The restoration is a labour of love that exudes an impressive appreciation of elegance at every turn. There is absolutely nothing that diminishes the ambiance and heraldic romanticism. We had been passing through Chimay on route to Rocroi and stopped here in free parking on the side of the main road near a small brocant up some steps. It is a short walk here over the pedestrian crossing towards a small river and chapel then up a modest and pebbled street where a very narrow passage invites exploration. This brings you to the front of the Château. There was nothing to dislike. The staff were lovely, kind, attentive and quite exceptional. We even saw the Prince and Princess. After all this is their home. The film of the Château is very interesting; so much so that one wishes one could have met some of those historical figures. Perhaps not Robespierre however. There are several signposts dotted around the town pointing the way but the impressive spire indicates a direction of travel. We are so glad to have stopped here in Chimay.

Lovely little zoo. Lots to see in a compact space, but not at the expense of enclosure size. It cost €48 for two adults and two children which compared to UK prices is very reasonable.

absolutely fantastic trip, we love such walkings, part of the route goes along the rush road, but mostly it goes in the woods or by a quiet road, the dam is nice, big, water is clean, we found many crayfish there! we did the route marked black on the map, parked at the parking lot Falemprise (for free), in the middle of the route in the village Cerfontaine we had an excellent Chimay beer and bought some meal in Carrefour, in total it took us 6 hours including a small picnic, I recommend to visit this place, we will be back for sure... pros: you can make this route be bike without any problems...

Oh my word! What an absolutely stunning building both inside and out! We visited in June 2023,while on our first holiday to Belgium, all the way from Scotland. Peaceful, calming, so,so,spiritual, when we entered. Only thing I'd say is,(me being religious)- (other people may not think its a big deal), the toilet signs,could be on a better place,other than right beside the c Cross of Jesus Christ. That's only my opinion, anyway,we loved everything about the Chapel. Thanks, and 🙌 blessings.

Visiting Grand-Place in Mons was one of the highlights of my trip. The square is full of charm, surrounded by beautiful historic buildings, and has such a warm, local vibe. I spent a few hours here just soaking in the atmosphere — it’s lively but not overwhelming, and the pedestrian-only layout makes it feel really relaxed and welcoming. What really stood out to me were the cafés and restaurants around the square. I enjoyed a delicious lunch at one of the terrace spots with a perfect view of the Town Hall — the food was great, and the service was friendly. Whether you’re in the mood for Belgian classics or something more modern, there’s something for everyone. Don’t forget to rub the little brass monkey on the Town Hall for good luck! It’s a fun local tradition and easy to miss. If you’re in Mons, definitely make time to stop here — it captures the heart of the city beautifully.

I love that this isn't just a bunch of animal exhibits, but a full story of the various parts of our world. You definitely enjoy seeing the decor as much as you do the animals. In terms of decor, Middle Kingdom and Kingdom of Ganesha were my favourites, with Last Frontier following closely. Animal highlights were the snow leopard, the giant pandas (that I doubled back to see later in the day), the lemurs jumping around above the visitors, the lion and lioness bumping heads in affection. I like being able to be close to animals, like the deer in Last Frontier, the birds in the aviary, and the peacock (peahen?) with the chicks. My least favourite part was definitely Land of the Cold. It was very crowded, and since it was already very hot when I got to it, not too many animals were interested in being seen. Can't blame them, though. I also wasn't a fan of the aquarium. I appreciate the vibe (first the cave, and later the submarine-feel), but it was a bit underwhelming compared to the rest of the zoo. A wonderfully done part of the zoo and an unexpected favourite were Lands of the Past. I have never been as scared in my life as I was when I saw those mammoths moving! (While writing this, I realized I missed the entire ship-load of snakes, spiders, and lizards! Oh no!)

This boat lift is an example of magnificent engineering. It overcomes a height difference of 73m and until 2016, when the boat lift in the three georges dam in China took over, the tallest boat lift in the world. It was completed in 2002 together with the canal and aquaduct nearby. The lift has two counterweighted caissons (tanks) of 118m long, 16,5m wide, and 8 meter high. There are eight large counterweights connected via 144 steel cables to each tank. Four huge electric motors drive the vertical movement of each tank. You can visit the eight floor where you have a museum, a video presentation and where you can see the big machinery hall. On that level is also a cafetaria. On your way out, you can stop on level five for a panoramic look outside. When I was there (May 2025) there were no large ships lifted or lowered due to a collapsed bridge which blocked the canal north of the lift. Only small pleasure boats used the lift.

Our Tour Guide was excellent. The lobby and restaurant are very nice and clean. The garden is beautiful, with it's intricate landscaping. The Hospitality was overflowing. The history, attention to details on the displays is impressive. There's so much to capture. Our Historian captured every detail in this Historical Hospital. The Hospital made a tremendous impact in the Commune of Lessines, Belgium. Well done. Highly recommend!

Wonderful museum, definitely visit if you have the chance! Every first Sunday of the month - visiting the museum is free.

Detente

Instructor Max deserves his name. He is 'the max'. We had a fantastic flight from Oostende (EBOS) to Inverness (EGPE). Flying on AP for about 1 hour while being instructed every single function of the overhead panel and preparing the ILS for Inverness in detail. Smooth, almost perfect landing on the rather short runway. Passengers Fabienne and Harmony thoroughly enjoyed the flight as well. June 6th 2024 Yes I did it again, and with Max. Two slots of 2 hours, each of them feeling like half an hour. I explicitly ask for Max to be the instructor. I was not disappointed, he still is the same professional and funny guy I met a year ago. You want to fly with Max, don't wait too long, I think he might get his full license soon, so he won't need the simulator any more.

Hallerbos is a stunning forest in Belgium, famous for its bluebell carpet that blooms in spring. The forest offers scenic walks, a forest museum, and a rich history. It is a great place to enjoy nature and relax. Hallerbos is managed by the Agency for Nature and Forest, and is accessible by public transport or car. I highly recommend visiting this forest, especially during the bluebell season.

Gaasbeek Castle is definitely worth a visit. They recently finished a renovation that took almost three years, and it really shows. The castle looks great, both inside and out. They've done a good job of keeping a lot of the original items, so it feels very authentic and you get a real sense of the history. It's quite informative as you walk through. The castle garden is also a highlight. It's really beautiful and well-maintained, with different sections to explore. It's a nice place for a relaxed stroll. The wider castle grounds are good for hiking too. You can easily spend some time walking around and enjoying the scenery. Just a heads-up, while the castle and grounds are excellent for adults and older visitors, the interior with its historical artifacts might not be the most engaging for very young children. Teenagers and up would probably get more out of it. Overall, it's a very good experience if you're looking for a historical day out with impressive grounds. There are 2 free of charge parkings, You can buy a combo tickets for the castle and the castle garden. I personally find the garden - a garden,with flowers, fruit trees, nothing extra ordinary.

Immersive and unforgettable! A fantastic experience from start to finish. The 3D movie was a real highlight—so well done and emotional. The museum is super interactive, with creative displays, sound effects, and hands-on elements that make the history feel alive. The outdoor reenactment camp and Lion’s Mound added to the atmosphere, and everything is really well organized and accessible. Perfect for history lovers and curious visitors alike!

A fantastic way to spend a couple of hours in Belgium. This museum is located 40minutes away from Brussels by train but is well worth the visit. The interactive quiz that guests solve as they walk through the museum is an uniquely engaging strategy indeed. The props and storyboards as well as the audio guide make the world of Herge come alive. The museum gift shop is also lovely with some items priced decently so that no one leaves for home empty handed. A must see place when visiting Belgium.

Here my detailed review: Entry fee & Parking: Parking is shared with walibi theme park. 13€ is kinda expensive but if you pay parking at the Aqualibi desk, its only 11€. The entry fee for Aqualibi is around 35€ which is ok but also not cheap but on the limit. Sadly there is no combi ticket together with the theme park. Also a chip wristband paying system could be useful, so you dont have to bring a wallet to the pool bar. Since Aqualibi is open till 10pm, it offers a nice additional experience after spending a day at Walibi, which closes already at 6pm. I entered Aqualibi at 5pm. The crowds were mid and only the new slides had some waiting. Changing rooms: The changing rooms are clean, its also unisex. Lockers are fine and are NO upcharge. Also note their clothing policy, they dont allow shorts. Pools: The main pool area is themed to some degree and features some rockwork. It has a medium sized wave pool, which can be pretty packed. The waves were only turning on once in the 2,5 hours I was there. There is also a nice relaxing Lagoon with some whirlpools. Kids play areas are right next to the Lagoon. For the ambient temperature it was kinda chilly at some spots (outdoors it was 20°C) with lots of AC running. The water temperature was just right. The cleanliness in the pools was not so great but thats usual if there is lots of people. Slides: So this is the park's main focus. The dome with the wave pool offers some slides (these are the older ones). Here you have some chill tire slides (like Bi-bob) but also some faster slides like Flash and Extreme (this one has a nasty direction change where you almost flip over). Next to the lagoon, there is the very well themed Rapido river slide. This one is lots of fun with much variation and even features a "disco" cave. Its a very chaotic and wild slide. Only minus is that they dont regulate how many people are on the Rapido, I felt like being in a "people avalanche" where you constantly bump into others or they bump into you. For the new slides, you had to wait a bit (max. 10-15min). You wait at the bottom to get a tire and then walk up to the slide's start. The slide with the bowl and with the half pipe were very popular, fun and exciting. The slides where you lie belly down on a mat are also fun but not as fast and exciting. The banzai slides (featuring 2 uphill passages) was nice but way too short and kinda slow. Cool idea but not as exciting as the others. Also not that banzai requires 2 people on a tire/boat, if you are below 68kg. After around 6pm the waits dropped significantly to even zero on most slides. (Was there on a friday) For me 3h were enough to have a good time and experience everything and doing multiple laps on the slides. Verdict: ++ slide selection ++ great in the evening after being at Walibi + theming, especially on rapido + free lockers ~ mid cleanliness ~ pricing not cheap but also not expensive ~ no chip payment wristbands

So, we hit up this awesome theme park on Monday, rolling in around 10 am. Parking was super easy to find and cost us 13 bucks per car—not bad at all! Even though we got there pretty early, the place was already buzzing, so my advice? Try to arrive even earlier if you can. It’s a themed park, and honestly, the vibe is totally unique. Make sure you grab a guide brochure as soon as you walk in—super handy for planning your day. The rides are just amazing; I can’t even pick a favorite, but we ended up riding KONDAA three times—couldn’t get enough! The restrooms are spotless and kept up really well. Plus, they’re everywhere and even match the theme of each area—super cool touch. When you need a break, the food court’s a great spot. Prices for food and drinks are pretty fair for a place like this, so no complaints there. Every corner of the park looks fantastic, and I took a ton of photos—couldn’t help myself! The staff were super helpful, and loads of them spoke English, French, or Dutch, so communication was a breeze. If you want to chill, there are plenty of tables and chairs for picnics, and you’re allowed to bring your own food and drinks, which is awesome. And when it’s time for a ride, there are lockers right there so you can stash your stuff and grab it after—super convenient. Honestly, for what you pay, you get so much out of it. I’d totally recommend bringing your friends or family here for a fun day out. Big thanks to all the Walibi Belgium team for making our visit so memorable!

It’s such a historical location which really worth going. Full of red-bricked buildings. It seemed entering to another world. Just walk through those little streets and almost forgot the time. We just walk here amd there and took many nice pictures. This is a really amazing area. I really enjoyed the time spending there.

Beautiful green oasis in the center of Leuven. I really loved the big sequoia tree and the wisteria trees. There were some amazing smells of the flowers also. We just spent some time here walking around and taking a break on some of the benches here

Little gem of a town of the standard tourist track, with lovely medieval streets and plenty of cafes/bars/restaurants in the centre. Head out towards the Begijnhof to experience some really old cobbled streets that seem to be untouched by modern standards

The Royal Palace of Brussels (Palais Royal de Bruxelles) stands as a prominent landmark in the city and serves as the official palace of the Belgian monarchy. Situated in the heart of Brussels, it faces the Brussels Park (Parc de Bruxelles). While it is not the royal family's residence—they live in the Castle of Laeken—the palace hosts official state functions and events.

The library underwent severe bombings and damage during two world wars but re-built again. It is a mixture of the old and new. The clocktower gives you the best view over Leuven. The small photos and explanations on the sides of the top balcony tells you what each building is. The entrance is free to students and 7 euros for adults.

We had an unforgettable time at the Sunday brewery tasting at De Koninck! Luca, our host, was outstanding—knowledgeable, charismatic, and clearly passionate about beer and food pairing. The selection of beers was excellent, and the carefully paired meat and cheese truly elevated the experience. It was fascinating to see how each bite complemented or balanced the beers so perfectly. However, there’s a bit of a downside to the Sunday afternoon setup. While the tasting itself was fantastic, we were disappointed that we couldn’t explore the interactive tour or purchase the amazing meats and cheeses featured in the tasting afterward, as the shops and expo were closed. It feels a bit counterintuitive and a missed commercial opportunity for De Koninck. That said, Luca and the tasting itself were fantastic. A must-visit for beer and food enthusiasts alike! 🍻🧀

Unfortunately the house is under renovation (the artworks are currently housed in KMSKA), but you can still see the garden. It's really lovely this time of the year, with all the different varieties of tulips. We got in with the museum pass, but the standard ticket is a bit pricey perhaps. Still, a nice quiet spot.

A long street lined with shops, bustling with people. It stretches from the central station all the way into the city center. You’ll find all kinds of stores here, offering just about anything you might want.

Great hotel and location to center and train station. Very quite. Morning breakfast was great and accommodating especially for gluten free options had to ask but they delivered. Could leave luggage while you wait for your room 3pm.

Absolutely wonderful zoo! I had a ton of fun, the animals are beautiful. I took over 500 photos, luckily I brought an extra battery for my phone! I’d suggest that you bring your own food, it’s a bit overpriced imo, but I’m not super familiar with Belgian prices, so maybe it’s okay.

This museum is located in the outstanding red-brick building near the river. The museum is quite pricey, but getting to the rooftop for the views is free of charge. Getting to the top requires you to take the escalators to the 10th floor. There you will see a 360-degree panorama views of the city - from the city centre to the industrial area. It’s incredible, to be fair. There are some sitting spaces inside on some floors with the views as well. Great for a tired tourist to sit and enjoy. One of the must-visits in Antwerp and is truly great.

It was cooked nicely. A quality sauna. And the message was very relaxing and ppleasant