AD. Unfortunately, when it comes to organising a family holiday, the city of Brussels is not usually included, which definitely should not be the case. The city is not packed with beaches like the Spanish cities, or theme parks like Paris, but there are plenty of things in this city that will keep children and parents entertained. As the capital of Belgium and home to the Grand Place and so much chocolate, Brussels might seem like the last place you’d take your kids. Wrong. In the summertime, when the weather is fine, it is one of those cities that don’t just accept kids, but embrace them with equal jubilation. It will definitely be entertaining for everyone involved.
[Photo by lil artsy]
Getting Around: How to Book a Transfer
Choosing Brussels for a weekend with children would at first glance seem like a chore, but Brussels is surprisingly manageable. Public transport is rich with trams, buses and metros, so the majority of attractions are easily accessible. In contrast, as you’ll be travelling with kids, it is advisable to book a Brussels airport transfer in advance. This means that after a flight it is easy to have the family transferred to the hotel, without arguing with the kid's exhaustion on foreign transport systems. With transport dealt with, let’s get into a few places to visit.
Adventures in Miniature
There is no better way to begin to explore Brussels than through the eyes of this doll house! Mini-Europe is a beautiful area that offers the opportunity to attend monumental green structures of European countries reduced to fit children’s scale. They can run through the pathways, peeking over various wonders such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Pisa’s Leaning Tower, and even the Big Ben in London and all this while they are getting history lessons about Europe even if they have no idea about it at that young age. The adults, on the other hand, always feel happy to watch their kids amuse themselves with such miracles and recall the moment when people saw the miracle in a simple world themselves.
Indoor Delights: Museums et al.
As said, Brussels has not left children out from its planning, and so it even has museums that are specifically intended for children. For instance, The Belgian Comic Strip Center is an example of a place where one can merge between art and fun. Tintin and the Smurfs are interesting and colourful to children, whilst adults can reminisce about the comics they used to read as children. However, this is not just a trip through time, as the museum also provides workshops so that everyone in the family could learn about the art of making comics and keep all the children occupied even if they seem to be easily getting bored.
[Photo by Paul Deetman]
A Glimpse to the Surreality
During the visit to the Belgian Comic Strip Center the family will get an element of surprise – some of Belgium's famous absurdity. An exhibition of Hergé’s creation, the artist behind Tintin, usually makes a visitor stand in amazement. Looking at the lines of his work and the extent of the narration, one feels a desire which is, in fact, a feeling of wonder, recalling the ability of simplicity.
Outdoor Spaces: Parks and Recreation
The wide outdoors is great not only for your mind, but also for your body. The fact is that there are places like Parc du Cinquantenaire that are wide and spacious enabling children to play throughout the day. There are play areas to behold, and if you’re the adventurous type perhaps you may get the opportunity to go through a maze of abandoned military equipment, which are relics of the past. But that is not all that the parks have to offer, or to be precise, there are also swings and slides in most parks. Parents may consider the grand arch that looms large over the area and overtakes the landscape as a subject of fascination or the museum that can be seen in one of the corners of the area and which might seem like a precious few moments of relief from the overwhelming duties of raising children.
A Moment of Peace
Sometimes it is good to have a moment of peace and quiet with yourself, that only a park could offer. When children start playing, running and leaving parents alone, parents are able to take a deep breath, to look at the trees and maybe even have a conversation without being interrupted. It is these little experiences that make family holidays meaningful —the opportunities that allow you to engage not only with the place but with your loved ones as well.
Conclusion
Brussels is really a place that is not widely associated with a family vacation but it is one that should be on the list. It is a city that has a variety of activities that can suit the interest of the adults and at the same time children since no-one’s left out. In every park, every museum, every transfer, Brussels has it all to make every single member in the family happy and cherishing for memories to bring long after the holiday.
FYI. This belongs to anupaid article shared to me by Ralph Moir using the email address ralphcmoir@gmail.com - I have removed the backlink. I am posting this to be aware of this type of scam. If ever you encounter this article from this person, be warned!
