Antwerp: Hikes Across Flanders
Antwerp itself is flat and built-up, so for actual trails you take a train out. Flanders and the wider region hold real walking country within a day of the city, from open heath to coastal dunes to Belgium’s one national park. None of it needs a car, and all of it runs on the euro. Here are three worth the trip, with a note on access to verify before you go.
Kalmthoutse Heide, the border heath
The closest of the three, the Kalmthoutse Heide is a broad heathland straddling the Belgian-Dutch border north of Antwerp, laced with marked walking and cycling trails through purple heather, drifting sand and pine. It is a genuine change of scene from the city and an easy day out, flat and family-friendly, with several loop routes of varying length. Check current trail maps and any seasonal restrictions before setting off.
The coastal dunes at the North Sea
A coast day doubles as a walking day. The North Sea shore around Ostend, 1h34 to 1h45 by train, backs onto protected dune belts you can walk between resort towns, with the Kusttram running the length of the coast so you can hike one way and ride back. It is bracing, open-sky walking, best between roughly May and September, and a good pick when you want sea air rather than forest.
Hoge Kempen, Belgium’s national park
For the most trail-like day, the Hoge Kempen National Park in Limburg, Belgium’s only national park, offers waymarked routes through pine forest, heath and old quarry lakes with genuine ridgelines by Flemish standards. It is the longest haul of the three from Antwerp and needs a connection, so treat it as a full-day outing and check current rail-plus-bus access before committing.
Gear and timing
These are still lowland walks: sturdy trainers or light boots handle everything, and there is no altitude to worry about. Pack for maritime weather in any season and carry water, since services thin out on the trails themselves. The reliable-weather window is roughly May to September, though the heath is striking in late summer when the heather colours.
Planning from Antwerp
Every route above leaves from Antwerpen-Centraal’s main-line platforms, unaffected by the in-city tram-tunnel closure. Book the cheaper weekend or under-26 fares where they apply under the reformed 2025 rail structure, and start early to make the most of a single day.
Read more: see the wider day-trip network in our Antwerp Belgium base guide , or the in-city green in our Antwerp walks guide .