Brussels is the « capital of Europe » as well as the capital of Belgium. A city with a thousand-year history, elegant architecture, numerous museums, and a high-quality cultural heritage, it doesn’t seem like a suitable summer destination. What would make you skip beaches, mountains, and exotic locations for a summer vacation in Brussels? Perhaps the fact that… you have children! In fact, this austere-looking and even a little « grey » capital is paradoxically one of the most child-friendly cities in Europe. Here, the little ones will find a universe of colors, sounds, and entertainment designed especially for them. Would you like to know what and where? Then come with us at Transfeero, in our vehicles with dedicated drivers, to discover many interesting stops among comics, figurines, and fantastic adventures!
Children are welcome from the very first moment
Upon your arrival at Brussels Airport (BRU), your children will be greeted welcome immediately. The airport, one of the busiest on the continent, offers many play areas for children, who can spend carefree time while adults complete formalities and organize transfers. Belgium is the home of Lucky Luke, the Smurfs, and numerous other fairy-tale comic book characters. Every corner dedicated to children features these funny and friendly faces to welcome them, making life easier for parents. And when it’s time for a snack, the cafes and ice cream bars within the airport, as well as those in the city, will delight the little ones with fries (a Belgian specialty), chocolate, and pralines of every color!
Do you know how to make waffles?
With a personalized and comfortable means of transport, you and your children can travel to the Waffle factory, just a half-hour drive from the airport.
Waffles are delicious square-shaped wafers often used as a base for creams, ice creams, and desserts, but they also make a delicious snack on their own. Learning how to make them will bring joy and even more appetite, especially in little children. The Waffle Workshop, where this becomes a reality, is a must-see for all families with children in Brussels. Expert pastry chefs will teach both young visitors and their parents how to create these delicacies.
A ten-minute walk from the Waffle Workshop are some of the Belgian capital’s most important monuments, so even adults will immediately feel involved in the visit.
The Grand-Place and the little peeing angel
The “great square”, the heart of Brussels, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998 for its architectural beauty and the events it hosts. Children will love strolling around the Grand-Place, among enormous buildings (like the Town Hall—which looks like a castle!, the Guildhalls with their towers and spires, the King’s House), enchanting places like the Galerie Saint-Hubert… which looks like a golden tunnel, and quirky museums like the Beer Museum (which, however, can only be visited by Mum and Dad!).
Just a four-minute walk from the square, on a little street called Rue de l’Etuve, there’s something kids will absolutely love: the Manneken Pis, the « peeing boy »! It’s a fountain featuring a little angel with a jet of water coming out of it in this silly pose. The current trend is to decorate it with clothes, flags, costumes, and unique messages… which the little ones will absolutely love.
The Kingdom of Comics
Another short stroll of a few minutes, five or six, to a smaller square off the Grand-Place (Espagne square), and there’s the place your kids will never want to leave! And maybe you won’t either… It’s the COMICS FIGURINE MUSEUM .
This is not just a place where themed drawings and figurines are exhibited, but also an interactive temple where every comic strip comes to life! Spread over 4,000 square meters, inside an Art Nouveau building that already brings to mind a fairytale palace, the museum collects the most famous comics born from Belgian creativity: from the most “age old” Monsieur Tintin to the immortal Smurfs, from cowboy Lucky Luke to Gaston Lagaffe, Blake and Mortimer, and Marsupilami. It will be funny for the kids to discover that the Smurfs’ Belgian name sounds like a sneeze: Schtroumpf!
If a whole museum isn’t enough to admire the comics, wander around the historic center to discover the many murals that brighten the backs of the houses: here, in giant shapes, the Smurfs, cowboys, and paper dolls almost come to life!
United Children of Europe
It is impossible to ignore that Brussels is the capital of the European Union and therefore of all European children. And the city reminds us of this very well, thanks to initiatives such as guided tours for families af the European Parliament Building and the fun walks at the Mini Europe park.
The so-called « Europe Quarter » – home to some of the EU’s powerhouses – is located a half-hour walk from the Grand-Place. Experienced guides await you there, ready to explain the role of those buildings and our union in a fun and never-boring way.
To admire Mini Europe, you’ll need to take a car and drive a few kilometers up to Heysel Stadium. Next to the sports facilities is a park featuring miniature replicas of the most beautiful monuments in the EU nations. From afar, children can also admire the gigantic monument to the Atom sparkling in the sun, and not far away from that, even a Planetarium.
Science and fun
If your children are passionate about science and knowledge, venture with them inside the Planetarium to admire everything related to space and the planets. Alternatively, a visit to the Belgian Museum of Natural Sciences is definitely worth it, where every plant and animal becomes a universe to be discovered. If your children are not too young you might be interested in guiding them through the Pixel Museum, an incredible place housing over 250 video game devices: from Nintendo, PlayStation, to Xbox, here you’ll find everything from the very first “historic” video games to current AI-powered games.
A sixteen-minute drive from the center of Brussels, in the Forest neighborhood, a fun-filled adventure awaits your children… and you too! Inside a fascinating deconsecrated church, amidst spires and stained-glass windows, two enormous climbing walls rise. Grips, ropes, and helmets ensure safety, while anyone can defy gravity by climbing dozens of meters high!
If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway, head south, about 5 km from Brussels’ historic center, to the beginning of a gigantic urban park nestled within a protected national park: the Cambre Forests. Woods, lakes, paths, and meadows will make you forget you’re in the city… and for the kids, it’ll be time to unleash their energy!
