Around Flanders by Campervan - the Coast, the Westhoek and the Art Citiesthe Coast, the Westhoek and the Art Cities

In Bruges, take an early boat trip on the canals before the day-trippers arrive, climb the 366 steps of the Belfry, and find Michelangelo's Madonna in the Church of Our Lady. Vehicles over 3.5 tons are not allowed in the city centre, and overnight street parking is prohibited: count on a recognised motorhome site.

Het Zwin is a dynamic tidal marsh area where the sea has free rein, a crucial resting place for migratory birds. Het Zwin Nature Park offers views of countless species from bird hides and explanations about bird ringing. Free-roaming storks dominate the landscape of the marshes, which turn purple in summer due to sea lavender. A walk through this landscape subtly takes you across the border into the Netherlands. The salty air and expansive views call for sturdy footwear.

De Haan is the only Belgian seaside resort with virtually intact Belle Époque architecture. In the De Concessie district, you can admire charming villas with woodwork, bay windows, and turrets. The historic tram station from that era, with its half-timbering and green shutters, is still in use. Behind the village lie tranquil dunes and pine forests, ideal for walks and bike rides. Moreover, the wide beach is significantly quieter than those of the larger resorts.

Ostend combines the allure of a seaside resort with the authenticity of a fishing port. At the Vistrap, you can buy fresh catch directly from the quay. Mu.ZEE showcases Belgian art and works by the locally born James Ensor. In the marina lies the Mercator, a three-masted training ship that can be visited as a museum. From the long sea dike, you can walk along the beach to neighboring municipalities. The Coastal Tram connects Ostend with other seaside resorts and runs the full 67 kilometers from De Panne to Knokke.

De Panne has the widest beach on the Belgian coast, where sand yachting has been practiced for over a century. Behind the sandy plain lies the De Westhoek Nature Reserve, with the bare drifting dune the Sahara and paths through dune slacks. For families, there is Plopsaland, an amusement park full of Flemish television characters, and the Coastal Tram that runs along the entire Belgian coast. From De Panne, the entire coastline can be explored without a car.

Ypres owes its character to the careful reconstruction after the First World War. In the medieval Cloth Hall on the Grote Markt, the In Flanders Fields Museum tells the stories of the front line. Under the Menin Gate, the Last Post sounds every evening, a solemn commemoration. Around the city lie hundreds of cemeteries, including Tyne Cot, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world. The narrow country roads between the fields reveal a subdued landscape, where farmers plough up grenades.

Tournai, in French Doornik, is a city full of history, with rare Romanesque houses from the twelfth century. The Notre-Dame Cathedral with five towers and the belfry on the Grand Place are both World Heritage sites. The Pont des Trous spans the Scheldt with two round towers, a remnant of the medieval water gate. You'll also discover museums for tapestry and porcelain there. The tranquil Scheldt and the historic buildings give the city a charming atmosphere.

Brussels is a multilingual capital where European institutions and local neighborhoods meet. The Grand-Place shines with gilded guildhalls and the Gothic Town Hall. Nearby stands Manneken Pis, smaller than you expect. You can admire art in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, including works by Magritte. Outside the city center, the iconic spheres of the Atomium gleam. The city bustles with life, from its lively squares to Horta's Art Nouveau houses in Saint-Gilles.

Leuven owes its lively atmosphere to the university and its tens of thousands of students. On the Grote Markt stands the Gothic town hall, opposite St. Peter's Church with Dieric Bouts' Last Supper. Nearby is the Oude Markt, a square full of cozy cafes. Along the Dyle lies the Grand Beguinage, with brick houses on the World Heritage List. You can explore the rich beer culture, including Stella Artois, on foot: the center is compact and largely car-free.

Mechelen, a sixteenth-century administrative center, showcases historic palaces and guild houses. The unfinished St. Rumbold's Tower, after 538 steps, offers a skywalk with views of Antwerp and Brussels. Below, the carillon of the Carillon School, which trains carillonneurs worldwide, can be heard. On the outskirts of the city center stands Kazerne Dossin, a poignant museum about a dark period. The compact city center is pleasant to explore on foot, with carillon sounds echoing through the streets.

Ghent unites a vibrant student life with a medieval center full of monumental buildings. Along the Graslei and Korenlei, richly decorated guild houses with their stepped gables reflect in the waters of the Leie. Visitors to St. Bavo's Cathedral will see the world-famous polyptych, the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, between the Gothic vaults. It is often busy around Gravensteen Castle, where you can look out over the red roofs of the city center from the robust battlements of the moated castle.

In Bruges, take an early boat trip on the canals before the day-trippers arrive, climb the 366 steps of the Belfry, and find Michelangelo's Madonna in the Church of Our Lady. Vehicles over 3.5 tons are not allowed in the city centre, and overnight street parking is prohibited: count on a recognised motorhome site.