My personal first go to to Bruges got here once I was an adolescent, once I was immediately gained over by its ridiculously fairly historic streets (and chocolate) \u2013 and with a lot to do in Bruges with youngsters, I knew it could be successful with my daughter too.<\/p>\n I wasn\u2019t unsuitable. Visiting for a day journey throughout our keep in Ghent<\/a>, we\u2019re heading again to Bruges \u2013 or Brugge, to offer it its Flemish title \u2013 once more for Christmas when this chocolate field of a metropolis will get some added winter wonderland magic.<\/p>\n And whether or not you\u2019re visiting in February rain, summer season solar or winter frost, you\u2019ll discover so many issues to do in Bruges with youngsters \u2013 quirky museums, interactive historical past, chocolate galore, and a few nice methods to sightsee, all in a compact centre which is simple for households to get round. Here\u2019s my decide of the very best.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A go to to Belgium with out chocolate can be a missed alternative \u2013 and Bruges is dwelling to its personal chocolate museum, Choco Story<\/a>.<\/p>\n Split into three sections, a go to shares the 4,000-year-old historical past of chocolate, from its origins to its look in Europe and the key of making the very best chocolate, in addition to quirky details such because it as soon as getting used as a drugs.<\/p>\n The assortment has virtually 1,000 objects to assist study extra, together with some Playmobil scenes among the many extra in-depth info and a youngsters\u2019 model of the audio information \u2013 plus in fact, there\u2019s additionally the possibility to style some, after seeing the way it\u2019s made.<\/p>\n You can watch an illustration of how chocolate goes from bean to the completed deal with: we watched the Choco Story specialists remodel the uncooked substances into hazelnut praline stuffed sweets earlier than attending to style a few of these and a few plain chocolate items.<\/p>\n There are additionally child-friendly workshops<\/a> the place youngsters can get arms on and create your individual chocolate concoction \u2013 you may also guide household workshops<\/a>. <\/p>\n Buy Choco Story tickets with free cancellation<\/a><\/em><\/strong> in addition to a reserve now, pay later possibility<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n One of the most important causes to go to Bruges with kids is its fabulous historic centre \u2013 so a go to to the Historium<\/a>, to study extra concerning the metropolis\u2019s previous, is a implausible possibility for households.<\/p>\n Taking you again to in the future in 1435, throughout Bruges\u2019 Golden Age, there are seven themed rooms to take you on a journey by way of historical past. And should you assume that sounds very boring for youths, it\u2019s really very family-friendly.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll discover movies telling tales as you stroll round this historical past museum, in addition to interactive video games for youths and dressing up. You can go behind the scenes of the portray of one in every of Van Eyck\u2019s nice works, plus there\u2019s a panoramic view of the Markt, the principle market sq. of Bruges, from the balcony.<\/p>\n Add in an audio information plus a household path to observe, in addition to the choice to improve for a VR expertise (for youngsters aged 6+) and also you gained\u2019t be bored. It\u2019s additionally an important possibility for a wet day in Bruges with youngsters should you go to in winter as we did.<\/p>\n You should purchase tickets with free cancellation<\/a> in addition to entry with digital actuality improve<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Located within the Grand Place, the medieval Belfort \u2013 or Belfry Tower \u2013 is one in every of Bruges\u2019 tallest buildings and most distinguished landmarks. <\/p>\n The 83 metre construction towers over the remainder of the historic metropolis and you’ll climb the 366 steps to the highest of the Belfort for spectacular views over the town\u2019s rooftops and out to the encircling countryside.<\/p>\n On your method up, you may cease off on the treasury, for a well-earned break and to see the place the town\u2019s charters, seals and coffers have been held through the Middle Ages.\u00a0<\/p>\n If the tower climb is an excessive amount of for little legs, you may nonetheless admire the tower from the surface and take heed to the music of the tower\u2019s carillion, which consists of 47 bells.<\/p>\n The carilloneur performs the bells on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11am to noon, and there are often additional carillion concert events within the evenings throughout summer season.<\/p>\n Entry is included within the 72-hour <\/em>Musea Brugge card<\/em> <\/a>together with 11 different museums and monuments<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The finest option to recognize Bruges\u2019 fairly streets and historical past is on foot \u2013 you may merely wander round to your coronary heart\u2019s content material or attempt following a strolling route or strolling tour.<\/p>\n During our go to, the vacationer info centre had a booklet with 4 household trails across the metropolis, stating decorations on buildings, eye-catching statues and sharing quirky details.<\/p>\n The Golden Triangle stroll, beginning on Blinde Ezelstraat close to the Burg takes you previous among the key websites. Follow the path to Burgstraat, Wapenmakersstraat, Academiestraat, Jacob\u00a0Van Ooststraat and Kuipersstraat to the Eiermarkt, Markt itself and again alongside Breidelstraat to Burg.<\/p>\n Along the way in which, look out for the bear on the coat of arms, a statue with the phrase \u2018love\u2019 in 40 completely different languages, and one other statue impressed by a Mozart opera.<\/p>\n You may discover child-friendly guided strolling excursions of Bruges, together with this 90-minute strolling tour <\/a>led by an area.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Or there are a string of self-guided excursions you may observe in your cellphone, together with this scavenger hunt <\/a>taking you to 10 key websites in Bruges and a City Highlights Exploration Game<\/a>, with a sequence of challenges.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re visiting with older youngsters who love historical past, this self-guided tour of Medieval Bruges<\/a> introduces you to extra of the historical past as effectively.<\/p>\n Another enjoyable option to discover Bruges with kids is on a ship cruise across the metropolis\u2019s picturesque canal system, letting you expertise the historic metropolis from a wholly completely different perspective.<\/p>\n On board the family-friendly boat tour, a educated information tells you all concerning the websites you move and the historical past of the town as you journey, they usually\u2019re often nice at maintaining the knowledge easy to maintain youthful kids engaged.<\/p>\n There are a number of boat departure factors<\/a> across the metropolis providing excursions. The cruise lasts round half-hour, which is good for little ones with shorter consideration spans.\u00a0<\/p>\n You may get tickets for a mixed boat cruise and strolling tour<\/a><\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n While that is undoubtedly a novelty expertise designed for vacationers, a experience in a horse-drawn carriage (caleches) continues to be one of the crucial memorable methods to discover Bruges with youngsters. <\/p>\n Even should you don\u2019t counsel it your self, youngsters are certain to identify the horses everywhere in the metropolis and beg for a experience anyway, so it\u2019s value being ready!<\/p>\n The carriage rides begin from the Grand Place and take you on a calming guided tour by way of the slim metropolis streets, passing a lot of Bruges\u2019 most well-known landmarks \u2013 most of the guides can even share fascinating details and tales concerning the metropolis (although it varies) and youngsters might have probability to experience up entrance with the motive force.<\/p>\n Most carriage rides embody a cease at both Minnewater Lake or the Windmills so the horses can take a break and you’ll stretch your legs. Not the most cost effective expertise although at round 60 Euros for half an hour.<\/p>\n What child doesn\u2019t love fries? Well, do you know that fries have been really a Belgian invention? And Bruges is even dwelling to the world\u2019s \u201cfirst and only museum dedicated to potato fries\u201d.<\/p>\n The Frietmuseum<\/a> is a unusual museum dedicated to the historical past of potatoes and the manufacturing of Belgian fries. <\/p>\n And whereas this will sound somewhat boring on paper, there are literally loads of enjoyable issues contained in the museum to maintain youngsters of all ages entertained, together with a fries cone slide to get down the steps and strange potato weapons.<\/p>\n After visiting the museum, you may \u2013 in fact \u2013 additionally seize some fries to eat from the basement fryshop. Trust us, you\u2019re undoubtedly going to be craving some at this level \u2013 your complete museum smells of them!<\/p>\n Or should you don\u2019t make it to the Frietmuseum, head to the \u2018Frietkot De Markt\u2018 within the Grand Place to attempt among the finest potato fries in Brugge.<\/p>\n Buy Frietmuseum tickets with free cancellation<\/a>, in addition to a reserve-now pay-later possibility<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Whether your go to to Choco Story<\/a> has simply whetted your urge for food otherwise you\u2019re searching for a scrumptious memento to take dwelling (effectively, to remove\u2026 it may not final till you get dwelling!), there are some nice chocolate outlets<\/a> to browse in.<\/p>\n So many, in truth, that you simply\u2019ll not often be greater than a truffle\u2019s throw away from someplace to purchase a variety, many with a restaurant serving sizzling chocolate in addition to Belgian waffles and ice cream.<\/p>\n For some quite extra uncommon flavours, head to The Chocolate Line<\/a> the place the weirdly great (and nonetheless scrumptious) flavours embody wasabi, sake and popping sweet. Though not all combined collectively.<\/p>\n They additionally import all their very own cacao to make chocolate as effectively.<\/p>\n Or Olivier\u2019s Chocolate Shop and Bar<\/a> is a superb place to get sizzling chocolate (darkish, milk and white) in addition to choosing up some sweets to remove. Adults can get a Belgian beer there to go along with the chocolate, which works unexpectedly effectively.<\/p>\n Bruges is a metropolis with a protracted mill historical past, and within the Sixteenth-Seventeenth centuries, there have been as many as 25 windmills within the metropolis. <\/p>\n Today, solely 4 stay; Sint-Janshuis mill (or Sint-Janshuismolen), Koeleweimill, Nieuwe Papegaai, and Bonne Chiere, all trying like they\u2019re straight from the pages of a youngsters storybook.<\/p>\n The mills are positioned shut to one another alongside the historic ramparts within the northeast of the town, so you may take a stroll alongside the peaceable canal and go to all 4 in as little as 10-Quarter-hour.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sint-Janshuismill is the one mill the place grain continues to be floor and is open for the general public<\/a> to step inside and study concerning the milling course of \u2013 way more enjoyable for youths to take pleasure in studying about milling by seeing the mechanism in operation. <\/p>\n You may climb to the highest for wonderful views over the town. The mill is closed through the winter months, aside from just a few particular opening days.<\/p>\n Entry is included within the 72-hour <\/em>Musea Brugge card<\/em> <\/a>together with 11 different museums and monuments<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The \u2018Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde\u2019 is part of the town made up of a giant tree-filled backyard surrounded by small white homes and a church \u2013 and a stroll by way of the tranquil backyard is among the finest issues to do in Bruges with kids who want a break from the customarily crowded metropolis streets.<\/p>\n Dating again to 1245, The Beguinage was initially dwelling to the Beguines, emancipated laywomen who nonetheless led a virtuous and celibate life. Today, it’s a monastery for the sisters of the Order of St. Benedict.\u00a0<\/p>\n On a go to to the Beguinage, chances are you’ll even spot among the Benedictine nuns worshipping within the central courtyard or taking a stroll across the peaceable backyard.\u00a0<\/p>\n And for a small price, you may go inside one of many Beguinage homes to see what life was like for these dwelling there through the Seventeenth century. It\u2019s round a 15-minute stroll from the centre of Bruges.<\/p>\n The Folklore Museum<\/a> is one other fascinating place for households to study odd each day life in Bruges within the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.<\/p>\n Set inside a renovated Seventeenth century dwelling, the museum options an outdated classroom, a pharmacy, a confectionery store, a grocery store, and an genuine bed room inside. Kids can even love the choice of conventional toys and kids\u2019s video games you may attempt for yourselves.<\/p>\n If potential, go to on the primary or third Thursday of the month when a \u2018spekkenbakker\u2019 (sweetmaker) gives conventional candy making demonstrations, which is at all times an enormous hit with youngsters.<\/p>\n Entry is included within the 72-hour <\/em>Musea Brugge card<\/em> <\/a>together with 11 different museums and monuments<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n If you have got greater than a single day or a weekend in Bruges with youngsters, it\u2019s simple to get out of the town for a short while and discover among the wider area as effectively \u2013 Bruges is a reasonably small metropolis, so there\u2019s solely a certain quantity to do for households.<\/p>\n Rent some bikes<\/a> for a day and head out to see extra of the gorgeous surrounding countryside. There are many bike paths and quiet roads round Bruges, so there\u2019s no want to fret about site visitors.\u00a0<\/p>\n You can cycle from Bruges to Dan Haan or Ostend on the coast, or uncover among the close by castles and one of many charming villages within the area, corresponding to Damme and Jabbeke.<\/p>\n And in case your youngsters are too younger to cycle on their very own, you may also lease bikes with youngster seats.<\/p>\n Another pretty place to flee the busy metropolis centre is the Minnewater; an space within the south of Bruges made up of Minnewater Lake, aka the Lake of Love, and Minnewater Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n Start with a stroll over Lovers Bridge for among the finest views over the lake. The legend goes that should you cross the Minnewater Bridge along with your associate, you\u2019ll share everlasting love.\u00a0<\/p>\n You can then take a peaceable stroll across the picturesque lake. Don\u2019t miss the Gunpowder Tower and the small Gothic fortress.<\/p>\n Next door, Minnewater Park is surrounded by bushes and has a playground, pond, fountain, sculptures, and extra. Plenty to do to maintain the children occupied for an hour or two.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re contemplating visiting Bruges through the winter<\/a>, you\u2019ll discover a string of additional causes to guide a visit round Christmas in Bruges with youngsters.<\/p>\n As effectively as two of Belgium\u2019s loveliest Christmas markets \u2013 a conventional one on the Markt, and one other targeted extra on crafts and domestically produced items at Simon Stevinplein \u2013 there are additionally a string of actions as a part of the Winter Glow competition.<\/p>\n Running from late November till early January, Winter Glow features a Light expertise path<\/a> previous completely different artworks, the possibility to go ice skating on the Minnewater plus a strolling path by way of the historic centre designed to take you previous among the finest lights and decorations, in addition to over 500 Christmas bushes.<\/p>\n Watch out too for the Star Procession<\/a>, with greater than 100 actors (and sheep!) plus an orchestra re-enacting the Nativity, together with locals having fun with the standard Christmas dive from the Carmelite Bridge into the chilly canal.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re planning a visit to Belgium with youngsters, the easiest way to journey to Bruges from the UK is by practice \u2013 the Eurostar runs straight from London to Brussels<\/a>, the place it\u2019s simple to connect with different Belgian cities and cities.<\/p>\n There are additionally common flights to the nation\u2019s worldwide airport in Brussels. There can also be a global airport, Ostend-Bruges, however presently there are fewer flight routes.<\/p>\n Fast trains from Brussels to Bruges<\/a> take underneath an hour from Brussels Midi, connecting with Eurostar, or you may also journey to Bruges direct in round two hours from the airport.<\/p>\n There are additionally a number of ferry routes to northern France together with Dunkirk<\/a>, which is an hour from Bruges by automotive, in addition to the Eurotunnel to Calais. Or you may journey by ferry to Ijmuiden, the port for Amsterdam, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne<\/a><\/p>\n For extra inspiration for household journey in Belgium, try my high issues to do in Ghent with youngsters<\/a><\/em><\/strong> and the very best issues to do in Brussels with youngsters<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Disclosure: This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks \u2013 any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee<\/em><\/p>\n Main picture\/Belford\/canal\/carriages\/fries\/windmill\/Beguinage\/biking route\/Minnewater\/Christmas market courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels<\/p>\n LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/www.mummytravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/belgium-bruges-canal-view-Depositphotos441082236s.jpg)
comprises affiliate hyperlinks*<\/h6>\n
The Choco Story chocolate museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Visit the Historium<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Climb the Belfort (Belfry Tower)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Follow a strolling route<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Take a ship alongside the canals<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Take a horse drawn carriage experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Eat fries on the Frietmuseum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Buy some chocolate<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Visit the windmills of Bruges<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Wander across the Beguinage<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Folklore Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rent a motorbike to discover the countryside<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Minnewater Lake & Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Christmas in Bruges with youngsters<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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How to journey to Bruges with youngsters<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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