and it's so close and easy to get to. We loved Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, the WW1 sights are lovely and very moving and interesting. Ypres (Ieper in Flemish) is gorgeous - you'd never know it was smashed to bits in the war because they rebuilt it exactly as it was. The beaches are windy and quite exposed, although obviously if it's hot like it was last summer you'll probably find them boiling. Anyway, Belgium is a great family holiday destination - loads to do and see and very charming and easy to get around.

Wow, all of these ideas are so helpful. I’m going to take note of them and work our way through them when we get to Belgium. Hopefully it won’t be too boiling hot…can’t wait to get going. Thank you all so much!

Goodness me, the WW history will be of interest to us for sure! My almost 8 year old loves the history of the D-Day landings when we went to Normandy last year. Are there any particular museums or sites that we really should visit?

Another memory is that we messed up with parking and got a ticket because we didn't have a "parking clock". Make sure that you have one in your rental car.

Yes! We used to have one in Denmark, too, for visits. Very sensible way to do timed parking lots. Wish we used them here.

I took a look at those caves online and they look lovely. Something to add to the list for sure (bonus is that they’re shaded if we get an especially hot day!).

I have Plopsaland on our list. What’s the Atlantic Wall museum like?

www.raversyde.be/en Lots of WWII stuff and a park. They run lots of activities.

Bruges is beautiful. All cobbled roads, so less good if mobility is an issue, or you plan to walk with wheelie suitcases. If you speak any French or Dutch, only do so in the areas that speak that language. They do not like each other!

Plopsaland is wonderful - and on a nice scale .