Are you thinking about Vanlife in Belgium, or simply looking for tips and experiences, then this article is perfect for you. Keep on reading as I delve into my experiences of living the Vanlife in Belgium as a local.
Back in 2007 I purchased a VW Vanagon (T3) campervan. Since then I’ve been exploring my beautiful tiny country and even lived several years out of my campervan.
Rules for Vanlife in Belgium
It’s always good to know the law, to avoid any problems whilst traveling with your van in Belgium. Here are three of the most important rules you should know.
- Wild camping is officially forbidden
- Making open fires is forbidden in Flanders and all Walloon Nature reserves.
- Going off-road and spending the night in the forest can result in heavy fines.
Vanlife in Belgium in 2024
Since the corona-pandemic and due to the #vanlife popularity on social media, the scene has exploded. This has lead to an increase of travelers. Whereas ten years ago, it was fairly easy to find a discrete place to stay the night, nowadays you can bet on it that you won’t be alone.
The negative effects of the increasing popularity of Van Life in Belgium are:
- The area around many parking spots have become very polluted with paper towels and toilet dumps
- It’s hard to find a parking spot where you can be alone for the night
- More and more “no camping policies” are being enforced
- People are becoming less positive towards Van Life
It takes a certain kind of mentality to live the van life, but it also comes with the responsibility to be fully self sufficient when going off-grid and don’t provide nuisance to the surroundings. This includes having a proper toilet solution and not using your surroundings to get rid of human waste.
Best & Worst regions for Vanlife in Belgium
Outdoor enthusiasts will absolutely LOVE the Ardennes region with it’s dense woods, charming towns and villages and plenty of options for outdoor activities. Both the Semois valley and High Fens are two must-visit nature reserves in Belgium.
Also the Province of Limburg is a great destinations for lovers of hiking and cycling, since it has many nature reserves. This also means there are many quiet parking spots near those naturereserves where you can sleep for a night.
The Belgian Coast is by far the worst region for vanlife in Belgium. All seaside resorts have strict camping and parking policies, making van life here very restricted. Sleeping in your vehicle on the public road is forbidden at most places, so you’re forced to use either a crowded and expensive dedicated “camperplaats”, or a camping. Parking during the day can also be a hassle, since most parking spots are designated to cars only.
The Brussels Capital Region I tend to avoid as well. Not only because of the Emission Zone, but because it’s so crowded, there aren’t any service points near and the amount of places to park safely for the night are very limited.
Where to park your van in Belgium?
Daytime Street Parking
Here’s a rule I learned the hard way. When there’s a blue rectangular parking sign with a large P on it and a car next to it, you’re not allowed to park your camper van on those assigned parking spots. It means these parking places are reserved for cars only.
Designated parking spots for Campervans
There are numerous designated parking spots for campervans and mobilhomes. These are called “camperplaatsen” in dutch. Depending on the location, they can either be paid or free. Some of these spots will offer basic services like water, electricity and toilet dumping.
In order to find these kind of camperplaatsen, I’ve been using a website called Bipa.be for many years. Most cities and towns will advertise their designated motorhome parkings as well on their tourist websites. Or simply ask the local tourist information.
There’s a difference between camping and parking / spending the night in your vehicle. Generally camping is considered to “set up camp”. This includes having outside seats, a table, an awning, making a fire, etc. Camping is not tolerated on designated parking spots for motorhomes and campervans.
Off grid parking spots
In more rural regions, alternative spots to spend the night can be found as well. However be careful since some communities explicitly forbid sleeping in a vehicle aside of the road.
Personally I always search for the parking spots of local hiking routes. Sometimes you’ll find a suitable parking place to spend the night also near some tourist attractions. In worst case scenario, i’ll look at the parkings of the local sportsfields or swimming pool.
Camping grounds (campings)
Although camp grounds don’t always fit into the idyllic dream of absolute freedom whilst enjoying van life, they surely are quite convenient at times.
When I’m traveling solo, I never spend the night at a paid campsite or parking spot in all those years. However when I’m in company with friends, I’m more then happy to choose a cheap local “camping”.
Prices for spending the night at a camping usually range somewhere between 15€ to 20€ per night for a spot.
Although there are many sites, personally I just use Google Maps to check the nearby camping grounds.
Long Term Parking
How long you can stay somewhere often depends on the location. At most official parking spots for campervans near urban area’s the parking times and regulations are more restricted. Some places only allow a 24h or 48h stay, whilst others don’t have a limit. At unofficial parking spots, or places without any regulations, it’s always good practice to not overdue your stay! Eventually you will get send away, and you might ruin it for the next person too!
I’ve been visiting my favorite area for Vanlife in Belgium for over 12 years. Sometimes i’ve been staying in the same village or region for weeks. Yet I never overstayed my visit in one particular place and always moved within 24-48h to a different spot. This gives locals and police a clear sign i’m not long term camping somewhere. As a result I’m on good terms with them and I can park at that spot every week without anyone complaining.
Services & Facilities
Where to use toilets, showers etc
When it comes to public toilets in Belgium you better not depend on them. They are almost nowhere to be found. Private bathrooms in café’s or shops will always require you to spend a consumption, which is often a vicious circle.
Along highways public bathrooms can be found, including warm showers. These will cost you only a couple of euro’s. Nearly all Belgian cities and municipalities also have an indoor public swimming pool where you can swim and shower for a couple of euro’s. This is often a cheaper option then going to the gym for a work-out and shower.
Most public swimming pools also have several other inside and outside sport facilities. Unless there are strict parking rules enforced, it’s often possible to park for the night there? Sometimes they even have designated spots with facilities.
Sanitary stations
Across Belgium, there are several sanitary stations where you can tap water, dump your toilet and even recharge your batteries. Often these services come at a low cost, sometimes they are even free. I would highly recommend to include a detour to such sani-station whenever you’re near one, unless you’re heading to a “camping” of course.
Teaser: Did you know there’s even a place in the Ardennes where you can get free green electricity?
LPG
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is generally widely available in Belgium. Not every gas station offers it, but many do. Keep in mind that it’s forbidden to fill up loose bottles at the pump. You might also need the right connector since it can be different from your countries standard.
Mobile coverage
Generally the mobile coverage in Belgium is quite good. However in the Ardennes region, there are some area’s where I’ve had difficulties getting a good connection in the past.
Best and worst times for Vanlife in Belgium
Belgium Vanlife during summer
There’s no better season to enjoy Van life in Belgium then summer. Long sunny days and warm evenings will make you enjoy things at the fullest. Obviously you won’t be out there alone during this period of time. Specially around the touristic hotspots, the designated camping spots can get crowded quickly. At the ‘alternative’ parking spots, you’ll see much more hikers, cyclists and tourists in general.
- During hot summer days, expect to be waken up around 8-9AM from the heat when your parked with no shade. Use a compass to find the best parking spot with shade in the morning.
- Don’t forget to bring bugsnets. Or at least something to kill the mosquito’s with. You will need them depending on the locations you park.
Belgium Vanlife during autumn and spring
Living in a van in Belgium during autumn and spring is actually quite enjoyable. The weather can be erratic, so having a heather is still recommended.
Keep in mind that “The High Fens” area has a much colder and wetter climate then the rest in Belgium. Temperatures at night can drop below 10°C already at the end of August, and reach the freezing point in September until late may. There’s also significantly more rainfall in this area, so I wouldn’t recommend staying here for too long.
Belgium Vanlife during winter
Winters in Belgium can be very wet! Drying your clothes and keeping the van moist-free can be a challenge. Night temperatures can plummet underneath the freezing point. You will definitely need a good heater to survive winter in your van. There’s also a good chance of snow from December to February. This is of course good news for the ski enthusiasts, since it’s possible to go alpine skiing and cross country skiing at the High Fens and near Vielsalm.
There are always some locals in Belgium living the Vanlife in winter, but most only do it once. The reason is that it’s just pretty boring in a small van when the days are short, rainy and cold. Unless you have good entertainment it’s easy to get depressed after a while. There’s also a group of RV owners with larger and more luxurious motorhomes that will go out camping for the weekends or even live full-time in their vehicles. Yet most of them would head down south if they had the chance.
This being said, when it’s your first time in Belgium, or there’s still much left to be explored, don’t let winter hold you down. In fact, it’s a great opportunity to visit some of the Flemish Art Cities, visit the christmas markets or discover Wallonia. Just make sure you’re well prepared and keep moving around.
Getting Around without your van
When visiting the larger cities, you’ll be faced with Low Emission Zones, parking restrictions and expensive parking fees. Look out for so called “Park & Rides”, they will provide you the cheapest option for day parking and have excellent and cheap public transport connections to the city center.
Having a bicycle is actually a must to enjoy your freedom, whilst traveling in a van in Belgium. It’s a great way to explore the area and overall the bike infrastructure is pretty good. Cycling enthusiasts will definitely love the well maintained cycling network in the Belgian province of Limburg. The Ardennes region offers some more challenging and off-road possibilities for mountain bikers and cycling enthousiasts.
Tips for Vanlife in Belgium
- Trouble finding water? Search for a cemetery, there’s always a water tap where you can fill up a water can.
- Did you find a cool spot to camp for free? Be discrete, keep it to yourself and don’t leave any traces behind. That way they’ll last longer.
Vanlife Experiences in Belgium
- Never did I receive a fine for sleeping in my van on an unassigned place.
- I’ve been thoroughly checked and searched by the police several times, even on assigned places. This for no valid reason.
- Once I was having breakfast on a parking spot near the border where I shouldn’t have slept that night. Suddently a large police force showed up, with +15 officers, several vehicles including a large police Motorhome. It was part of an international planned border operation to catch criminals. They didn’t even care about me standing there.
- In 2021 I barely escaped the Dinant Floods after my van broke down and it got me stranded there. Fixing the coolant leak wasn’t enough to get the van properly running again. Whilst on the run for the bad thunderstorm that was coming, I broke down several times, including on the railroad that was entirely flooded a few hours later, destroying so many people’s houses and cars.
