Holiday homes with garden in Belgium

In the Campine and the Ardennes, gardens are often large and surrounded by nature. Some holiday homes have a fully fenced garden, which is handy if you are bringing a dog or have toddlers. Others have an open garden that flows into the forest or the surrounding fields. On the coast gardens are more compact, but with the beach nearby that is rarely a drawback.

When choosing your holiday home, look carefully at the garden photos and the description. Is the garden fenced? Is there a terrace with garden furniture? A swing for the children? A barbecue spot? The right garden can make your stay considerably more enjoyable.

A garden at a holiday home is more than a patch of grass. It is the place where the holiday actually happens: children running around, adults reading in the shade, a barbecue smoking and an evening that lasts longer than expected. In the Campine and the Ardennes, gardens are often spacious and surrounded by nature. On the coast they are more compact, but the proximity of the beach more than makes up for it.

If you are looking for a fenced garden for a dog or young children, you will mostly find them away from the coast. In the Ardennes and the Campine, fully enclosed gardens are not unusual. The Flemish Ardennes offer lovely combinations of a large garden with sweeping views over the surrounding hills.

A private garden belongs exclusively to your holiday home. You can use it whenever you like without considering other guests. In the Campine and the Ardennes a dedicated garden is standard for detached houses, usually with a terrace, sunloungers and a barbecue area. That gives you the freedom to have unhurried breakfasts outside and long evenings around the fire.

On larger estates with several holiday homes, parts of the garden or shared facilities may occasionally be used by other guests. This is usually mentioned in the property listing. If a garden of your own matters to you, for instance because you are travelling with children or a dog, choose a detached house that explicitly offers a private outdoor space.

A south- or west-facing garden catches the sun throughout the day. You also want enough seating, a table large enough for everyone, a parasol for the warmest hours and a working barbecue. For families with small children, a sandpit, a swing or a trampoline makes a real difference, and a fully enclosed garden gives you peace of mind so that toddlers and dogs can play outside safely.

In the Campine, detached houses on generous plots are the norm and gardens are often sheltered from the road by a hedge or a row of trees. In the Ardennes, chalets and holiday cottages frequently sit on the edge of a village or right beside the forest, which creates natural privacy. Look carefully at any outdoor photos in the listing and read the description to get a clear picture of what to expect.

The Ardennes and the Campine offer the widest choice of holiday homes with large private gardens. In both regions, houses often stand alone on their own plot and a terrace with a barbecue area is largely standard. A farmhouse near Malmedy, a chalet by Vielsalm or a cottage in the Gaume region: there is a broad range of styles and sizes to choose from.

The Flemish Ardennes also has attractive gardens with panoramic views, though the overall selection is smaller. Along the coast, holiday apartments often have only a small balcony or terrace. If a spacious outdoor garden is a priority, the Ardennes or the Campine are the regions to consider.

Garden photographs are usually taken in summer when bushes and trees are in full leaf. A garden that looks lush and private in August may feel more open and exposed in May or October. Check whether photos from different seasons are available, or ask the owner what the garden looks like in early spring or autumn.

Also pay attention to the level of maintenance and the degree of privacy: a garden that backs onto a cycle path or a busy road offers less seclusion than one sheltered by hedges or a tree border. If you are travelling with children or a dog, an enclosed garden with secure gates is an important requirement to confirm before booking.