# Bruges with children in a day from Brussels: the chip museum, a boat and swans The chip museum, half an hour on a boat along the canals, lunch with children's dishes at De Halve Maan and the swans of the Minnewater, back by mid-afternoon. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/bruges/itineraries/a-day-with-children-from-brussels · Revisado: 2026-11-14 ## El día - 08:45 · Salida: 1 h by train (from Bruxelles-Central or Midi; in Bruges, bus 1 or 2 to the centre) - 10:00 · Frietmuseum, the museum of the chip (opens at 10:00 · 45 min · €12 adults and €7 ages 3 to 11) - 10 min on foot - 11:15 · Boat trip along the canals of Bruges (Rozenhoedkaai landing stage · 30 min · €9 ages 4 to 11) - 10 min on foot - 12:30 · Brasserie De Halve Maan (children's dishes and waffles · kitchen open 12:00 to 15:00 · no booking) · Brasserie De Halve Maan, €€ - 5 min on foot - 14:00 · The béguinage (Begijnhof) and the Minnewater (free · lawns, white houses and swans on the lake) - 15:45 · Vuelta: 1 h by train (the station is ten minutes' walk from the Minnewater) Bruges works well with children because everything is close, there are no cars in the centre and almost every street ends at a bridge over a canal. What doesn't work is trying to see everything: the belfry, three museums and an eight-kilometre route end in tears. This plan does four things that little ones enjoy, with little walking between them, and returns to Brussels mid-afternoon, before they run out of steam. ## The morning: chips and canals 08:45 · Train to Bruges. An hour from Brussels, with no changes. At the station, bus 1 or 2 drops you in the centre in a few minutes. 10:00 · Frietmuseum. The chip museum, in a Gothic building two minutes from the Markt, is short and visual: where the potato comes from, how to fry it the Belgian way and a life-size chip shack. It takes about 45 minutes and costs €12 for adults, €7 for ages 3 to 11 and nothing for under-3s. Pushchairs are admitted, but the museum doesn't recommend them: a baby carrier is better with the very small. 11:15 · Boat on the canals. Ten minutes' walk to the Rozenhoedkaai, and half an hour sitting in an open boat, passing under the bridges. It is what children remember most about Bruges. €15 for adults and €9 for ages 4 to 11; you pay at the landing stage. ## Lunch without watching the clock 12:30 · Brasserie De Halve Maan. On the Walplein, ten minutes away, the brewery's brasserie has children's dishes, waffles for dessert and a terrace among copper kettles where the little ones don't disturb anyone. The kitchen is open from 12:00 to 15:00 every day, no booking. ## The afternoon: the swans of the Minnewater 14:00 · The beguinage and the Minnewater. Five minutes away, the beguinage is a large lawn courtyard surrounded by white houses, in silence, and behind it is the Minnewater lake, with swans that come to the water's edge. It is free and there is no hurry: let them run around the park before the train. 15:45 · Train back. The station is ten minutes' walk. In Brussels before five, with time for a nap or a bath. ## What to change according to age With under-4s, the boat is the best of the day; the chip museum is quick and you can drop it if they are tired. With children aged 6 to 11, add Choco-Story, on the Sint-Jansplein, which ends with a demonstration and a tasting; the combined ticket with the Frietmuseum costs €13.50 per child. With children over 7 and teenagers, climb the belfry on the Markt: 366 steps, with a slot booked online. If you come back another day, the Kruisvest windmills, on the eastern rampart, have lawns and not a tourist in sight. For a classic day with adults, see the plan with belfry, boat and brewery; if you fancy pedalling, the bike day to Damme along the canal is flat and suits children who already ride alone. ## Cómo llegar ### Without a car Train from Bruxelles-Midi, Central or Nord, about an hour, and bus 1 or 2 to the centre. From Ghent, the direct train to Bruges takes about 28 minutes on average: leave half an hour later. ### By car About 100 km along the E40. Leave the car in the station car park: the ticket includes the bus to the centre for everyone. ## Consejos ### Buy the museum online at weekends Capacity is limited and on busy days it sells out. ### The boat, before midday From one o'clock, longer queues form at the landing stage. ### Bring something warm The wind blows on the boat even in spring. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### What is there to do in Bruges with children? The boat on the canals, the chip museum, Choco-Story and the swans of the Minnewater; with over-7s, the belfry. ### How much does a day in Bruges with children cost? With train, museum, boat and lunch, between €45 and €75 per person; children pay less at the museum and on the boat. ### Can you go with a pushchair? In the street yes, though there are cobblestones; in the museums it is allowed but not recommended.