7 family-friendly outings in Flanders this autumn

Herfst2023_Mechelen_Opsignoor13_© Stef Keynen (11)
Woman with open arms welcomes a child on a grassy slope in a park with autumn leaves and houses in the background.
Looking for a fun family day out during the autumn months? There are plenty of new places to discover in Flanders with children, teenagers, grandparents or the whole family! A drizzly day? Explore exhibitions at Museum Hof van Busleyden and Design Museum Gent, or enjoy endless fun at C-Mine. Are the weather gods smiling on you? Then head out to National Park Forests of Brabant or Meise Botanic Garden. Discover our autumn tips for the whole family, both indoors and out.
Flanders Finest Hiking - Voer- en Warandewandeling Tervuren (109)_© Visit Flanders
Flanders Finest Hiking - Voer- en Warandewandeling Tervuren (109)_© Visit Flanders

Forest walks and adventure in National Park Forests of Brabant

No time of year is more beautiful for a walk in the woods than autumn. The treetops become a canvas of yellow, orange and red. At this time of year, National Park Forests of Brabant is a beautiful setting for a walk. You’ll walk through magnificent forests, including the ancient Sonian Forest, a wonderful piece of UNESCO World Heritage Site. And a woodland walk needn't be boring for children. In Forests of Brabant, microadventures guarantee maximum fun. Search for beavers on a packraft safari, enjoy some forest bathing, take up an outdoor sport or meet charming alpacas. Here you’ll find everything you need for a woodland walk like no other.

Enjoy microadventures in National Park Forests of Brabant

Autumn colours, an amazing barefoot trail and spooky fun at Meise Botanic Garden

Even if you prefer not to stray too far from the path, you can still enjoy autumn to the full. Meise Botanic Garden has plenty in store this autumn. On an autumn walk, discover harvest time in the culinary garden, gather chestnuts and admire colourful leaves and an abundance of mushrooms. In the WOODlab, you can roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. On the Amaze-Your-Feet-Path (open until 15 November), kick off your shoes and immerse yourself in nature. Older children can test their courage on the spine-chilling Scary Night Tour. Something a little less scary, perhaps? A challenging GPS treasure hunt leads you to the most beautiful spots in the grounds.

Experience autumn at Meise Botanic Garden
Houtlab-37_© Plantentuin Meise
Houtlab-37_© Plantentuin Meise
C-mine expeditie1_Limburg
A family in the dark passages of the former C-mine tunnels. They stand, fascinated, in front of a huge illuminated sound funnel.

Creative play and an underground adventure at C-Mine

The former C-Mine coal-mining site in Genk turns play into an art form. Children have a blast at Welcome Little Stranger. This artistic play area was created by fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck. In his imaginative world, children can let their imaginations run wild. Want to delve deeper into his world afterwards? Antwerp's Fashion Museum is currently hosting an exhibition celebrating 40 years of ‘The Antwerp Six’. These designers made fashion history; and Van Beirendonck is one of them. Prefer to stay in Genk? C-Mine Expedition offers an immersive journey into Limburg’s mining history. During a tour through the old tunnels, true stories are brought to life with animation, striking sets and special effects.

Discover C-Mine Genk

Quirky chairs, colourful tables and unusual lamps at Design Museum Gent

From Genk, we move on to Ghent. After an extensive renovation, Design Museum Gent will reopen on 3 October. This temple to all things beautiful immerses you in 700 years of design history. It’s also a place for young beauty-seekers. Quirky chairs, colourful tables or unusual lamps will have your children wide-eyed with wonder. The youngest visitors will find plenty of colourful, inviting play areas throughout the museum. The Hello Designer family trail is a hands-on journey of discovery through the museum. At Studiolo’s, you can create your own design.

Design Museum Gent for families
Alessandro Mendini zetel in het groen en geel
Alessandro Mendini voor Studio Alchimia, Poltrona di Proust, 1978-1986, CC CY-NC-ND 4.0 (c) Design Museum Gent

Big stories for young visitors at Passchendaele Museum

Some stories are too important not to pass on, which is why we mark Armistice Day every year on 11 November. During the First World War, the Westhoek was an important front line. Since then, the region has been known around the world as Flanders Fields. At Passchendaele Museum, children set off with their own audio guide and fold-out map. Through challenges such as decoding Morse code, they learn about the First World War in a fun and engaging way. After your visit, head to the Menin Gate in Ypres. Every evening, the Last Post sounds beneath its arches in tribute to those who died in the war. So that we never forget.

Visit Passchendaele Museum
Museum Passchendaele_© Eric Compernolle (16)
Museum Passchendaele_© Eric Compernolle (16)

Belgian chocolate at Chocolate Nation Antwerp

Heritage can be delicious too, right? Chocolate Nation celebrates Belgium' iconic chocolate. This vibrant visitor centre is the perfect destination for a drizzly autumn day. You’ll discover the story of our ‘brown gold’ and follow the cocoa bean’s journey from the plantations to the port of Antwerp. Along the way, you’ll discover the craftsmanship, inventions and chocolatiers that have put our country on the map. Your visit ends in the Taste Heaven, where you can taste and compare no fewer than ten different types of chocolate. Anyone keen to get hands-on will have a brilliant time at one of the chocolate workshops: a delicious treat to round off a successful day out.

Chocolate workshops that are finger-lickin' good
Chocolate Nation_© lucid
Two girls look at a chocolate sculpture in a glass display case with a large snail-like head and miniature figures.

Travel back to the Burgundian era at Museum Hof van Busleyden

Rich sauces, exotic spices and tables groaning under the weight of a sumptuous feast. This autumn, the ‘Burgundian Dining’ exhibition at Museum Hof van Busleyden in Mechelen brings the heyday of the Burgundian Renaissance to life. There’s plenty for children to enjoy too. Explore the permanent collection together with the help of a golden cube. Discover the museum gardens through a series of fun challenges: write your own garden poem, become a tree and find the ostrich. Or enjoy a free audio play full of neighbourhood squabbles, gossip-filled markets and medieval torture scenes. A fascinating visit designed for the whole family.

Visit Museum Hof Van Busleyden with the whole family
Hof van Busleyden Mechelen_© Sophie Nuytten 41637968990 o
Hof van Busleyden Mechelen_© Sophie Nuytten 41637968990 o

Brochure family-friendly Flanders and Brussels

With its versatility, Flanders is the ideal destination for a holiday with the whole family. Below you will find a selection of the activities to make your trip to Flanders an unforgettable family break.

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Practical information about family-friendly outings in Flanders

Flanders is full of kid-friendly activities, both indoors and outdoors. Those with a sweet tooth will have a wonderful time at Chocolate Nation in Antwerp. Discover a world of plants at the Meise Botanic Garden. And the House of Alijn tells fascinating stories about everyday life in days gone by. For more inspiration on adventures near your accommodation, check out the Family-Friendly Flanders and Brussels brochure.

Enjoying nature, hiking, cycling, playing in natural playgrounds, petting zoos, swimming ponds... Flanders' parks and forests are full of fun things to do and see. Micro-adventures in our nature reserves guarantee maximum fun. You're sure to find a great activity near your accommodation. Do you enjoy visiting museums or other attractions? Be sure to check their websites for discounted rates and/or group discounts for families.

You're never too young to visit a museum. Places like the Toy Museum or Technopolis in Mechelen are designed with children in mind. Other museums organise activities specially for kids. At the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), children get the chance to be ArtFactFinders. You can explore the Ghent University Museum (GUM) through fun scavenger hunts and a family game. At the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, you'll come face-to-face with the dinosaurs that ruled the earth millions of years ago. The Family-Friendly Flanders and Brussels brochure contains all the options.

Go on an artistic journey of discovery along the Flemish coast, explore the river on a packraft, and admire historic Westhoek from a cable car high in the sky. Or spend the night in a picturesque castle along the river Lys. Or why not go paddling on the Scheldt? In short: Flanders' nature reserves are full of micro-adventures.

This accessibility page has loads of information about travelling to and within Flanders if you have care needs or specific requirements. Do you have specific questions about the accessibility of a museum, attraction, outing, guided tour or accommodation? You can find more information in the Accessibility Finder.