Belgium was disappointing - must plan better next time! (1 Viewer)

[MisterB]

I have to confess to being disappointed with motorhoming in Belgium. I thought there would be lots of Aires, just like France and you could meander around on a whim. However, experience has shown me otherwise. It definitely needs to be planned and homework needs to be done prior to leaving the UK.

We visited Ostend earlier today and was pleasantly surprised. I expected an industrial dockland area. It turned out be a great place to visit for a few hours.

 

[Grasmere9]

Oh dear. I am toying with the idea of a short trip to Belgium in October half term... maybe time to do my homework

 

[Northernraider]

I found Belgium to be rather beige ...ie boring . I wasn't impressed with Holland either. Luxembourg however has lots of castles and it's pretty. The romantic road in Germany is nice but otherwise I can't say I was enthralled by that side of Europe.

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[Skez]

Belgium has been my least favourite European country in a van. Beige , yep, good description. Not a fan of Belgian beer either. And the roads -- they were better in Turkey.

 

[GMLS]

Blimey isnt it funny.We love Belgium.The Ardennes, Bruges, Ghent and hopping along the coast.

 

[Reallyretired]

Quite a few free Aires in Belgium away from the coast which I always avoid anyway there are people there

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[Stealaway]

I'm sorry you were so disappointed.
We love Belgium and have spent weeks there over the years as there's loads to see.
Never needed a campsite and always stayed on free Aires.
Look at the Tourist information web site and make a list.

 

[suavecarve]

I was a Belgium "Passer througher" til we decided to give it a go in March and have been for a couple of nights on the way back from other holidays.
We found some great "left field" stuff and all we did was go round Brussels, probably not more than 50 km from there at any time.
I do a fair to medium amount of planning for all our holidays but never plan on when and have B plans up my sleeve.
The Ardennes it absolutely a place we will return to regularly and I really want to do some more canals on the Ebike and find that humungous hill they do on the Paris Roubaix.
We will go to Ardennes in March this year if weather is good, if not a bit of Holland with similar good finds waiting for us.
I am unable to defend some of the roads though !

 

[Van Aert]

I was a Belgium "Passer througher" til we decided to give it a go in March and have been for a couple of nights on the way back from other holidays.
We found some great "left field" stuff and all we did was go round Brussels, probably not more than 50 km from there at any time.
I do a fair to medium amount of planning for all our holidays but never plan on when and have B plans up my sleeve.
The Ardennes it absolutely a place we will return to regularly and I really want to do some more canals on the Ebike and find that humungous hill they do on the Paris Roubaix.
We will go to Ardennes in March this year if weather is good, if not a bit of Holland with similar good finds waiting for us.
I am unable to defend some of the roads though !

No humungous hill in Paris-Roubaix…….the Mur de Huy is in the Ardennes though.

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[suavecarve]

No humungous hill in Paris-Roubaix…….the Mur de Huy is in the Ardennes though.

The Koppenberg. I thought it was Paris Roubaix but its actually Tour de Flanders.

Thank you for correcting me

I think one year only 2 professional cyclists made it up the hill (or a very similar number) Well worthy of looking it up youtube

Noting your avatar and name I reckon your knowledge is far greater than mine on Belgium cycling !!

 

[Brains]

We like Belgium
However argee a degree of planning is needed.
Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent are all worth a long weekend of a visit.
Brussels has a few things worth looking at, but you can do it in a day.

Given they only have 60 miles of coast (there is a tram that runs the entire length, almost border to border) I'd avoid the coast, as it's all built up at least 250m inland.

 

[TinaLes]

Most funsters seem to visit the Boatlifts when passing through Belgium, parking for MH not a problem.
Bruges is a must see, but The Aires tend to be very busy, most of the year, so get there earlier in the day to get a spot.
Ghent looks good also.
LES

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[Larrynwin]

We loved Antwerp with the picturesque square and its waterside museum area, well worth a visit and of course Ypres and it’s history.

 

[Van Aert]

We go over for the winter cyclo cross - well worth a watch if you stumble upon one.

Supremely fit athletes tackling mud and sand on a bicycle while their supporters party in the beer tents.

 

[Gaston aires]

Oh dear. I am toying with the idea of a short trip to Belgium in October half term... maybe time to do my homework

Don’t be put off. Bruges and Ghent are lovely places. Camping Memling in Bruges. Damme near to Bruges a pretty canal village worth a visit as well.
Phil

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[Lenny HB]

Belgium is a great place apart from weather similar to the UK.
Use to be very poor for Aires but about 10 years ago they passed a law making councils provide parking for motorhomes. But a lot of then are only 3 or 4 van Aries.
Its well worth the effort.

 

[Tribute615]

Dinant another great place in Belgium, Home of the inventor of the saxophone Adolphe Sax so themed around that, on the river Muese and plenty of cafes and bars. Saw this pic in a magazine and had to go see.

Had to have a go at the rocks myself

A view of the town

 

[Garfields]

We do lots of planning before we set off.
We then usually ignore it and end up somewhere different.

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[Chris]

The best thing about Belgium is cheap fags.

Not a big fan of it other than that. Brugge and Ypres worth a visit but only one visit.

 

[Lenny HB]

We do lots of planning before we set off.
We then usually ignore it and end up somewhere different.

What's planning got to do with Motorhoming, the extent of our planning is booking a ferry.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Dinant another great place in Belgium, Home of the inventor of the saxophone Adolphe Sax so themed around that, on the river Muese and plenty of cafes and bars. Saw this pic in a magazine and had to go see.
View attachment 672154
A view of the town View attachment 672155

We walked along there, pretty sure in the first picture just on the road there is a very narrow rock arch you have to drive through
if you walk further along from thr town you come to a big weir in the river.

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[Lenny HB]

We walked along there, pretty sure in the first picture just on the road there is a very narrow rock arch you have to drive through
if you walk further along from thr town you come to a big weir in the river.

Dam confusing getting a beer there too much choice.

 

[Tribute615]

We walked along there, pretty sure in the first picture just on the road there is a very narrow rock arch you have to drive through
if you walk further along from thr town you come to a big weir in the river.

just added one of the pic's where i kicked the other half out with the camera . Not sure about parking but i have twice used the car park near the Casino/Prison with no problems.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Dam confusing getting a beer there too much choice.

Yes definitely , I play it safe with Duval or Jupiler not really into the strong stuff 7-8% is ok for me

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[Dutch 68]

I found Belgium to be rather beige ...ie boring . I wasn't impressed with Holland either. Luxembourg however has lots of castles and it's pretty. The romantic road in Germany is nice but otherwise I can't say I was enthralled by that side of Europe.

Belgium has some stunning places to visit, so has the Netherlands , you just need to know where to go, ask some locals, scenery wise the alps , pyrenees , Dolomites are always going to win of course . I was disappointed with Tuscany last week, great cities but the country side was very average to poor , now in Carcasonne house sitting for few days, then heading for Barcelona and heading down the Spanish Costa’s to enjoy the weather hopefully, and no we will not visit Benidorm …..

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Yes definitely , I play it safe with Duval or Jupiler not really into the strong stuff 7-8% is ok for me

We went before we had the van so stayed in a hotel but that’s the arch watched a coach trying to go through

 

[Lenny HB]

, and no we will not visit Benidorm …..

Wise move, we survived for 4/5 hours there on our last trip one place I never want to see again.

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[MisterB]

Just to clarify, I will revisit Belgium BUT will plan it properly next time. I don't hate the place I was just disappointed that it wasn't really motorhome friendly in the places we felt like visiting.
We have previously visited places with WW1 connections but wanted to stay clear of them this time, so didn't really want to plan, even if loosely. I think therein lies our problem!

 

[Lenny HB]

Just to clarify, I will revisit Belgium BUT will plan it properly next time. I don't hate the place I was just disappointed that it wasn't really motorhome friendly in the places we felt like visiting.
We have previously visited places with WW1 connections but wanted to stay clear of them this time, so didn't really want to plan, even if loosely. I think therein lies our problem!

We don't do planning but always found it Motorhome friendly.
Maybe because we have been going regularly since 2008 as all 3 Motorhomes we have had we have bought from a Belgium dealer.

 

[Roger20]

The aire at Han-sur-Lesse is one of our favourite stopovers on the way to Luxembourg and Germany

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