Educational leave: the top 5 activities

Parental leave punctuates the school year, but is rarely factored into parents' already overbooked schedules. To avoid the perennial dilemma of "what are we doing tomorrow, given the school leave?", here are a few ideas we liked. The major advantage of these activities is that they are generally very popular (and therefore involve long queues, etc.), less crowded during these weekdays, outside of school holidays of course 🙂

1: Walibi

A must-see: short queues, few people, lots of fun. For all ages, the park offers areas for toddlers, roller coasters for thrill-seekers—in short, a great day out with something for everyone. Don't forget to check opening times before you go, as the park is closed in winter. Feel free to also check out its sister park , Aqualibi .

Find all the information here.

2: Technopolis

A wonderful place to delight children of all ages and their parents. A dedicated area for toddlers allows them to enter an ambulance, go to a shop for groceries, make pizzas, see what goes on in a garage… For older children, there are plenty of scientific experiments, optical illusions and perspective drawings, experiments with centrifugal and centripetal forces, water, bubbles, noise, speed, virtual reality, etc… enough to keep them busy all day long!

Find all the information here.

3: Efteling

Our favorite spot across the border. Efteling Park is located in the Netherlands and immerses us in the fairy tales of our childhood. Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Holidays, pirates, trains—a truly magical and majestic world. There's something for everyone, from thrilling rides for adrenaline junkies to carousels and enchanting characters. A wonderful day out in an enchanting world.

Find all the information here.

4: Pairi Daiza

This ever-expanding park takes us on a journey across five continents. From African animals like elephants, giraffes, and zebras, to Asian tigers and monkeys of all kinds, the North Pole with its polar bears and penguins, and Canada with its brown bears and big cats, it's truly an animal paradise. Parking and access are very easy, making for a wonderful day outdoors.

Find all the information here.

5: Planckendael

A lovely place to stroll among the animals—lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants, to name just a few. This park has the great advantage of offering numerous playgrounds and rest areas, providing plenty of variety and opportunities for breaks. A great family outing outside of peak season.

Find all the information here.

6: Plopsa

The only park we haven't tried yet. That will change soon, as soon as the next school break is coming up 🙂

Find all the information here.

7: Sealife

The most beautiful aquarium we have near us, Sealife, is also part of a program to protect marine flora and fauna. Since it's almost entirely indoors, we prefer to visit on grayer, less crowded days – perfect for an educational outing.

Find all the information here.

Bonus: Tips for a successful excursion

1. Pack a backpack with a water bottle and some snacks to keep the children occupied during breaks or while waiting in line.
2. The backpack also allows you to store sweaters during your visit
3. Remember to provide each child with a safety bracelet bearing their first name and phone number, so they can be identified if needed.
4. Before each visit, suggest that the children go to the restroom; it's always difficult to have to leave part of the group for a small, unexpected need during the visit.
5. Take lots of photos and ask the children what they liked best after the visit

Enjoy it!