Holiday homes by the river in Belgium

Some properties stand literally at the water's edge: a small jetty along the river, a garden that runs into the reeds. Others sit a short walk from the bank, with a view of the water from the living room. Both share that calming sound of moving water that carries you into sleep at night.

Beyond the peace, riverside properties also bring practical possibilities. Fishing, kayaking, swimming and walking along the water are part of everyday life here. After an active day on the river, nothing beats a shady garden with a glass in hand.

Belgium's rivers are all worth a holiday in their own right. The Semois in the Gaume is described as one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe, with unspoilt banks and lush vegetation. The Ourthe offers dramatic landscapes at Durbuy and La Roche. The Lesse and the Amblève are popular with kayakers and families with children.

Holiday homes along these rivers come in every size. From cosy gîtes with a terrace right by the water to spacious farmhouses with their own meadow along the bank. The highest concentration is in the provinces of Luxembourg and Namur.

A holiday home by the water has a sound that no other setting can offer: the steady murmur or babble of a river running day and night. That sound carries into the bedroom and sets a sleep rhythm you rarely find at home. During the day there is the spectacle of moving water, birds on the bank and light dancing on the surface. All of this makes a riverside stay more restorative than a comparable property a kilometre from the water.

In Belgium, the most beautiful riverside properties sit along the Semois, the Ourthe, the Lesse and the Amblève, all in or close to the Ardennes. Each river has its own character: the Semois is slow and winding, the Ourthe livelier at La Roche, the Lesse wide and family-friendly, and the Amblève cuts through a spectacular gorge landscape near Coo. Choose the river that matches your pace.

Along the main Ardennes rivers, many kayak hire firms offer day trips and multi-day tours. The Lesse at Anseremme and the Ourthe at Durbuy are the most popular stretches, but the Semois near Chiny also lends itself to quieter outings. Some properties even have a kayak or canoe in the barn. Ask when you book.