testing the new camper

Oud-Rekem

Gnome Walk

Pietersheim

Gileppe

Gileppe

Botrange

Hautes Fagnes

Coo

Walcheren

Pulling the beer wagon

During the last ten week of the summer holidays, we decided we absolutely needed to test the camper we bought just before we flew to the US. So after fixing a few things, we got it back from the garage and started loading it.

First we headed to the Eastern part of Flanders, where we visited one of the ‘most beautiful villages’ of Flanders, Oud-Rekem. Boarding a canal (where we spent the night on a quiet free spot), this tiny village is nice to stroll around.

We then headed to Pietersheim near Lanaken, where the Southern entrance gate to the Hoge Kempen National Park can be found. After spending time in the little animal farm and cool playground, we did the 2 mile ‘kabouter’ or gnome walk – following a path of wooden gnomes. Stops were a medieval water castle, a modern castle and plenty of berries. The kids had a blast!

Crossing the language border to the French speaking part of Belgium to see the Dam of the Gileppe, we spent a night parked on top of the dam with free electric hookup. The views over the water and the surrounding hills, as well as the oldest dam of Belgium with the huge stone lion, were relaxing and made us realize there is plenty to see close by.

The next day we traveled further through densely wooded areas as well as marshlands to the highest point of Belgium, the Signal de Botrange ( a full 694 m altitude). After spending time in a cute playground as well as a walk through the marshes or Hautes Fagnes in the afternoon sun, we spent the night right at the monument of the highest point.

Finally we made our way to Belgium’s biggest waterfall, Coo, where tourists are plentiful as well as amusement parks and outdoor activities.

After a brief stop in Bierbeek (Kyra had an evening to explore her new class and get to know the teacher), we drove north to Holland to spend 4 days with our international group of friends (aka the Suntrek group) in the Zeeland region, more specifically Walcheren. We had found a nice enough campsite with all facilities and three spots next to each other. The dunes, the ocean, plenty of Belgian beer, a daily BBQ and of course the great company of good friends made the weekend awesome. The warm weather and absence of wind during the day gave us the opportunity to hike through the dunes and to take bike rides with views on the ocean and the world famous Deltawerken. The nightly thunderstorms on the other hand caused flooded campsites and made it difficult for our tenting friends to fall asleep. Look at some pictures from this trip.