With its endless days and nights, summer might just be the best time of the year. Yet all parents will know that it isn’t an easy task to keep your kids entertained for week on end. Still looking for some inspiration? We gathered inspiration for five kids-friendly walks around Flemish Brabant, with a surprise around every corner and a kids-friendly stay to end the day in beauty.
1. Zoet Water Walk – 4.4. kilometers
Through this 4.4 kilometer-long walk, you get to explore Zoet Water’s five freshwater ponds and their surroundings. On your way, you will not just be able to catch a glimpse of the baroque Our Lady of Steenberg Chapel, you will also be able to drink from a natural spring called the Minnebron. As legend has it that anyone who drinks from the cheerfully bubbling spring will soon find their one true love, it might be well-worth trying. And if the kids are still tired after the big adventure, a 4 hectare-large playground will undoubtedly be able to calm them down.
Where to go?
Recreatiepark Zoet Water, CC Roosenberg car park, Maurits Noëstraat, 3050 Oud-Heverlee
Which walking nodes to follow?
17 -16 – 15 – 14 – 12 – 13 – 14 – 17
Where to stay?
If you want to amen your outdoor adventure last a little longer, the four-person teepee located inside the Duckwing organic garden is the perfect place to do so. The River IJse located nearby as well as the many walking and cycling routes will make this the perfect will turn this in an unforgettable glamping experience.
2. Bertembos Walk – 9 kilometers
While 9 kilometers might be a bit long for some of the younger kids, the Bertembos Walk is the perfect hike for those who aren’t afraid of a challenge. On your way, you’ll walk through the nature reserve Koeheide and through sunken roads, typical for the region. While the children go wild at the play meadow ’t Vossenhol, where natural play elements challenge their imagination, you can look out over the Eikenbos oak forest which hasn’t changed since the middle ages.
Where to go?
Parking Speelbos ’t Vossenhol, Heerbaan 1, 3060 Kortenberg
Which way to follow?
Bertembos Walk signposts
Where to stay?
Staying in the middle of nature has never been as glamorous as at Cowcooning. At just 15 kilometers for Leuven and 20 kilometers from the heart of Brussels, you will find a big white cotton tent surrounded by forests. Ideal for those who want to experience camping while staying comfy.
3. Webbekoms Broek Walk – 3.3, 4.7, or 9 kilometers
The Webbekoms Broek Nature Reserve comprises the captivating flood plans if the Rivers Demer and Velpe on the outskirts of Diest. In this unique ecosystem, you will find a large array of fauna and flora, assuring ever-changing landscapes during your walk through the meadows, reed beds, and willow groves. Thanks to the three different-sized walking tours, everyone will be able to find a parcours to their liking. The real-life canon doubling as a picnic station and the Visitor Center provide some fun extras for kids and adults alike.
Where to go?
Bezoekerscentrum Webbekoms Broek, Omer Vanaudenhovenlaan 48, 3290 Diest
Which way to follow?
3.3, 4.7, or 9 kilometer signposts
Where to stay?
Nearby Webbekoms Broek lies the Halve Maan Provincial Domain. Here, you will be able to find both endless playing activities as well as a selection of simple-yet-comfy wildness cabins, each of which can accommodate up to four guests.
4. Gete River Valley Adventure Path – 3.9 kilometers
The Grote Gete River Valley Nature Reserve follows the meandering Gete River, offering a dive into local nature and biodiversity. Whether your kids enjoy a walk through the woods, a dangle above the river on the Golden Geet bridge, or a climb through the local playground: there’s no time to get bored.
Where to go?
Stationsplein, 3350 Drieslinter
Which walking nodes to follow?
1 -140 – 19 – 101- 138 – 10 – 1
Where to stay?
Have you ever imagined sleeping in an old, transformed cattle wagon, surrounded by the prettiest countryside pasture? Probably not, yet thanks to Dutje In De Wei (meaning as much as A Little Nap in the Pasture) it has now become a possibility. Up to four people fit in the tiny house, which even includes a small kitchen space.
5. Hippo-Droom Walk – 4.4 kilometers
Walking through the Sonian Forest has never been as dreamy and playful as here. Marvel at the Groenendaal Arboretum along the way, imagine what the former hippodrome must have looked like while walking past the royal loge of Albert I, let the kids run wild at the playground, have a picnic, and make sure to stop at one of the bird-watching huts.
Where to go?
Kasteel van Groenendaal, Duboislaan 1, 1560 Hoeilaart
Which walking nodes to follow?
823 – 830 – 829 – 822 – 818 – 823
Where to stay?
A Belle Epoque villa located at the heart of the Sonian Forest might sound too good to be true, and yet B&B Hippo-Droom is the perfect place from where to explore the surrounding nature, while indulging yourself in a piece of historical luxury.
