It’s not a secret that Bruges in Belgium is very beautiful little town. Nevertheless not many people know that it is surrounded by plenty of wonderful forests, parks and marvellous castles. There are various walking and cycling tours which you can easily reach with your kids. And as a parent I know how essential it is to let your little sweethearts enjoy outdoor activities and get fresh air so in the evening you won’t have any difficulties to put them to bed. Furthermore these kinds of activities are family bonding and last but not least absolutely free!
If you are cycling with your kids on the back of your bike then I would definitely recommend Urban Iki Seat for your little one! It has an amazing modern design, lovely colour palettes to choose from and most importantly great quality. I’ve been using it for a while and I’m very happy with it. It’s safe and easy to install in just 10-minutes. And even if I want to go out without my little boy, I take the seat off in seconds. And we also use the cute helmet from Urban Iki which has cool integrated light on the back of it for improved visibility in the dark. On that picture my little one wanted to have a quick ride around the park in his cap and you know how insisting toddlers can be! For the long distances I would recommend to use a helmet. You’ll be surprised about the price, it’s not more expensive that the average price of the baby & child’s seat but looks so much better! Love it!
Damme
Damme is a small version of medieval Bruges (yes, it can get smaller!). Also charming and cute. The peaceful tree-lined route there is straight and goes along the water. The road is wide enough to feel comfortable for any kind of biker and moreover it offers lovely views of farmsteads with different animals like cows and donkeys. It’s one of my favourite routes to bike in Bruges since it offers lovely views and it’s not far to reach.
The Castle Triangle
As I mentioned before Belgium has plenty of different castles and the surroundings of Bruges are no exception. The famous triangle area is enclosed by Bruges, Torhout and Oostkamp, it is perfect for a family cycling tour. Start from wonderful Tillegem forest, It is a woodland area about 7 km south of Bruges which offers various walking paths winding through the fields, woods and a beautiful castle surrounded by water. It dates back from the 13th century and during the later centuries it was owned by rich families from Bruges. There is also a cool wooden playground with café next to it. The perfect opportunity to start a great day!
The next destination is Tudor castle and it’s domain. It was built in the English Tudor-style around 1904. In front of the castle there is an ornamental garden with flowers and pathways. The area includes a forest and a park area where you can bike around or just take a stroll.
The 3d stop is the Beisbroek domain and it’s castle. Nature lovers will be spoiled here. There is plenty of greenery and picnic areas. The nature centre Beisbroek also offers an interactive exhibition and a “kid’s lab”. At Beisbroek you can also visit Cozmix, the public observatory and planetarium. An amazing way to spend the whole day with the family!
Ryckevelde forest
Ryckevelde forest is the largest woodland area on the territory of Bruges. Within 20-25 minutes of biking from the centre of the old town you will reach the peaceful greenery of Ryckevelde. It’s a great place to enjoy cycling or walking routes through nature. Additionally here you will discover another lovely castle. Definitely a place to visit with your kids!
Castle of Loppem
Another wonderful park with a beautiful castle to visit with your family. In approx. 30 minutes biking from Bruges you will reach the beautiful English garden with a pond and a maze. The architectural neo gothic style castle welcomes it’s visitors to get to know more about an art collection dating from the early Middle Ages to the beginning of the 20th century. It’s open from Tuesday to Saturday from 2pm to 6pm. There is the labyrinth of Loppem which dates back to 1873 and is a perfect place to get lost with your kids!
Bulskampveld
The Landscape park Bulskampveld is the largest connecting forest area in the province of Flanders. It’s a bit further than the other areas but definitely worth a visit. It’s the perfect place to spend the whole day with your family and kids to enjoy the nature. There you will find another marvellous castle which is located at the centre of the area and facilitates the visitor’s centre.