Discover Belgium aboard a houseboat

with my proposal from river tourism navigate Belgium by river boat I invite you to tour the northwest of the country aboard a houseboat: the Belgian region of Westhoek in Flanders.

Green and cultural tourism in easy-to-navigate waters. Rivers and canals that intertwine and form a network of 1,570 kilometers of navigable waterways, which are used for both business and leisure travel.

The Ijzer canal It crosses the north of Belgium dominated by immense landscapes: mills, meadows, swamps, bridges and castles... beaches and lively cities with impressive Gothic buildings.

All this on board your boat without permission: your hotel and means of transportation.

Flanders navigable region 

The route by river boat or houseboat through Belgium is done through the Ijzer river. 

To start your river cruise you can depart from the base of Nieuwpoort or from Eeklo.

Remember that you always have the option of one-way or round-trip when booking your permit-free boat, so you can organize your visits however you prefer. 

• Nieuwpoort 

In Nieuwpoort you already have a lot to see. Fishing is vital for this port city and if you choose it as your departure point, you will be able to get a lot of use out of it.

• Eeklo

Another city option for your houseboat cruise departure is Eeklo. The town hall is a point of interest as well as the neo-Gothic church of San Vicente.

Stops on the Belgium River Cruise

As I always tell you when we talk about destinations, your route depends a lot on the number of vacation days you have. 

Discover Belgium by river boat with a houseboat.

My essential recommendations are: 

Witches 

Known as “the little Venice of the North” and a UNESCO world heritage site. It is an impressive city that remains forever in your memory. 

Just like in the postcards and photos that you can see on the Internet, this is what the square is like, this is what the little houses are like. It's all beautiful and I advise you to make it one of your stops with your houseboat in Belgium, no matter what.  

The market square, the bell tower or the Bonifacio bridge. 

Grab your camera and enjoy this beautiful place. 

The former Flemish capital of Belgium, known as “The Jewel of Flanders” will not leave you indifferent either. 

The atmosphere of the streets is spectacular and very festive, and becomes another essential stop. 

Currently, it is a university city and a cultural center. It is also famous for its pedestrian area with many medieval monuments, such as the 12th-century castle of the Counts of Flanders and Graslei Street, a row of guild houses next to the port of the River Lys.

Stroll along its canals with your houseboat and visit the Belfort Tower, St. Bavo's Cathedral, the Town Hall or the Vrijdagmarkt Square.

Oudenaarde 

Further south, 30 kilometers from Ghent is Oudenaarde, which is the birthplace of tapestry industry still in activity. 

It is a fairly commercial city in Flanders due to its proximity to France. 

The central plaza It is very colorful thanks to the decoration of the houses, you have to stop by there.

Also the town hall, the church of San Walburga and all the pedestrian streets where you will find different artistic monuments. It is a city very visited by cycling fans since here is housed the exclusive cycling museum, a tribute to the Tour of Flanders.

 

A river cruise in Belgium suits all tastes

• For the partygoers

This area has international festivals of different genres musicals. As the Tomorrowland, a cult corner for lovers of electronic music and held between Antwerp and Brussels. 

The Cactus Festival in Bruges, it is a festival dedicated to independent music and attended by thousands of people.

• For the cooks

You can't start without tasting the fantastic beer culture that any area of Belgium has: each city and even each town has its own beer. 

Therefore, it would be unforgivable not to go to the Straffe Hendrik Brewery in Bruges. 

Furthermore, Bruges is where the fried potato was invented, which is why it is also key to visit the french fry museum Friet Museum, which is located in a 14th century building. Not only do they tell you the history of this delicacy, but you can also taste them.

Another of the delicatessens are the waffles and chocolate, one of the foundations of Belgian gastronomy, in any of the cafes you can taste the immense variety of waffles they have and accompany them with a good chocolate. I encourage you to also go through the Chocolate Museum. 

In Nieuwpoort you can taste a wide variety of seafood and even in some restaurants cook them yourself, an experience for the palate.

• For the greens

This entire area has admirable landscapes and some of the most beautiful forests in Europe.

Unforgivable not to visit Nieuwpoort, with its magnificent dunes full of white sand and its incredible beaches is a quiet place.

On the other hand, in Eeklo Nature lovers will be able to see the Het Leen estate that houses the Regional Forest Museum.

• For the historical

This region is an open book, as it has a heritage that tells centuries of history. In Witches It is necessary to walk the streets of its historic center and rest in the Provincial Palace.

Another place to see is the city Ypres, a historic city in Flanders with medieval charm and walls dating back to the 14th century. 

Finally, another of the places that must be seen is the medieval Gravensteen castle in Gent.

Do you want to travel around Belgium aboard a houseboat?

Belgian chocolate, lace, mussels, beer… postcard photos that can come true 🙂

Book your boat without a permit for a minimum of 2 nights and up to 14 if you want, and discover Belgium from the river. With children, with friends or as a couple. 

You may also be interested in my articles:

«How to choose your river boat»

 «Locks: what they are and how to pass them»