Outside the city
Are you visiting Belgium soon or you have some time to spare during the weekend? Or do you just simply want to do something outside the city? Here is a small travel guide of 10 hidden places in Belgium, perfect to visit during the weekend (outside the city). Some places are a bit more popular, but others are hidden and not well known to the general public. So, there should be something for everybody.
1. Villers Abbey (Villers La Ville)
Villers Abbey is not far from Brussels. It was founded in the 12th century and bears 900 years of history. The buildings are today in ruins and many ask themselves why the abbey is not that well preserved.
This Gothic abbey took more than 100 years to build and almost 400 monks lived there. However, at the end of the 17th century, the monks left, fearing for their safety, and the abbey was abandoned.
During the 18th century it was reconstructed in Neoclassical style and so began its second golden age. However, this did not last that long since the monks left once again fearing the French revolution. The abbey was abandoned a second time. After that, it was sold to a builders’ merchant and was used for construction stones, leading it to fall into ruins.
Villers abbey is currently classified as a historic site and monument. You can read the whole more detailed story of Villers Abbey on their website.
It is indeed sad that it was allowed for this to happen to this majestic building. Still, the ruins look beautiful and attract many tourists today. I would definitely recommend to check it out. Tickets are € 9 per person and there is a big parking space. So, I would say it’s one of the easy places to visit in Belgium.
2. “Reading-Between-The-Lines” Church of Borgloon and The Floating Chapel Helsheaven
These two places are not far away from each other. Although they are not situated at one place, I think they can be combined in one visit. Also, this is a great opportunity to visit the countryside of Limburg.
“Reading-Between-The-Lines” Church of Borgloon
A church made of steel sheets stacked on each other forming a church! Why would they do this?
An unusual place, the church was part of a museum’s project (Z33) which consisted of multiple installations in the Borgloon region (Limburg). From a certain angle it looks see-through. This church is not located near a main road, quite the opposite. It is on a off-road track, so you need to walk for a bit among apple and pear trees to get there. In fact, it is meant to attract people to visit the countryside in the region.
The Floating Chapel Helsheaven
Another interesting installation in the area is the Floating Chapel in Helshoven (only a 10 min drive from the church). The little chapel is made of wood and it looks like it’s floating in the air. From there you can admire the beautiful views. Perfect for snapping some photos.
TIP: these two destinations are stunning to visit in autumn when the scenery changes into gold and brown.
3. Leffe Museum in Dinant
The next things on the list of “5 places to visit in Belgium in the weekend” is Dinant. If you are a fan of beer, one place to visit in Belgium is the Leffe Museum!
Dinant is a small town in Wallonia. It’s very popular for tourists. So, if you have a free weekend, it’s a nice place to visit. A curious fact is that Dinant is home to the famous Belgian beer Leffe. This is also where the Leffe museum is situated. The history of this beer dates back to the 13th century when drinking water was unsafe due to the numerous epidemics and people drank beer instead.
I must say the museum is quite small and most of the things to see fit in just one room. But you still get to sit outside (if the weather is nice) on the terrasse with a view to the surrounding hills and have a glass of Leffe. A beer is included in the price of the ticket.
4. Arboretum Tildonk
This is a very hidden place in Belgium, definitely not popular for tourists. We discovered it one Sunday when we had nothing to do. It’s a thing that is rather visited by locals on a sunny day. But what is actually an arboretum?
An arboretum is a garden in which the botanical collection consists entirely of trees. The modern arboretum though also contains plants and it’s used for research studies of these trees and plants.
The story of the Arboretum in Wespelaar started in the 1980s and continues to this day. It contains around 2000 sorts and varieties of woody plants and trees. Special attention goes to trees and plants from known wild origin.
6. Castle Van Horst
The next place from this guide is Castle Van Horst (or Kasteel Van Horst) in Hageland. This castle is old. It is considered that it’s build in the 12th century although its first appearance in literature is in the 15th century. The castle has been renovated and expanded multiple times over the centuries. The oldest part of it is the tower (considered to date from 15th century). It is currently not possible to go inside but to only visit the domain. The grounds of the castle are quite large and are great for a good Sunday walk. There are marked tracks and you can walk a few kilometres around it. There is also a restaurant where you can have a bite or a drink after your walk.
7. Maredsous Abbey
If you have been to the supermarket in Belgium, you have heard of Maredsous. The name is famous as a brand of cheese and beer that is already on the market for quite some time.
The Abbey of Maredsous was founded in the 19th century. It’s a Benedictine abbey situated in the municipality of Anhée in Wallonia. It is one of the more recently build abbeys in the country. The abbey is situated in the mountains but has an easy parking space. Great if you’re planning a trip to Wallonia soon. The place is not only great for a walk but it’s also popular for gastronomy. In fact, when you arrive, you immediately notice that the most crowded place is the café where you can try different types of Maredsous beer, as well as their cheese. You can also purchase some for home.
8. Park Abbey (Abdij van Park)
Situated in Heverlee, just outside Leuven, Abdij van Park (or Park Abbey) is an incredible well preserved place dating from the 12th century. You can visit both the grounds of the abbey and can also go inside the museum (to go inside you will need to buy tickets which are €12 per person. Or you can just simply go for a long walk in the park and the surrounding forest or have a drink at the tavern just outside the walls.
A visit to the abbey can also be combined with visiting the city of Leuven since it is situated just outside the ring.
9. The Japanese Garden in Hasselt
The Japanese Garden in Hasselt is one of the most popular places to visit in the city. I had been living for several years in Belgium before I knew that it existed. I actually received tickets to go from one of my previous employers that was a Japanese company. That’s how I ended up visiting and I think it’s a very cool place. The tickets are €6 per person. The garden is open every day except on Monday.
The Japanese garden in Hasselt was a gift from the city of Itami (Japan).
But what makes Japanese gardens so unique? The three essential elements to have in a Japanese garden are stone, water and plants. It is the way these elements are put together that makes the garden unique.
10. Arboretum Kalmthout
Another place for the flowers lovers. Why am I including another arboretum in this guide of 10 hidden places in Belgium.
There is a simple reason? Because this is one of the best ones in Belgium and also because it’s the only place in Belgium where you can sea different varieties of snowdrops! The garden is situated in Kalmthout, province of Antwerp. It is open every day between 10am and 17pm. Booking tickets in advance is a bit cheaper but the best news is that the arboretum is also included in the Museum Pass (if you have one).
This is a very peaceful place. It has a parking lot, so it’s not difficult to access. On their website you can find a flowering calendar.
Thank you for reading “10 hidden places to visit in Belgium”!
