316 TRAVELLERS’ NEEDS
Belgium and Luxembourg
for Children
A great deal of family-oriented socializing
and entertainment occurs in both coun-
tries. Museums, amusement parks and
galleries are organized with families or
school parties in mind. There are also
a variety of activities such as rides on
historic trains and trips on canal boats.
Visitors will therefore find it easy to
keep children amused in towns and cities. The country-
side has its draws in the form of ancient caves and
awe-inspiring fortresses. To add to these experiences
are the ever-present treats of Belgian chips and waffles.
THEME PARKS
Visiting theme parks seems
to be an integral part of child-
hood in Belgium, and there
are parks to suit people of
all ages. Some, notably the
Plopsaland parks, are specifi-
cally aimed at the younger
crowd. There are branches
at De Panne and Coo, and an
indoor Plopsaland at Hasselt.
Bobbejaanland (see p156),
near Turnhout, is a traditional
theme park, packed with
thrills-and-spills rides. But the
most famous Belgian theme
park is Walibi (see p198), near
Wavre, to the southeast of
Brussels. With its broad variety
of rides, from roundabouts to
state-of-the-art roller coasters
and live entertainment shows,
Walibi caters to children of
all ages. Attached to it is the
swimming complex (pools,
shoots, tubes) called Aquilibi.
There is a similar swimming
complex at Océade, part of
the Bruparck complex (see
p84) on the northern outskirts
of Brussels. Bruparck also
includes a number of other
attractions such as Mini-Europe
and a huge cinema complex.
Close at hand is the Atomium
(see p84), always fascinating
to children. The Bellewaerde
Park (see p124), near Ieper,
combines a collection of zoo
animals with theme park rides.
The Boudewijn Seapark, near
Bruges, has a dolphinarium
and performing seal lions, as
well as a roller coaster, pirate
ship and other rides.MUSEUMS AND
GALLERIESMany museums and galleries
produce printed documenta-
tion to make their exhibits
more interesting for children,
including lists for treasure
hunts. Audioguides also help
bring the exhibits alive – at
the Musée des Instruments de
Musique (see p65) in Brussels,
visitors can listen to the instru-
ments. Demonstrations and
costumed characters at the
Bokrijk Openluchtmuseum
(see p167) make this fine col-
lection of historic rural build-
ings seem almost lived in.
Museums specifically aimed
at children include the toy
museums, Musée du Jouet (see
p74) and Speelgoedmuseum
(see p157). The Centre Belge
de la Bande Dessinée (see p62)
appeals more to aficionados
of the history of the comic-
strip form. There are several
interactive science museums
such as Scientastic, where
children can experience optical
illusions and other tricks of
physics. The Parc d’Attractions
Scientifiques (see p189) offers
a host of introductory exhibits
on science and technology.ZOOS AND AQUARIUMSShoehorned into a small
urban space near the Centraal
Station and Diamond District,
Belgium’s famous Antwerp
Zoo contains a variety of ani-
mals and prides itself on its
captive breeding programme
and conservation work. The
zoo also operates the much
larger Planckendael Animal
Park (see p157) near Mechelen.
Parc Paradisio (see p185) in
Hainaut is very child-friendly.
Réserve d’Animaux Sauvages
at Han-sur-Lesse (see p211) is
a safari park with large north
European animals such as
bears, lynx and bison. The
Monde Sauvage Safari on the
River Amblève (see p225) has
a more Africa-oriented safari.Bouillon’s castle (see pp232–3)
has a famous falconry show.
Knokke-Heist’s Vlindertuin (see
p120) is a delightful indoor
tropical garden with thousands
of butterflies. There are two
sealife aquariums on the
coast: the Noordseeaquarium
(see p122) at Oostende and the
National Sealife Marine Park
at Blankenberge, which also
has a Serpentarium. Liège’s
well respected Aquarium (see
p218) is operated by the uni-
versity’s Institute of Zoology.Bears at the Réserve
d’Animaux Sauvages
A string puppet of Pinocchio at
Mechelen’s SpeelgoedmuseumThrilling swings and rides at the Walibi theme park near Wavre