Family holidays to Belgium

The capital of Belgium and administrative heart of the EU, Brussels is a lot friendlier, more relaxed and less business-like than you’d expect. It’s a small city and fun with kids since the ‘grown-up’ sightseeing’s well balanced by masses of green space, cute museums and pretty much endless cafés to compare waffle toppings, eat chips and sample chocolate. A good base for exploring Flanders and Wallonia and half an hour from Ghent by train and just over 40 minutes from Antwerp.

• Visit Grand Place for the medieval Town Hall and glamorous chocolatiers’ window displays.
• Don’t miss: the Manneken Pis, over 20,000 works in the Royal Museums, Saturday and Sunday markets in Sablon, the Atomium, Mini-Europe, Belgian Comic Strip Centre and Peter Pan in Egmont Park.
• Hire bikes and cycle round Forêt des Soignes. The 12,000ha ancient beech forest makes up part of the 60km Gordelroute (greenbelt) which circles the city.
• Explore the seafaring St. Catherine district where streets have names like Chiens Marin and the restaurants are best in the city for moules et frites (it’s never too early for kids to get stuck into this Belgian staple).
• Wetstraat’s where to find the Quartier Européen and find the skinniest house in Belgium and other amazing Art Nouveau architecture on Ambiorixplein.

Antwerp is a city with a very cool reputation for fashion and design, a rich heritage of diamond trading and a young atmosphere which goes a long way with older kids and teenagers.

• Even if you aren’t catching a train visit Centraal Station, it’s ranked in the world’s top five most beautiful.
• Don’t miss: the River Scheldt underpass wooden escalator, Zaha Hadid’s Port House building (known as The Diamond), Ruben’s 17^th century studio Rubenshuis, shopping on Groenplaats, Grote Markt in the historic centre and Antwerp’s comic strip graffiti.
• Antwerp’s a big walking city and has dozens of inexpensive guided tours. Choose a theme from Diamonds to art, history, fashion, lifestyle, food, charming neighbourhoods and monumental spaces.

A city you can sail through, walk about and run around, Ghent might be ancient and majestic, but it’s also made for kids. The entire historic centre’s pedestrianised and all museums, galleries and monuments have free entry for children and teenagers. There are parks, gardens and beaches for playing. And the city’s passion for eating well starts young, so expect to be pleasantly surprised by child-friendly restaurants and an innovative approach to ‘kids menus’ almost everywhere.

• Don’t miss: the Ghent Altarpiece, medieval Patershol, the Sunday flower market on Kouter, the World of Kina garden, Ghent City Museum and Ghent Design Museum.
• Ghent’s hop-on hop-off Water Tram lets you sail the city’s waterways round major attractions.

UNESCO World Heritage Bruges is famously lovely and a snowy fairy tale at Christmas. It isn’t the liveliest Belgian city for kids but there’s plenty to do and see on a day out and Brussels is only an hour away by train.

• Don’t miss: Choco Story, Le Musée de la Frite (yes, it’s a chip museum), The Folklore Museum, historic city centre and the Groeninge Museum.
• Notre Dame à Bruges’ statue of the Madonna and Child is the only example of Michelangelo’s work outside Italy.
• Take a guided cruise on Bruges’ canal network for an historic snapshot of the city.

A city of graceful belfries and Gothic architecture, Mons is famous for pageantry, festivals and artistic connections: Van Gogh lived here for longer than he did in Arles. But the European Capital of Culture 2015 is as playful as it is refined. There’s even a sculpture in the gorgeous Jardin du Mayeur created to remind Mons of its ‘Inner Child’. And if that doesn’t convince, go visit Le Petit Singe on Grand-Place – you’ll find the little medieval monkey up on the magnificent Hôtel de Ville. And you can definitely let kids touch this work of art: egend has it stroking the head brings an entire year’s worth of luck.

• Don’t miss: The Doudou Museum; Mons Belfry; BAM (Beaux Arts Mons); Saint Waudru Collegiate Church; Mundaneum; Small World Spa (the first children’s spa in Belgium); Parcours Geek; Jardin du Mayeur; Pairi Daisa.
• Every year on Trinity Sunday, the thrilling mock battle between Saint George and the Dragon in the heart of Mons is a fantastic spectacle for kids.
• The Van Gogh Museum in Cuesmes is in the house where the artist lived between 1879 and 1880 – the well-marked Van Gogh Routes are enchanting to walk with older kids.
• Visit UNESCO World Heritage Grand-Hornu just outside Mons and try to reconcile the magnificent neo-classical architecture with the fact that it’s one of the region’s most important 19^th century mining sites.

Looking down over Liège from the vantage point of the ancient citadel, it’s easy to understand its reputation as one of the greenest cities in Wallonia. It’s also one of the most festive; famous for dazzling Christmas markets and the boisterous Quinze Août folk festival in August.

• Georges Simenon, creator of Inspector Maigret, was born in Liège and always credited the atmospheric city as an inspiration. Fan or not, following the brass Simenon cobbles is a fun way to explore.
• Don’t miss: Liège Cathedral; Grand Curtius Museum; the Citadel; La Boverie fine art museum; Fly-In, the world’s largest freefall simulator; Gare des Guillemins.
• Liège is known for warm, friendly locals who love to celebrate: possibly why it’s often referred to as the ‘Ardent City’.
• Wander around the network of narrow alleys, Les Impasses, in the Old Town and then climb the mighty staircase to the Citadel and stretch out in 86 hectares of greenery at the heart of the city.
• Liège Christmas Market is one of the oldest and biggest in Belgium. But if you can’t wait until winter, the Sunday flea on the banks of the River Meuse is almost as colourful and exciting any time of year.

Ardennes in south east Belgium looks like a fairy tale; all mysterious forests and gently rolling hills, charming villages, clifftop castles, broad rivers and wide open spaces. But despite its romantic appearance, the region’s really just one great big playground. Outdoor adventure’s as natural as breathing here and it’s the ideal place for kids to try everything from kayaking and canoeing to rock climbing and ziplining, mountain biking, wild swimming and serious walking.

• The 28 Beaux Villages of the Ardennes are the loveliest in Wallonia.
• Don’t miss: Euro Space Centre; Plopsa Coo; Labyrinthus; La Petite Merveille; La Palogne; River Ourthe Kayaking; La Roche Game Park.
• Outstanding area for heritage self-catering, family campsites and holiday parks.
• Extensive safe, well-marked, accessible cycling and hiking routes on the RAVel Network.

The charming capital of Wallonia, Namur’s another of Belgium’s celebrated Art Cities and famous for excellent restaurants, pretty cafés, galleries, museums and independent shopping. An excellent base for exploring the Ardennes region.

• Don’t miss: Château d’Annevoie Water Gardens; Felicien Rops Museum; the Citadel; Caves of Han.
• The historic quarter is famous for dramatic and unusual 18^th century architecture.
• Take a riverboat journey from Namur to Givet, it’s one of Belgium’s loveliest cruises.