Two VRT articles from 29 June 2026 paint a striking picture: the Antwerp Kempen is growing twice as fast as the Flemish tourism average, and — perhaps even more important for our audience — 40% of Kempen (Campine) accommodations have invested in accessibility in recent years, with 20% offering specifically adapted rooms for people with a physical or visual impairment or with autism.
That instantly makes the Kempen (Campine) one of the most interesting regions in Belgium for wheelchair tourism. In this guide: why the region is now booming, what's on offer, and where you can concretely go.
📊 The figures behind the growth
According to Tourism Antwerp Province and as reported by VRT NWS:
- 782,000 visitors in the Antwerp Kempen in 2025 (+7% compared to 2024)
- 2.5 million overnight stays (+5.5%)
- 63% Belgians, 37% international — Dutch visitors +17.8%, British +12.5%, German +7%
- 24 campsites, together the second-largest camping region of Flanders (after the coast)
- 65,000 sleeping places in total
- Provincial Domain Zilvermeer Mol + Lilse Bergen Lille together: 178,292 overnight stays (+5%)
The growth is therefore twice as high as the Flemish average — a unique position in the Belgian tourism landscape.
🌟 40% invested in accessibility — why this is unique
The figures that stood out most to us from the VRT report:
- 40% of Kempen (Campine) accommodations have made investments in accessibility in recent years
- 20% offer specifically adapted rooms for visitors with a physical, visual or neuropsychiatric impairment (autism-friendly design)
That is substantially above the national average. Where the Flemish coast, for example, has ~10% adapted-room supply, the Kempen (Campine) sits at double that. Our hypothesis: the combination of many vacation homes / holiday homes (46% growth in 3 years, easier to build as a single adapted unit than a historic B&B) and the VisitFlanders A-labels that are actively promoted in the region.
🎯 Top destinations for wheelchair users
Based on our existing database and the VRT report, here are the eight most recommended Kempen (Campine) attractions for wheelchair users:
🌲 Nature areas
Bokrijk — the flagship of Flemish open-air museums, adapted little train through the 550-ha estate, spacious adapted sanitary facilities, free loan wheelchairs. Our 3-generations outing pillar names Bokrijk as an absolute highlight.
Hoge Kempen National Park — Kattevennen Genk — planetarium + walking network, adapted main entrance, disabled parking. One of the 9 gateways of Hoge Kempen National Park — Flanders' first national park, since 2006, which according to VRT now attracts 600,000 walkers annually.
Arboretum Kalmthout — famous tree garden with paved main paths, adapted facilities. Combine with Kalmthoutse Heide just minutes away.
De Vroente Kalmthout — nature centre with adapted facilities, excellent starting point for nature education.
🚴 Sport and active
Handbike rental Hoge Kempen Dilsen-Stokkem — for those who want to discover cycling as a handbike in the Kempen (Campine). The region has 2,175 km of cycling node network — one of the most extensive in Europe.
Cycling Through Water Bokrijk — iconic Bokrijk cycling route through the water, accessibly adapted.
🏛️ Cultural
Groot Begijnhof Turnhout — UNESCO World Heritage, step-free courtyard. See also our beguinages pillar with the 13 UNESCO beguinages of Belgium.
Domein Hoge Rielen Kasterlee — provincial domain with adapted facilities, popular family stay.
🎨 Museums
Jacob Smits Museum Mol — art museum with step-free access.
🍽️ Restaurants and hospitality in the Kempen (Campine)
The Kempen (Campine) hospitality scene has improved substantially in recent years, including in terms of accessibility. Some of our favourites:
- Touro Grill Turnhout — Brazilian grill in the UGC cinema complex, fully step-free (our own visit June 2026)
- Hotel Corsendonk Turnhout — historic hotel with adapted rooms
- B&B Doggenhout Geel — Kempen (Campine) B&B with good manoeuvring space
- Kempense Taverne Mol — classic Kempen (Campine) cuisine
- Restaurant Erfgoed Turnhout, Restaurant Cuchara Turnhout — modern Turnhout hospitality
🏨 The accommodation shift: fewer B&Bs, more vacation homes
The second VRT article documents a fundamental shift: 1 in 10 B&Bs in the Kempen (Campine) closed in 3 years, while the supply of adapted vacation homes / holiday homes grew by 46%.
For wheelchair users this is positive news: vacation homes / holiday homes are often better adapted than historic B&Bs (easier to build step-free as a single unit). The regions around Rijkevorsel, Oud-Turnhout, Kasterlee and Essen are the hotspots for this evolution.
Specifically verified: the VRT article names De Zwaluw in Kasterlee as an explicitly wheelchair-accessible holiday home with wine-tourism option. Fully booked until summer 2026 — proof that demand is greater than supply.
For a broader overview: our B&B pillar documents the 8 questions to ask when booking a B&B, and which VisitFlanders A/A+ labels are reliable.
Practical tips for a Kempen (Campine) stay
Transport: Turnhout, Mol and Genk are all connected to the NMBS network. See our public transport master guide for multimodal travel planning.
Maps: Tourism Antwerp Province publishes an annual cycling map of the Kempen (Campine) node network. Free to pick up at tourist information centres.
Best time to visit: May–September for nature walks. October–November for a quieter atmosphere + autumn colours. Outside the school holidays the region is particularly easy-going.
Tourism info:
- Antwerp Kempen: visitdekempen.com + kempen.be
- Limburg Kempen / Hoge Kempen NP: nationaalparkhogekempen.be
In conclusion
The Antwerp and Limburg Kempen together form one of the best-adapted tourist regions of Flanders — a position that the regional tourism landscape kept relatively in the shadow until 2026, but which is now more broadly recognised thanks to the VRT reporting. With 20% adapted-room supply and 782,000 growing visitors, the Kempen (Campine) is a top destination for anyone looking for quiet nature, reliable accommodation and a well-equipped hospitality scene.
Our recommendation: plan a three-day Kempen (Campine) weekend that combines Bokrijk + Hoge Kempen with a stay in an adapted vacation home / holiday home in Kasterlee or Oud-Turnhout. The figures speak for themselves — this region is ready for you.
Have you been on a Kempen (Campine) outing where you'd like to share a point of attention or a positive surprise? Let us know — first-hand info about adapted accommodations and nature trails helps enormously for the next visitor.