Courtesy photo.
COMMENTARY: Finding family fun during disrupted Carnival
Commentary by Christophe Morel, USAG Benelux Public Affairs
CHIÈVRES, Belgium – Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many events scheduled during carnival week will not be taking place this year. As a parent, I asked myself one question: what will I do with my children during the school break? After analyzing all the possibilities, I have come up with a list of activities to enjoy as a family.
1. Ice-skating
Winter is not over, and you can still enjoy winter activities together. Even if you are not a whiz on the ice, ice-skating is an activity the whole family can enjoy. Belgium even has covered ice skating rinks.
The most famous is in Charleroi, and it is open from October to March.
Visit https://patinoire.be for more information.
Phone number: +32 (0)71-322183.
Closer to Chièvres, the Tournai ice rink also welcomes visitors during the holidays, but do not forget to call first, because it’s not always open to the public.
Visit https://www.patinoiretournai.be for more information.
Phone number: +32 (0)69-227658.
2. Celebrate Carnival at home
The Carnival of Binche is one of the most famous celebrations in Belgium. Tourists come from all over the world to see people dress as the Gilles. They wear colorful clothes, wooden sabots, a white bonnet, and they carry the “apertintaille,” a special kind of bell. During the procession, characters parade and throw oranges. If it is not raining, Gilles even have an oversized hat made from ostrich feathers.
This year’s festival in Binche might be canceled, but they are planning to reopen next year. There’s no need to wait a year to dance and have fun as a family. Take what you have at home - a hat, colorful clothes, music instruments - and celebrate carnival in your own way!
You can easily find carnival music on the internet. I just give you a little advice: Don’t throw oranges at home, because it can be dangerous!
If you want to learn about carnival or if you want to go to Binche next year, visit https://www.carnivaldebinche.be.
Please be advised carnival activities are subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this courtesy photo, hands roll dough, presumably to make Belgian waffles, in either the Brussels or Liège style.
3. Cooking
The holiday period is a perfect time to teach children about cooking. My children enjoy the food they prepare, and they get a big boost of confidence when they see my wife and I enjoying their creations, as well.
I am not the best cook in the world, but some recipes are simple and worth trying with kids.
For example, you can prepare a Belgian specialty – waffles! You might need to invest in a waffle iron, though.
In Belgium, there are two types of waffles: Liège and Brussels waffles. Of the two, I prefer Brussels waffles.
For the ingredients, you will need plain flour (1 kilo), softened butter (400 grams), eggs (8), milk (1,5 liter), caster sugar (1 dessert spoon), vanilla sugar (30 grams), and fresh yeast (50 grams).
For the preparation, mix the fresh yeast in a little tepid milk with sugar. Then put the flour into a bowl, and make a circle in the center. Pour in the lukewarm milk and mix together well before adding the egg yolks. Add the softened butter and the yeast, followed by the beaten egg whites. Leave the batter to rest for about one hour.
Normal cooking time is three to four minutes. This recipe should yield 16 waffles. After cooking, cover the waffles with sugar, chocolate, whipped cream, fruits, or whatever toppings you desire.
Courtesy photo.
4. Explore the outdoors
Springtime is soon to arrive in the Benelux. When I was young, my parents used to bring me to the provincial domain of Huizingen, in Belgium.
Thirty years later I still go every spring but with my own boys. The provincial domain of Huizingen has woods for walking, a pond with rowboats, multiple playground, a mini-golf course, and many outdoor sport complexes.
Visitors can also see goats, sheep, rabbits, pheasants, parakeets, and more. Access to the provincial domain is free in the wintertime.
Another famous spot for walking is the Sonian Forest, at the southeast edge of Brussels. The Sonian Forest is Belgium’s largest area of woodland, and the perfect place for some lovely walks. There are also three big fishing lakes.
For more information, visit http://www.sonianforest.be.
If you are in the Dülmen, Germany area, 15 kilometers away is the Halterner Stausee. There are plenty of places to see and visit around Halterner Stausee. Whether you love hiking or cycling, Halterner Stausee is a region where many hidden gems are waiting to be explored and visited.
The Caves of Han, considered one of the most spectacular cave complex in the world, is another great option for kids. It is located on Rue Joseph Lamotte, 2 in Rochefort, Belgium.
For more information, visit https://grotte-de-han.be.
If you prefer learning about history, you can climb the Lion’s mound in Waterloo.
If none of that suits you, you can head to the beach for a stroll. Belgium has a coastline of no less than 40 miles!
5. Additional Activities
Sharing new experiences with my family is also something I love to do during the school breaks. In the Benelux, there are a few options when trying something new.
For example, you can try tree-climbing, having fun in an aqua park, or wakeboarding at Dock 79 in Saint-Ghislain, Belgium.
If it rains, you can go indoors and visit a trampoline park. There are parks in the towns of Maisières or in Brussels.
Don’t forget more traditional activities with kids: going to the theater, attending a circus, or visiting a museum.
The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is one of my favorite places. To learn more, visit https://www.naturalsciences.be/en/museum/home.
For something fun on-post, be sure to visit The HUB at USAG Benelux-Brunssum. Among their Family-friendly activities, you can find their escape rooms. To learn more, visit https://brunssum.armymwr.com/programs/hub-escape-rooms.
Escape rooms also exist on the economy. There is also The Escape Hunt Experience in Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Just a reminder, summer holidays for elementary school children in the French-speaking part of Belgium will be shortened this year. Back to school will start in August 2022, giving students two weeks during carnival season next year.