Holiday tip 2026: Belgium (get away from it all, but close)
We travel far and wide. Far away, close by, or somewhere in between because the train just feels a bit more sustainable. But 2026 promises to be the year when vacationing in Belgium suddenly becomes a kind of escapism meets practical chic. No mass tourism, no stress, just waffles, wellness, and an unexpectedly good feeling of “why didn’t I know this earlier?”.
The comeback of close-by vacations (but better)
Close-by vacations were once the domain of families with a large family wagon and way too many toys. But 2026 gives it an upgrade: slow travel is no longer associated with woolen socks and biodynamic tea, but with space, convenience, and just enough luxury.
And yes, you really don’t have to drive further than Belgium for that. It’s the country where you can go from ‘French countryside light’ to ‘Scandi-coastal with a Moroccan twist’ in just two hours.
Are you thinking now: “okay, nice, but where then?”? Those who are smart start at a nice holiday park in Belgium. Not because you have to, but because you can fill your mini-escape exactly as you want: a day of silence, a day of white-water rafting, a day of eating mussels by the sea.
2026 will be the year of micro-vacations
Micro-trips? Those are vacations that don’t necessarily have to last longer than a weekend, but feel like you’ve turned off your phone for a week (without actually having to do it, relax, but you can of course). Belgium is perfect for this.
- A morning hiking in the Ardennes, floating in a hot spring in the afternoon.
- A night in Brussels for an exhibition (and okay: fries).
- Seeking the coast without the feeling that half of the Netherlands had the same idea.
And the nice thing: you have zero jet lag, zero complicated planning, zero hassle with “where do I leave my luggage three hours before check-in”.
The Belgian vibe we need in 2026
The charm of Belgium lies not in spectacle, but in the unexpected. The cozy bistros where you linger for two hours. The forests that smell as if you have them all to yourself. That cozy, slightly messy vibe that even gives luxury a kind of nonchalant elegance.
Where France wants to be busy and the Netherlands efficient, Belgium is just... nice. And in 2026, after years of big, busy, and much, we might need that the most.
The new going away is staying close
So for 2026, you don’t need to make a bucket list that’s more stressful than your job. Belgium is exactly the getaway that doesn’t shout but whispers: take a breather. And to be honest? Sometimes that’s exactly the kind of vacation that sticks the best.
Image: Unsplash, Katherine St-Pierre
