Recreatieoord Wilhelm Tell

The major problem here may be enticing the kids away from the wave pool. You might, however, succeed with promises of even bigger thrills on extreme coasters at Bobbejaanland theme park (an hour's drive), or treat them to a day out on the water rides at Walibi Belgium (an hour and 15 minutes). At GaiaZOO (40 minutes), they can journey from African savannah to tropical rainforest to see gorillas, lions and giraffes roaming in large enclosures. Closer to base camp, Hoge Kempen National Park is the jumping-off point for safe, car-free walking and cycling adventures (hire bikes in the park). Outdoorsy families might also like to have a go at kayaking on the Meuse river (20 minutes) or climbing indoor rock walls (30 minutes) too. For a change of pace, have a wander around medieval Maastricht (40 minutes), packed with impressive churches, flea markets and indie shops. If the young ones get grumpy, bribe them with a boat cruise down the Meuse river or let them run around on the ancient city walls.