Holiday home Limburg (Belgium) rental? Discover the riverland of the Meuse and tick off the castles of Haspengouw!

Belgian Limburg is a region in Flanders with true ‘crown jewels’ that will make your holiday unforgettable! To begin with, all praise to nature! For example, Hoge Kempen National Park impresses with gently rolling heathlands and you can walk through a ‘desert’ along the lake of Lommel. The landscape along the Meuse also invites you to cycle and walk along its banks with side arms of the river and charming towns. Do you want to enjoy floodplains, forests, heathlands and map out cycling routes along multiple towns and castles? Read more about the highlights in the following article and book a holiday home in Limburg, Belgium!

Discover Hoge Kempen National Park from your holiday home in Limburg Belgium

For a diverse nature experience, the Belgian province of Limburg is an excellent choice! Primarily because this region of Flanders has the largest nature park in Belgium: Hoge Kempen National Park. Here you can enjoy heathlands, an extensive pine forest, and ponds via a widespread network of walking trails. One of these ponds gives the impression of a vast forest lake, overlooking a cone-shaped hill. Historically, this hill was a coal waste heap. Today, the forested mound is a characteristic part of the landscape. You can approach the green hill most beautifully via a winding boardwalk that leads across the lake to its base.

Tip: From the ruins of Lanaken, you can start a cycling route through the Hoge Kempen, as well as an award-winning walk partly along a boardwalk, passing the idyllic Asbeek stream.

River Park Maasvallei: a nature reserve where the Meuse runs free

The river landscape of the Meuse, forming the border between Belgium and the Netherlands, is particularly loved by recreational cyclists. The banks are part of a recognized nature park where konik horses graze in colorful grasslands. You see the Meuse winding playfully through the landscape with side arms and floodplains, and along the way you encounter historic small towns. Since this rain-fed river used to cause flooding when it burst its banks, it was decided to give the Meuse free space instead of containing it with dikes and canals. The result is a river park with a rich variety of flora and fauna.

Tip: During a bike ride, hop off in charming villages such as Rekum. With several churches and a castle, this place is an authentic village. In 2008 it was even voted the most beautiful village in Flanders!

Experience the ‘desert’ and tropical water park of Lommel

Due to sand mining in the last century, a large sand plain emerged in the forest area of Lommel. This ‘desert’ lies on the edge of a large lake, making you feel like you are walking on a vast beach. Nearby is a viewing tower where you can take in the sand area, the water, and the forests in one glance. It is no coincidence that this area was once a sand quarry, as the fine quality of the sand was used for glassmaking. From the Lommel ‘Sahara’, you can also take a short walk to Aqua Mundo De Vossemeren, an indoor theme park with a tropical swimming pool, slides, and a high ropes course.

Have a drink in Hasselt and stroll through the Japanese garden

A city that will certainly surprise you is the provincial capital Hasselt! The center features a lively main square and a wide canal lined with historic merchant houses. There are numerous churches, such as the red-brown Saint Quintinus Cathedral, a beautiful sight from a nearby terrace! However, the city’s most famous attraction is the Japanese Garden. Not surprising when you realize this is the largest of its kind in Europe! Consider a holiday home in Belgian Limburg during springtime! With a koi pond, cherry blossoms, apricot trees blooming in white, and a variety of flowers such as wisteria, the garden is an outing in itself!

Visit Fallais Castle and the Abbey of Herkenrode

Limburg in Belgium boasts numerous castles, mostly around the city of Hasselt. You can indulge in countless walks around impressive fortresses and country estates. Fallais Castle, for instance, is a white water castle with massive round towers and an estate offering a 6-kilometer walking trail. Kerkom Castle is one of the most charming estates, surrounded by a gently rolling landscape garden. In winter, this little castle and its grounds are a romantic sight! In summer, Chateau de la Motte is the place to be, where you can enjoy a terrace beautifully nestled between the castle and the water.

Not a castle, but certainly a must-see, is the Abbey of Herkenrode. This large abbey is a landmark in the open landscape, featuring an estate perfect for strolling.

Admire UNESCO World Heritage in Tongeren and Sint-Truiden

Besides Hasselt, there are many other charming towns worth a visit from your holiday home in Limburg Belgium! Discover, for example, why Tongeren has UNESCO status. This oldest town in Belgium is especially known for its photogenic Beguinage. Another highlight is the Basilica of Our Lady and its cloister. Looking for a town square rivaling those of Maastricht? Then Sint-Truiden is a must, with its stunning belfry and cathedral. It’s no wonder that the square is a favorite spot for enjoying the view from a café terrace!

Rent a holiday home in Limburg Belgium

Although Belgian Limburg is smaller in size than the Dutch province of the same name, the region is rich in outstanding nature and historical treasures. Cycle along the watery Maasvallei, walk through Hoge Kempen National Park, or relax on Lommel’s desert beach. You can easily combine the exploration of this natural beauty with visits to multiple castles and elegant estates such as Chateau de la Motte! Do you want to visit the largest Japanese garden in Europe? Rent a holiday home in Belgian Limburg and make a trip to the medieval city of Hasselt!