Brussels soft play question

[makemineacherrybrandy]

I wonder if anyone living in Belgium can help? We're here on holiday staying with DH's family, with 2 year old DD. With the weather being so bad we are struggling to find things to do during the day to use up some of her energy. All the soft plays we know about are only open Weds afternoon and at weekends. Is this normal? I know most people go back to work after 3 months so guess there is no demand.

Has anyone some suggestions pls of things we could visit? We've been to Technopolis and also the Atomium.

I don't know about Brussels sorry, but how about taking her swimming? We live in Luxembourg and have been having similar weather issues, and I had a great time at the pool with my boys yesterday :)

Oceade at Bruparck for the water slides etc.? Scientastic at the Bourse.?

it is true about the Softplay. Most dc start school at 2.5 so not a lot of need in the week.

Whereabouts are you staying? I will have think.

the comic strip museum. the choclate museum on the Grand place.

We might go swimming. Thanks for the idea. Will have a look at Oceade.

We're in Anderlecht Portofino but don't mind driving somewhere. We went to the Africa Museum last time and usually go to the coast. Just harder to find things to do in the winter.

Nice pool with water slides etc at Leuven, and a good cafe there as well.

Some of the Quick restaurants have some play areas which would be quiet when the children are at school. Not maybe the nicest area for parents but at least you could get a drink whilst you're there.

Quick Erasmus seems to have one.

Quick - Anderlecht Erasme has an indoor play area. It's very near Erasme metro and also near Décathlon!

Quick - Porte de Namue, also an indoor play area, near Porte de Namur metro.

Musée des Sciences Naturelles
Musée de l'Armée
Not sure how well those museums would go down with a toddler.

If you have a car, Technopolis in Mechelen as a great under 5s area.

Océade is quite pricey, open wed-fri from 10am. Again if you have a car, I'd go to Leuven pool, but check toddler pool is open before travelling. The best pools in Brussels region for children are Calypso in Watermael-Boitsfort, Espadon in Etterbeek and Poseidon in Woluwe-St-Lambert, all accessible on public transport, Etterbeek one is nearest. But check about school swimming and whether toddler pool is open in school hours.

Also, Auderghem Quick has a play area - métro Demey. Don't forget if you go to a public pool (Espadon's very nice), you have to wear swimming hats and speedos for the men!

Again, if you have a car, Aqualibi in Wavre is nicer than Océade, far nicer toddler slides, but opens only after 2pm on certain days and 10am weekends. Same price virtually as Océade. The advantage of Océade is it's next to the Atomium and Mini Europe!

Yeah they'll probably lend you the swimming hats but not the speedos if you don't have any! Long above knee jammers are acceptable too.

Aqualibi is only open Wednesday afternoons and weekends now.

and fridays too from 2pm

We also came once to Brussels on a reccie trip, thought it would be a super idea to buy a 10 ticket card for Océade, went twice during school hours, really not a super idea, both times we encountered large groups of teenagers on school trips going quite mad. Won't ever forget, our eldest was swimming under the water with his brother, in jumped about 20 teenagers (guessing they rarely swim, very very hyper) who landed on our son who had to be dragged out of the pool and taken by ambulance to the nearby children's hospital for an xray on his shoulder. It was quite a benediction! Same sort of teenage school groups frequent Brussels' only ice rink during school times. A rink full of teenagers who have never skated before is no fun. Océade and Poseidon ice rinks' accessibility by metro is also a disadvantage in that school groups and groups of teenagers can access these great attractions.

Natation they absolutely lend out the speedos. First time we went swimming here at Poseidon my husband was done by the speedo police and hired some at reception. We tried not to think too closely about it!

Thanks again for all your ideas. Had a lovely day at a petting farm in Dilbeek and then coffee in a Quick with a soft play area.

I know DH doesn't have any Speedos so am about to mention the hiring option :o

Zaventem pool is good for kids and doesn't insist on hats. Speedos - or tight swimshorts, yes, unfortunately.....

Another trip to Quick, make it the Anderlecht one, then pop next door for some nice tight swim shorts from Décathlon!

You can wear whatever swim shorts you like at Océade or Aqualibi, plus no hats, as they are private pools.
Hats are only obligatory at all public pools in Brussels Region and Wallonia, optional at public pools in Flanders. Tight swim shorts are obligatory at all public pools in Belgium.

agree with scaryteacher who said the sports centre in Leuven (Sportoase on the Philips site) which has a good indoor play area, swimming pool etc.

If you want to drive into Flanders (Hasselt) and can get over the hilarity of the name try Plopsaland Indoor.

Plankendael or Antwerp Zoo are both outdoors but are wonderful and our daughter adored them.

Good luck!