Family-friendly holiday homes in Belgium

Most family-friendly properties offer more than just a cot. A fully enclosed garden, stair safety, toys for rainy days, a baby bath or a high chair at the table: all those details make the difference between surviving and enjoying yourself as a parent.

Holiday homes with child facilities are available in every price range and region. From a simple family house in the Campine to a spacious villa with playground and pool in the Ardennes. Choose based on the age of your children and the activities you plan to do.

Belgium is an excellent destination for a family holiday. The Ardennes have adventure forests, survival courses, petting farms and playgrounds. On the coast the beach itself is the biggest playground. The Campine has quiet cycle routes and nature on a child's scale. Every region has something to offer families with children of all ages.

Belgian owners who deliberately set up family-friendly properties go further than simply providing a cot. They install safety locks on low cupboards, fit a stairgate, provide toys for indoors and out, and share information about child-friendly activities nearby.

The Ardennes are a classic choice for families. Children kayak on the Lesse or the Ourthe, explore the caves of Han, climb through an adventure park or pet the goats at a petting farm. Around Durbuy and La Roche you will find many chalets with a large enclosed garden where the little ones can play safely while you relax on the terrace. A nature park such as Parc Chlorophylle in Dochamps or the maze at Barvaux is often only half an hour away, and in La Roche itself you can walk to the medieval castle right from the town centre.

On the Belgian coast, the beach keeps children busy all day long. Building sandcastles, splashing in shallow water, a bucket and a spade: young children need nothing more. A house within walking distance of the seafront saves many trips with a pushchair. The Campine, finally, is flat and quiet, with child-friendly short cycling routes and a theme park such as Bobbejaanland in Lichtaart nearby, ideal for a day out with slightly older children.

For babies and toddlers, it is the things you most prefer not to transport yourself: a cot ready on arrival, a high chair at the table, a baby bath and a stairgate. Ask the owner what is available, because these are exactly the items that take up the most space in the car. Some owners even have a travel cot, a baby bath or a bottle warmer ready so that you can arrive with light luggage.

For older children it is the outdoor space that counts. A swing, a trampoline or a sandpit in the garden can keep them busy for hours, and a box of board games rescues every rainy evening. A trampoline is generally not safe or really suitable for children under four, so match your choice to the age of your children. A fully enclosed garden remains the most important criterion for most parents: the child runs freely without constant supervision. Filter specifically for an enclosed garden if your children are under six.

A house with a pool is the dream for the whole family, but with young children the safety aspects deserve particular attention. Ask whether there is a fence or a safety cover around the pool and whether there is a separate shallow paddling area. A cover over the entire pool or a fence of around 1.1 metres keeps curious toddlers away from the water. Agree on clear rules in advance: an adult is always present near the water. A swim vest brought from home adds extra peace of mind. If your child cannot yet swim, choose a house where you can see the pool from the kitchen or the terrace.

Pay attention to the area around the house as well. An unprotected pond, stream or ditch in the garden calls for vigilance with young children. Ask about steep staircases, low windows and sharp corners. Good family properties will already have addressed these with gates, safety locks and covered sockets, but it is still worth checking. If any detail makes you hesitate, raise it before you book: a good owner will be happy to answer.

Belgium is small, so the best attractions are never far away. From the Ardennes you can take a day trip to Pairi Daiza, visit the caves of Han or Plopsa Coo, or head to an adventure forest. From the coast, Plopsaland De Panne and Bellewaerde are a short drive away. In Flanders, Bobbejaanland, the wildlife park at Planckendael and many woodland playgrounds are close at hand.

Plan ahead for rainy days too. A wet day is no problem with a water park such as Plopsaqua in De Panne, a covered soft-play area or a child-friendly museum nearby. In the Ardennes, a covered attraction is rarely more than half an hour away, and on the coast almost every resort has a covered play area for a rainy afternoon. When you book, look for a property with enough indoor play space so children do not become restless if they are kept inside for half a day. Ask the owner for recommendations: they often know the best spots in the area and can tell you where to spend a rainy day in the warm and dry.