Traveling with kids can be challenging, but planning a car trip to Belgium doesn’t have to be.

This 4-Day kids-friendly is designed to make your family short break smooth and enjoyable. We’ll cover the best kid-friendly attractions and help you navigate this beautiful country with ease.

Our primary goal for this trip was to experience the magic of Plopsaland, a thrilling amusement park guaranteed to delight both children and adults. To make the most of our time and budget, we opted for a convenient and cost-effective ferry crossing in the morning, allowing us to maximize our playtime at the park. While Plopsaland was the star of the show, we also incorporated some fantastic kid-friendly stops along the way, creating unforgettable family memories

4-Day Family Trip to Belgium

This itinerary focuses on maximizing family fun with a mix of experiences, exciting attractions, and playtime.

Getting There

Plopsland and Plopsaqua are conveniently located just 40 minutes from Calais, France. We opted for the ferry from the UK, which was a smooth and enjoyable journey. Shuttles are also available from Dover, making Plopsaland easily for a short family trip.

Day 1: Arrival in Dunkirk – Playtime & Park Exploration

• Morning: We cross the Channel by ferry and arrive in Calais.
• Mid-morning: Head to Dunkirk and unleash your children’s energy at KiddySquat, an indoor play area with dedicated zones for different ages. Standard ticket: €12 and you can stay as long as you like.
• Afternoon: Enjoy the outdoors at Fort Louis Park, offering ample space for exploration and play.
• Evening: Check into your hotel and relax. We stayed at West Bay, a lovely aparthotel with excelent connections to Plopsaland and Bruges. Highly recommended for a short stay.

Day 2: Bruges – Waffles and Fun at Boudewijn Seapark

• Morning: Explore the charming city of Bruges:
  • Stroll along the canals, admiring the picturesque views and waving to boaters.
  • Indulge in delicious waffles at OYYA Waffle Bar.
  • Enjoy a quick lunch at McDonald’s for convenience.
• Afternoon: Head to Boudewijn Seapark, for Christmas or any time of the year, please always check the timetable. (if applicable to your travel dates- CHRISTMAS)
  • Enjoy rides like a mini rollercoaster, slides, and bumper cars.
  • Witness the captivating dolphin show.
  • Explore the indoor play area.
  • Conclude the day with a thrilling fire show. (if applicable to your travel dates- CHRISTMAS)

Day 3: Plopsaland – A Day of Thrills and Fun

• Morning: Arrive at Plopsaland early (9:45 AM) and enjoy a full day of amusement park fun.
• Afternoon: Head to indoor softplay, Mayaland and Bumba’s Circus, both are included in your ticket to Plopsaland de Panne.
• Evening: Experience the dazzling Illuminaria show and fireworks display at Plopsaland, around 7pm. (if applicable to your travel dates- CHRISTMAS)

Day 4: Plopsaqua – Wonderland Adventure (Located next to Plopsaland)

• Full Day: Spend a fantastic day at Plopsaqua, the water park! We enjoyed 5.5 hours of splashing fun. The highlight was definitely the ‘Storm’ – every 30 minutes, you can experience the exhilarating simulated rain and waves, and the kids absolutely loved it!
• Evening: Depart for Calais, France, to catch the ferry back to Dover (We choose the 20.40 pm ferry)

Plopsaland

We arrived at Plopsaland bright and early at 9.45 am, eager to experience all the park had to offer. The park itself is massive, so we decided to focus on the outdoor rides first. The theming is truly spectacular, with whimsical decorations and attention to detail everywhere you look.

The queues for the rides were surprisingly short throughout the day, with most waits being under 10 minutes. This allowed us to experience a wide variety of rides, from the gentle carousel to the more thrilling roller coasters.

Indoor Adventures

As the afternoon wore on, we decided to head indoors. Plopsaland offers two fantastic indoor areas: Bumba’s World and Mayaland. These indoor play areas are perfect for younger children with gentle rides, interactive activities, colorful ride show, a lovely soft play areas in a cosy indoor setting with a huge pall bit area.

Our day at Plopsaland De Panne was a resounding success. The park offers something for everyone, from toddlers to thrill-seeking teenagers. The combination of exciting rides, captivating theming, and friendly staff made for an unforgettable experience.

Tips for Your Visit

• Arrive Early: Getting to the park early allows you to experience more rides and avoid the biggest crowds.
• Pack a Picnic: Bringing your own food and drinks can save you money and time. There are plenty of picnic areas throughout the park and the restaurants in there can be a bit pricy but acceptable. For the kids, we ordered two small pizzas from Pizza Hut, while we enjoyed a delicious panini. The park offers a variety of food kiosks.
• Indoor Areas: If the weather isn’t cooperating, or if you need a break from the sun, the indoor play areas are a great option.
• Check Height Restrictions: Many rides have height restrictions, so make sure your children meet the requirements before heading to the queue. most of the rides are designed for children who are at least 1 meter tall, but there are plenty of fun activities for young children on the indoor play areas. Also under 85 cm can enjoy free entry without a ticket.
• Parking: there’s plenty of parking on-site just keep in mind that parking costs is 15 euros per day.

Family Ticket (4 people): 149 euros
Individual Ticket (1 meter tall and above): 36 euros
Individual Ticket (85cm to 99cm): 18 euros
Senior Ticket (70+): 18 euros
Please Note: These prices may be subject to change.
I recommend checking the official Plopsaland website for the most up-to-date pricing information.

Plopsaqua

This waterpark is a wonderland for families. We thoroughly enjoyed our 5.5 hours at the water park, having fun and relaxing in the inviting pools. It was truly a memorable day!

One of the great things about Plopsaqua is that there are no time slots, so you can stay and play as long as you like. We did have to pay a small fee of 5 euros for a locker, but we received a 2 euro refund at the end of the day, making the actual cost just 3 euros.

Plopsaqua offers:

• Outdoor Pool: The heated water in the outdoor pool was a fantastic treat, especially during the winter months.
• Wild River: We couldn’t get enough of this thrilling ride! The Viking-themed canyons and caves added an extra layer of excitement.
• Slides: The three water slides were a major hit, especially with our adventurous daughter, Emily.
• Toddlers Paradise: This area was perfect for younger children, featuring a gentle pool, a splash park, interactive water play elements, and even a TV screen showing the Bumba show, keeping them entertained.
• Storm Experience: Every 30 minutes, the simulated heavy rain and waves created a unique and exciting show for everyone.

Tips for Your Visit

• Swimwear rules: Please remember that Plopsaqua has a strict swimwear policy. Men are required to wear Speedo-style swimwear (lycra swimwear without pockets) and trunks are not permitted.
• Time: Enjoy the flexibility! There are no time slots, so you can stay and play as long as you like.
• Food: We enjoyed some hamburgers there for lunch, but be prepared for the cost – two hamburger menus came to 32 euros.

Plopsaqua entry for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children): 85 euros.
Please Note: These prices may be subject to change.
I recommend checking the official Plopsaqua website for the most up-to-date pricing information.

This blog post is based on our personal experience and may not reflect the experiences of other visitors.

I hope this blog post helps you plan your own magical adventure to Belgium!

Traveling with children can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Our trip to Belgium was filled with laughter, fun, and precious moments that we will cherish forever. We hope this itinerary inspires you to plan your own family adventure and create unforgettable memories together

We highly recommend this itinerary to any family looking for a fun-filled day out.

And if you are looking for the best family theme park in the UK? Paulton’s Park is an excellent choice, offering a fantastic day out for families with children of all ages.