Before planning a holiday, we always include activities catering to our son’s interests, keeping him as excited as we are. When creating the itinerary, we plan one special activity for him each day, something he can look forward to.
Here’s what we planned for our son in Brussels, Belgium.
LEGO Discovery Center: A Paradise for LEGO Enthusiasts
This was the trip’s highlight for Yuven – a huge LEGO fan. He had been wanting to visit a LEGO-themed play space for a long time. Initially, we had considered visiting the LEGO Center in Den Haag, but due to time constraints, we opted for the LEGO Discovery Center in Brussels instead. It was easily accessible from our hotel via a direct tram ride.
We booked our tickets online on the same day through their website, paying €80 for two adults and a child, including a photo pass. However, I recommend booking in advance to save a few euros (around 7 euros). The ticket also included an SNCB train pass, although we didn’t use it.
There were plenty of activities to enjoy, and we spent 4-5 hours there, though it still felt like we could have stayed longer. LEGO lovers could easily spend 6-7 hours exploring. Our highlights included the Imagination Express, 4D cinema, mini-figure creator, the workshop, spaceship build and scan, and the build adventures. Keep in mind that the 4D cinema and workshop are held at specific times, so plan accordingly. We watched two 4D shows—one in Dutch and the other with sound and music without any coversation. Famous monuments were also built using LEGOs and displayed in a display area.
For toddlers, there’s a soft play area and Duplo Park. We spent over an hour creating mini-figures, and Yuven particularly enjoyed the workshop, which was conducted in French, Dutch, and English. The instructor’s impressive collection of LEGO swords amused him greatly. There are also stamping machines in each zone where you can collect stamps as souvenirs.
The decor was vibrant, featuring massive interactive LEGO structures. The LEGO Café on-site allows you to bring food or buy something from their menu. The toilets were clean and well-maintained, and there’s a LEGO shop at the exit where you can purchase sets. Overall, it was a fantastic experience.
Note: In the entire center, the instructions were written in Dutch but the staff was helpful, and Google translator helped us a lot.
Comic museum and comic trail
Around Brussels Central, we found a few comic museums, and we visited one of them. The Comic Art Museum is housed in a two-story building filled with original drawings and unpublished documents. Although most exhibits were in Dutch, it was still an enjoyable experience. There was a room where comic shows were played continuously, and interactive rooms that made us feel like we were stepping into the comic world.
Famous characters like Tintin, the Smurfs, Billy & Buddy, and others were displayed as statues, accompanied by brief descriptions. The museum doesn’t offer online ticket sales, so you’ll need to buy them in person from the reception on the first floor. We paid about €32 for entry. The museum also has a library, though only a small part is open to visitors, and a bookshop that mostly stocks Dutch-language books, with limited English options. Unfortunately, the elevator was out of order during our visit.
While we enjoyed our visit, we would have appreciated more English translations of the information and instructions.
For those who love comics and street art, a guided comic trail tour is a must-do in Brussels.
Belgian chocolate / waffle making
Belgium is world-famous for its high-quality chocolates, making it a dream destination for chocoholics. Some shops allow you to customize your own chocolates by selecting the chocolate base (dark, milk-white), toppings, and even adding personalized text. We initially thought we’d get to craft our chocolates ourselves, but it turned out we could only choose the ingredients and watch them being made, which dampened Yuven’s excitement a bit. Still, we had one made to his liking at “La Belgique Gourmande” near the Grand Place. They have several outlets, but customized chocolate-making is only available at this location. We also picked up various chocolates from the shop.
If you plan to visit, make sure to go before 6 p.m., as they close the counter for cleaning in the evening.
Choco-Story Museum in Brussels also offers chocolate workshops, but they weren’t available during our visit. The workshop is an hour long and allows you to create your own chocolate treats with your child. Alternatively, you can explore the museum.
We were also eager to join a Belgian waffle-making workshop but couldn’t fit it into our schedule.
Mini-Europe: A Miniature Marvel
Mini-Europe is a fascinating park featuring 350 miniature European wonders. Each monument is meticulously reproduced at a 1/25 scale. The park showcases the historical, architectural, and cultural wealth of the European Union. With bonsai trees, flowery groves, and dwarf trees, the park is a beautiful and educational experience.
We spent 2-3 hours exploring the park, enjoying the interactive elements and miniature versions of famous landmarks. Some activities require a small fee, while others are free.
You can read a detailed blog about Mini-Europe here.
Brussels offers a wealth of family-friendly activities. We enjoyed exploring the city and creating lasting memories with our son.
This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Brussels.
You may also like to read our experiences of exploring other dimensions of Brussels…
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