Top things to do in Brussels with kids
The Belgian capital Brussels is so much more than the administrative capital of the European Union. It’s a family-friendly city celebrating waffles, a statue of a boy peeing in a fountain (listen to your kids laughing), beautiful architecture and gardens, mini buildings and really big dinosaurs. Christine Leger from Tapped out Travellers fill us in on the top things to do in Brussels with kids.
Table of Contents
Mini Europe
Regardless of age, all kids will love to run about Mini Europe, exploring all of the miniature buildings with complete freedom. A map is included with the entrance ticket so your little leader can show you the way and describe every building as you pass. The ground is also marked with arrows for any non-readers in the family. Each city/building has it’s own interactive piece to keep the kids focused and occupied while mum and dad explore and photograph the experience. Between pressing buttons, shooting rockets and navigating RC bumper boats, there is plenty to see and do to keep the kids, especially the energy filled kids, happy.
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (aka Dinosaur museum)
Every kid’s dream – giant dinosaur fossils and archaeological pit ready for a brave child to dig up the remaining fossils. The first floor is full of dinosaurs, Evolution (Gallery of Human Kind and Gallery of Evolution) and precious stones (Mineral Hall). A level up and we see a wide range of specimens, photos, and interactive stations to help explain what biodiversity in the city really means.
Manneken Pis
They will get a kick out of seeing a little statue boy peeing into a fountain, and being praised for it. If you are lucky, you might even catch him on a day when the city dresses the boy in one of the hundreds of outfits he owns to commemorate a special occasion. Take a guided tour of the city and learn about the history of the famous statue, and hunt throughout the city to find his sister, Jeanneke Pis.
Waffels
We can’t explore Brussels without trying their famous waffles. Stop by one of many waffle houses for a big breakfast or a tiny vendor tucked away between shops. Either way, this is something that can’t be missed. Each waffle is custom made, so you are welcome to add anything and everything to your own waffle.
Cinquantenaire park
The large green space is home to Brussels’ own Arc du Triomphe, and a handful of museums. Whether they like Egyptian history, Belgian History, or just a few minutes to relax and kick a ball, the Cinquantenaire park is a great place to take the kids to wind down.
Christine Leger
Christine Leger is the founder of Tapped Out Travellers, a Family Travel Blog About Travel with Kids. We explore travelling on a budget, splurging on bucket-list travel opportunities along the way. Although Canadian, she currently lives in Germany. Take a look at Christine’s Top 10 for kids in Brussells.
