Belgium in Camping-Car: advice, areas, routes

How do I visit Belgium by camping-car or van?

Are you going to visit Belgium on a camper or in a furnished van? Belgium is renowned for its medieval towns and villages, its unique Renaissance architecture, its heritage and for the hospitality of its inhabitants. One of the best friends of the France , often moved by French tourists, contains remarkable sites and monuments. You will not miss things to see and do. Especially, you will be able to discover the Plat Country at your own pace, without worrying about the availability, schedules and rates of holiday accommodation.

Belgium covers 30,688 km2. It is one of the smallest countries in Europe, but its territory contains an exceptional historical and cultural heritage. Above all, you can explore two countries in one, where three languages are spoken (French, German, Dutch), from French-speaking Wallonia to Dutch-speaking Flanders.

Here is our mini-guide advice to visit Belgium by camping-car or in furnished van.

Ideas of itineraries in Belgium by camping-car

No, Belgium is not a country where it rains 365 days a year. The country extends to the equivalent of Gironde , Landes , Dordogne and the Quercy Nature Park combined, 30,688 km2.

Imagine you wanted to travel from Tarnos or Hossegor to Périgueux, to Cahors, Bergerac and Bordeaux . You will notice that a short stay of 5 to 7 days will not be enough to fully visit Belgium on a motorhome. Count at least 20 to 30 days, no matter how good you could have seen them.

You don't know where to start your travelling trip? Here are our ideas of itineraries to be made among the unmissable places of the country, and others more isolated.

• Visit Belgium on a motorhome on a week : Brussels, Leuven, Ghent, Bruges, Ostend and beaches, Ypres, Courtrai, Antwerp, Genk, Liège, Namur ;
• Belgium in 15 days : Same steps, plus Mons, Charleroi, Tournai, Spa, Malmedy, the natural park of the Hautes Fagnes (Cascade du Bayehon), Bastogne and the Bastogne War Museum, the medieval fortress of Bouillon, the Semois Valley, Dinant;
• Road-trip in Belgium on 20 to 30 days : same route, plus Binche, the north coast (Knokke-Heist and the nature reserve of the Zwin), Waterloo and the Butte du Lion (Camp of Battle of Waterloo), Durbuy, Belgian breweries (in Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, Westvleteren, Achel).

If you have time for your journey, take advantage of it to cross the Belgian borders. Treat yourself to escapades Lille , in the natural parks of the North (Scarpe-Escaut, Avesnois), in the Ardennes, Luxembourg or German side (Aix-la-Chapelle, Trier, Frankfurt , Cologne , Düsseldorf ). Dutch, visit Eindhoven and Maastricht to revisit a famous stage of European construction (the 1992 European Treaty).

Driving in Belgium by motorhome : traffic rules to know

The traffic rules are singularly the same in Belgium as in France . However, while the legislative systems have been harmonized throughout Europe, there are still specific characteristics of each country visited. Here are the few small details that change with driving in France and those that do not change.

In France and Belgium, there is no obligation to ride with the lights on. It is recommended to light them when visibility is reduced however. The motorhome must be equipped with an extinguisher , a signage triangle, a retro-reflective jacket and a first-aid kit. In agglomeration, the speed limit is 50 km/h . She's from 20 km/h residential area, 30 km/h near schools, 90 km/h out of the towns, and 120 km/h On the highway.

Attention: in Belgium, a traffic tax must be paid by vehicles that use the public highway . In Wallonia, you can request a map of 30 routes, to be filled every time you take the road. The price depends on the power of the engine, it will certainly be integrated in the rental price of the motorhome.

The rules governing alcohol abuse are somewhat different from those prevailing in France. The maximum legal alcohol rate is 0.49 g/l. Between 0.49 g/l and 0.8 g/l, the motorist is liable for a fine payable immediately 179 € and a driving ban for 3 hours. The fine can go up to 3 000 € in case of refusal to obey. Beyond 0.8 g/l, the driving ban lasts 6 hours and the fine is extended to 1 260 € . The licence suspension is decided at 1.5 g/l.

Motorways in Belgium: what price for your motorhome category?

Here is a good news to visit Belgium by camping-car or by van: in Belgium, as in 11 other countries of Europe ( Germany , Denmark , Finland , Sweden , Spain , etc.), there are no toll motorways . Drive on motorway to visit Belgium by motorhome or van is therefore free .

Despite everything, the tunnel Liefkenshoek passing under the river Escaut to Antwerp, is paying. Credit card payment is less expensive than manual payment. Also, the toll distinguishes two categories of vehicles: category 1 for vehicles not exceeding 3 metres high and category 2 for all vehicles with a height exceeding 3 metres. And finally, there are two rates according to two time slots for large category 2 vehicles. Here are the toll rates:

• For category 1 : 4,95 € (credit card), 6 € (manual payment) ;
• Category 2 from 6h01 to 9h59: 17,60 € (bank card), 19 € (book payment);
• Category 2 From 22h to 6h : 4,95 € (bank card), 6 € (manual payment).

Note that Belgium has set up low-emission zones (from CO2) in several cities, including Brussels, Ghent, Mechelen and Antwerp (LEZ) for low emission zone ). These areas restrict access to pollutant vehicles in major cities. To find out if you can or may not travel in the low-emission zone, refer to the EURO standard of the vehicle, its category and the fuel type. In case of pollution peak, all Wallonia can be decreed low emission area (LEZ).

Therefore, the motorhome must be declared before entering the city of Brussels. Think of asking the owner of the rented motorhome if it is registered! The fine for any non-registered vehicle rises to 150 € . You can request access to 35 € a day.

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

Would you like to go to Belgium with your Camping-Car or van for example? It is now easy to rent a motorhome in the Hexagon. How? Using interrelationship platforms between tenants and particular camper owners as Yescapa For example.

How does it work?

• At first, you have to choose the motorhome in your city (For example Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Paris, Montpellier or Marseille).
• Be careful choose unlimited mileage, to check the number of beds available and if travel abroad is possible.
• Do your work online rental request and share your travel information (dates, rental options, mileage, etc.) to the owner.
• If your request is accepted and after payment, you will have access to the owner's contact information to organize a First meeting.
• Day J, present your driver's license and pour bail.
• One. status of premises is executed and a lease is signed between the two parties. When you return, after running the roads of Belgium, sign the state of the places of return and the tower is played!

Campsites in Belgium: where to park?

Where to park and camp in Wallonia and Flanders? In Brussels, motorhomes are allowed everywhere, unless a special ban is indicated. Often, parking is limited to 24 hours . You can therefore sleep in your motorhome on the public space, provided you do not stay too long. It is advisable to remain discreet and not create groupings of many vehicles.

Parking in Brussels is divided into five areas: blue (free for two hours, with a parking disc), green (billing) grey (limited at 4:30, paid), orange (paying, in shopping centres, limited to 2 hours) and red (limited to two hours, paid). In the cities you will often find parking spaces in public parking and P+R parking spaces that are paid. By camping-car, parking can be complicated given the dimensions of the vehicle.

As a result, if your template is too big, prefer the service areas for camper. Several sites allow you to find where to park and where to sleep: Wallonie Belgium Tourism, Camper Contact and Park4night.

The latter is a very practical tool that shares traveller spots. There are all kinds of places: paid or free parking, isolated places in the middle of nature, service area for camping-cars, campground, etc. If you decide to sleep in kind, without paying any service, you should know that you risk police controls.

To avoid such inconveniences, always choose an area away from homes and do not obstruct road traffic. It will be easier to go unnoticed with a van or a fitted van.

What is the best time to travel by motorhome in Belgium?

What time will it be in Belgium? Weather conditions are a key issue for visiting Belgium in motorhomes. Belgium enjoys an oceanic temperate climate, surrounded by the influences of the Atlantic Ocean and influenced by the Gulf Stream . The climate is wet, comparable to that prevailing in northern France.

As a result, the best season to visit Belgium in camping-car runs on spring, summer, and early autumn . In the spring, the cherry blossoms of Japan opened and sublimated the Belgian nature. Summer is the best season to enjoy a stay at the beach, while autumn seems to be a beautiful back-season to offer escapes in the forest.

Between May and September, temperatures are mild but rainfall peaks in August. It rains about 200 days a year in Belgium. In July-August, the average maximum temperature reached 23 °C . When the hot air goes back from Spain, Belgium is not spared by the canicles. The peaks above 35 °C , or 40 °C are reached every year. Conversely, Belgium can see waves of cold accompanied by heavy frosts in winter, with peaks to -10 °C more regularly 0 °C .