Family Holiday Homes in the Kempen: Space to Breathe

The Kempen doesn't shout about itself, which is part of why families keep coming back. Spread across the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg, this quietly impressive region of heathlands, pine forests and meandering rivers offers exactly what most families are actually looking for: space, fresh air, safe cycling routes and a holiday home where the children can run straight out the door without anyone worrying. It's not the Ardennes with its dramatic hills, and it's not the coast with its summer crowds — it sits somewhere in between, and that's precisely its strength.

Renting a family holiday home in the Kempen tends to be noticeably more affordable than comparable properties near the coast. A well-equipped house sleeping six typically starts around €600–€800 per week in high season, with many properties falling closer to €450–€550 in spring or early autumn. Add the fact that you're often within 45 minutes of Antwerp or an hour from Brussels, and it becomes clear why this region fills up quickly during Belgian school holidays — particularly in July and the autumn break.

What the landscape actually looks like

People who haven't visited before sometimes picture the Kempen as flat and featureless. In reality, the variation surprises you. Around Mol and Lommel, you'll find some of the most extensive heathland in Western Europe, particularly within the Hoge Kempen National Park, where the purple heather blooms between late August and September and the light takes on a quality that makes even non-photographers reach for their phones. Further west, around Turnhout and Oud-Turnhout, the landscape softens into farmland and polders, with the Liereman nature reserve offering a quieter, more sheltered feel.

The rivers are a defining feature. The Kleine Nete and the Grote Nete both wind through the region, and canoeing on them with children is straightforward and genuinely enjoyable — hire points are available near Geel and Westerlo, with no previous experience required. The water is calm, the banks are wooded, and a two-hour paddle feels just the right length for primary-school-aged children before someone starts asking about ice cream.

Holiday homes: what to expect and where to look

Most family holiday homes in the Kempen are either detached bungalows within a holiday park, or independent rural properties set in their own grounds. Both have their merits. Holiday parks — the larger ones around Mol-Postel and near Kasterlee — typically offer on-site swimming pools, playgrounds and sometimes a small café, which can be enormously useful when you arrive on a rainy Saturday afternoon with tired children. Independent properties tend to offer more character, more garden space and more privacy, though you're relying on the local village for entertainment.

For families with younger children, a holiday home with pool in the Kempen makes a significant difference — there are numerous properties where the pool is private and fenced, which removes the constant supervision anxiety that comes with shared facilities. If you're travelling with a dog, the region is genuinely excellent: vast stretches of forest and heath with loose-lead areas, and many owners actively cater for it. You'll find a solid selection of dog-friendly holiday homes across the region, particularly around Retie and Ravels near the Dutch border.

Properties sleeping eight to twelve are available for larger family gatherings — grandparents, cousins, the whole extended group — and prices for these remain competitive compared to the coast or the Ardennes. Browse the full range of holiday homes in the Kempen to compare what's available by size, facilities and location.

What to do with children of different ages

The Kempen is set up exceptionally well for cycling, which is its biggest single draw for families. The Flemish cycling node network covers the entire region, meaning you can plan a route using numbered junction points and let children navigate themselves — something that gives them a genuine sense of independence and keeps arguments about directions to a minimum. Typical family loops of 20–30 kilometres are achievable in a morning, with plenty of options to shorten if a wheel gets wobbly or enthusiasm fades.

• Bobbejaanland near Lichtaart is one of Belgium's most established theme parks, well-suited to children aged five and up, with enough variety to fill a full day without the extreme queues you'd encounter at larger international parks.
• Bokrijk open-air museum near Genk brings together historical buildings from across Flanders, with plenty of hands-on demonstrations. Children engage with it more readily than you might expect, particularly the old crafts workshops.
• Aventura Forest near Turnhout offers tree-top adventure circuits at different difficulty levels, so adults and older children can take on more challenging routes while younger ones tackle the beginner circuits nearby.
• The Sahara of the Kempen — the dune landscape near Lommel — has an almost cinematic quality and children find it completely unexpected. It requires less effort than a hike and generates plenty of conversation.
• Swimming lakes at Mol Donk and near Herentals are clean, supervised in summer and free or very cheap to use, which is a relief when you're trying to manage a week's budget.

Eating and shopping locally

The Kempen is not a restaurant destination in the way that Ghent or Bruges is, but that's fine — most families renting a holiday home cook the majority of their meals in any case. The market towns of Turnhout, Mol and Herentals all have decent supermarkets including Delhaize and Colruyt, local bakeries and the occasional good brasserie. Turnhout in particular has a pleasantly lived-in town centre with a Friday market that's worth timing a visit around.

Local farm shops selling strawberries, asparagus (in season), eggs and artisan cheeses are dotted throughout the countryside and are worth seeking out. Children who've never seen a farm shop in operation sometimes need persuading that this is better than a supermarket trip, but they're usually converted quickly by the size of the strawberries.

When to go and practical information

High season runs from the first week of July through mid-August, and prices reflect it. Availability for popular properties disappears fast — realistically, if you want a specific house in the second half of July, you need to book in January or February. That's not an exaggeration. Some owners release their calendars in November and see July and August gone within a fortnight.

The spring holidays (late April) and the autumn half-term (late October) are consistently underrated. Prices drop by 20–40%, the cycling paths are quiet, and the landscape in autumn — golden birch trees, clear skies, the smell of damp heather — is genuinely beautiful. Spring brings blossoming fruit trees and the first warm weekends, when ice cream stops in Kasterlee feel like a small luxury.

From Brussels, the heart of the Kempen is around 60–80 kilometres depending on your exact destination, making it feasible even for a long weekend. From Antwerp, some parts of the region are barely 30 kilometres away. Travelling from the Netherlands is very straightforward, particularly from Eindhoven or Breda. There's no need for a motorway the whole way — the provincial roads through the villages are part of the experience.

For booking, direct-owner platforms give you the most flexibility and often the best prices. Make sure the property has a clear cancellation policy, particularly for peak summer weeks, and check whether tourist tax (toeristenbelasting) is included in the listed price — it varies by municipality and can add €3–€5 per person per night.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a family holiday home in the Kempen cost per week?

Prices vary by property size and season. A house sleeping four to six people typically costs between €450 and €800 per week in high season (July–August), and between €300 and €550 in spring or autumn. Larger properties for eight or more people range from around €900 to €1,500 in peak weeks. Tourist tax and cleaning fees are sometimes listed separately, so check the full price before booking.

When is the best time to visit the Kempen with a family?

July and August are the most popular — school's out, swimming lakes are open and the days are long. However, the spring holidays (Easter and late April) and the autumn half-term in October offer excellent conditions with fewer visitors and lower prices. Late August is a sweet spot: summer warmth, the heather in bloom and slightly quieter than peak July.

Is the Kempen suitable for families with young children and dogs?

It's one of the better regions in Belgium for both. Many holiday homes have enclosed gardens, and the cycling routes are largely traffic-free and flat enough for children on smaller bikes. Dogs are welcomed in most nature reserves and on the heath, and a significant number of holiday homes specifically cater for pets with outdoor washing stations and unfenced rural surroundings.

How far is the Kempen from Brussels, Antwerp or Amsterdam?

From Brussels, the Kempen is roughly 60–80 kilometres, taking about 50–70 minutes by car. From Antwerp, parts of the western Kempen are only 30–40 kilometres away — under 40 minutes. From Amsterdam, the distance is approximately 150 kilometres, making it around a 90-minute drive. It's also reachable from Eindhoven in under an hour, which makes it a logical choice for Dutch families looking for a short cross-border break.