In the locality of Kalmthout there are many things to do that provide hours of fun for the whole family. We have selected just a few as suggestions.
Tip: you must also take a look at ‘Active’, there you will also find things to do for the whole family!
The natural beauty of Mastenbos in Kapellen houses a treasure of heritage: the German trenches from 1917 with several bunkers, intact.
Trenches of the First world War, there not only situated in Flander’s fields. In the northern part of the province of Antwerp, belgium, the German army is at full war time as a line of defense. Therefore, the Germans wanted to protect themselves from the allied army, which, according to them, would be moving in from the neutral Netherlands. The construction of the line itself may have contributed to the invasion that never came.
Visits with or without guide are possible.
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Our 2 family rooms are furnished to experience a cosy family feeling and give the kids their own space at the same time. We made a cosy mezzanine on top of the bathroom, where younger children can sleep (5 – 12 years). This Jerom Family room also includes the same facilities as our Jerom Standard rooms…
Ontdek de kamers!The ideal place to learn about nature and the environment in a playful way. The Vroente organizes an impressive selection of activities:
Educational Centre De Vroente
Go for adventure in the completely renewed “Suske & Wiske Museum”!
Willy Vandersteen (drawer of the comic strips of Suske & Wiske) takes you on a tour through his old villa and you’ll discover what you need for a good comic strip. Or you can go on a time travel with the time travelling machine, meet cheaters and bandits, design your own cartoon hero and play . Of ga op reis door de tijd met de teletijdmachine, ontmoet schurken en boeven, ontwerp je eigen stripfiguurtje and play with in a comic strip!
Hint: In the meantime the museum is only open on weekdays, except for 1 weekend per month. Keep these dates in mind if you want to visit the museum in a weekend: 21&22 September, 26 & 27 October , 23 & 24 November en 14 & 15 December 2019. During Fall holiday the museum will be also open from 28 til 31st of October.
Meer infoWould you like to go on a squirrels quest?
Go visit our neighbors from The Vroente“, and ask for one of the animal cases. The animal cases are a helpful guide for a fun-filled walk in the beautiful nature reserve ‘Kalmthoutse Heide’.
Every case provides active games, puzzles, booklets and pictures of 1 animal. You can go an a journey with the deer, rabbits, scarab beetles, dragonflies, frogs, lizards and rabbits. The cases are free of charge (deposit € 20) and will stimulate the kids to get out and have fun in the ‘Kalmthoutse Heide’!
Ideal for: groups & families with children between 3 and 8 years of age
What do you think about making your own construction in the heath? Working together and experiencing endless building fun is easy with these bamboo sticks. You can make a very high construction in no time, ideal for the whole family. You can rent a bamboo package as from April during your stay at Hotel Jerom (€25/half day – ask for it at the counter (free during the Easter holidays (1-18/04 – subject to availability).
Tip: when you cross the street and walk into the nature reserve, go left after 500 metres, you’ll see a large sandy open space, perfect for your big plans ;-).
book our roomGoing on an adventure with your family in the vast space of the Kalmthoutse Heide? Make it a little extra exciting and discover our nature reserve with a GPS. These trips are organized and designed by the nature education center of Kalmthout (Natuureducatiecentrum De Vroente).
Good to know: The GPS trip is completely free of charge!
Important: The trip is 5 km and takes 2.5 to 3 hours. A bit of stretching before you start doesn’t do any harm! It is best to make a reservation.
Experience natureWith 6000 hectares of nature reserve you can walk or run to your heart’s content! In nature reserve Kalmthoutse Heide you can choose from 24 signed hiking trails, ranging from 1.7 to 8.5 km.
By connecting several walks, you can plan a nice day trip or trail route. The routes are marked with icons in different colours, so you can easily follow the road without any maps. In some parts of this border park, the paths are also marked with numbers from the hiking junction network. Those who would like to go with a map, can buy it at the reception desk (€ 2) or take a running card with an overview of some routes from the lobby at Hotel Jerom. Off you go!
All trails are free accessible from sunrise to sunset.
Trails Kalmthoutse Heide
A gigantic forest, “Klimbos Brabantse Wal”. Just a half an hour from Hotel Jerom you shall find at least 8 climbing adventures. The whole family can have a go thanks to the different levels of difficulty and heights ranging from 3 to 18 meters.
A visit to Klimbos takes approximately 3.5 hours to complete, including instructions.
Tip: It is located in a public forest, so you can just walk, cycle or hire a mountain bike to explore the vicinity in an active way.
Climbing forrest Brabantse WalWhy not try a trip to the ZOO? Jump on a train and get off in Antwerp Central Station, the main entrance to Antwerp’s zoo.
In the heart of the city you shall discover the most beautiful 19th century zoo in the world! This beautifully decorated masterpiece belongs to Antwerp’s cultural heritage. Numerous exotic animals bid you welcome: elephants, bears, (sea)lions, okapi’s, gorilla’s, …
Beasts in the city?!
An old, military railway line is now the décor for a unique and fun family experience. You hire a rail-bike and you and your whole family explore the environment in a special way.
Tip: The Picnikfabrik (Picnic-Factory) delivers a picnic to the starting point of the rail-biking-trail in Kapellen or at the Perron Noord in Brasschaat.
Rail-biking
