The Kempen (Campine) — comprising the Antwerp and Limburg variants — offers one of the most accessible walking networks in Belgium. Largely flat terrain, expansive nature domains with paved main paths, and dedicated investment in adapted infrastructure make this region a prime destination for wheelchair users who want to walk without the physical challenges of the Ardennes or the hilly Flemish Ardennes.
In this guide: 10 concretely adapted walking routes spread across the whole Kempen (Campine), with per route the surface, recommended wheelchair type, disabled parking and which additional attractions you'll find along the way.
🟩 The classics
1. Bokrijk — 550 ha open-air museum
Route: the whole Bokrijk domain via the paved main paths that connect the open-air museum. Combine with the adapted train that traverses the domain for those who don't want to walk 5+ km.
Surface: fully paved around the main attractions, semi-paved in the forest zones. Adapted toilets spread throughout.
Practical: free loan wheelchairs at the info desk, disabled parking right by the entrance. Reserve on sunny weekends — popular family domain.
2. Hoge Kempen National Park — Mechelse Heide (Maasmechelen)
Route: the Mechelse Heide visitor centre is the main gateway to the National Park — Flanders' first, since 2006. From here, adapted routes of 1 to 5 km depart through heathland, forest and dune landscape.
Surface: paved main paths for the shorter routes, semi-paved for the longer ones. Viewing platforms adapted.
Practical: disabled parking and adapted toilets at the visitor centre. According to VRT NWS, the park attracts ~600,000 walkers per year.
3. Kattevennen Visitor Centre Genk — planetarium + walking network
Route: Kattevennen is one of the 9 gateways of Hoge Kempen National Park and combines a planetarium with an adapted walking network through the forests.
Surface: paved main paths. Combine with a planetarium visit for a half-day programme.
Practical: disabled parking, adapted reception and toilets.
🟨 Provincial domains (adapted facilities as standard)
4. Domein Kiewit Hasselt
Route: expansive Limburg provincial domain with fully paved walking loops around ponds and forest zones.
Surface: paved for the main loops, adapted picnic zones.
Practical: adapted disabled parking, adapted toilet, step-free cafeteria. Combine with Bokrijk at 15 min driving for a two-part Limburg weekend.
5. Provincial Domain Zilvermeer Mol — 178,000 overnight stays/year
Route: popular recreation domain around a 25 ha pond, one of the top destinations of the Antwerp Kempen. Adapted routes around the lake, with beaches for family swimming.
Surface: paved around the lake, adapted beach with entry ramp for wheelchairs down to the water.
Practical: disabled parking, adapted toilets. Often mentioned together with Lilse Bergen — together good for 178,292 overnight stays (+5% in 2025 according to VRT NWS).
6. Domein Hoge Rielen Kasterlee
Route: provincial domain and accommodation venue with adapted walking routes through forest and heath.
Surface: semi-paved to paved depending on route.
Practical: adapted rooms available for overnight stays, which makes it exceptional for a walking weekend with your own base.
🌲 Heath and forest
7. Arboretum Kalmthout
Route: tree garden with a world-renowned collection of tree and shrub species. Paved main paths through gardens.
Surface: fully paved for the main route; some earthen paths for detailed exploration.
Practical: seasonally attractive — especially spring (blossoms) and autumn (colours). Adapted toilets, adapted café.
8. Kalmthoutse Heide
Route: expansive heathland on the border with the Netherlands — an iconic Flemish heath landscape. Adapted main routes from the De Vroente visitor centre.
Surface: paved to semi-paved. For the purple heather carpet in August, worth visiting early in the day.
Practical: disabled parking at De Vroente, adapted toilets.
🎯 Special mentions
9. Connecterra Maasmechelen (Terhills)
Route: the "Zenzy" experience centre at the location where Hoge Kempen National Park has a main entrance under development (Terhills, according to VRT NWS). Adapted visitor centre with walking routes.
Surface: paved around the centre.
Practical: disabled parking, adapted toilets, combine with Maasmechelen Village for a shopping half-day.
10. Lieteberg / BioDrome Zutendaal (opening 2026)
New in 2026: the VRT article documents the opening of BioDrome — a unique experience centre about the biodiversity of Hoge Kempen National Park. Interactive 600 m² exhibition with a barefoot trail.
Surface: new construction, so expect fully adapted to modern accessibility standards.
Practical: check nationaalparkhogekempen.be for the opening date and adapted facilities.
Practical tips for Kempen walks
Wheelchair type: for most paved routes (Bokrijk, Zilvermeer, Kalmthout) a standard wheelchair works perfectly. For the longer semi-paved routes in the heathlands (Kalmthoutse Heide, Hoge Kempen), a wheelchair with larger wheels or a handbike is more comfortable.
Handbike rental: for those who want to combine cycling routes, Handbike rental Hoge Kempen Dilsen-Stokkem offers rental of adapted bikes.
Best season: May–September for the best nature weather. August: purple heather on the Kalmthoutse Heide and Mechelse Heide. October–November: autumn colours + fewer tourists.
Adapted toilets: almost every provincial domain and visitor centre has adapted toilets. If in doubt, call ahead.
Disabled parking: standard at all large domains. Come early on sunny days — disabled parking spaces fill quickly in July–August.
Combine with accommodation: see our Kempen main article for the statistics on accessible holiday homes and the adapted B&B De Zwaluw Kasterlee.
Finally
The 10 walking routes in this guide form a cross-section of what the Kempen has to offer — from iconic open-air museum to modern national park visitor centres, from heath landscape to recreation lakes. For wheelchair users, the Kempen is a first-class nature destination: flat, paved, dedicated to universal accessibility.
Our recommendation: start with Bokrijk + Hoge Kempen Mechelse Heide if you've never been to the Kempen — together they give a good picture of the region's quality.
Have you done a Kempen route where you'd like to share points of attention or positive surprises? Let us know — first-hand info about adapted paths and facilities helps enormously.