All The Aires Belgium & Luxembourg Intro

Are there motorhome Aires in Belgium and Luxembourg?

All the Aires Belgium and Luxembourg it would be better named All the Camperplaats Belgium and Luxembourg. Camperplaats is the name most used for official motorhome areas in Belgium and Luxembourg, except in the French-speaking half of Belgium where the phrase ‘Aire de service camping car’ is used. 
Municipal Aires in Belgium and Luxembourg provide motorhome travellers with the freedom to come and go as they please. Generally municipal Aires in Belgium are allocated sections in unsupervised public car parks, usually at the sports centre. Motorhome stopovers in Belgium frequently only offer designated but convenient motorhome parking rather than a fully serviced holiday destinations.  The duration of stay is normally indicated on signs and is typically 24-72 hours, hour is often written with a u, Max 24u. In contrast, commercial Aires in Belgium and Luxembourg are privately run and normally have a reception, toilets, showers and electric hook-up. 

How to find motorhome Aires in Belgium?

Motorhome stopovers are easy to find in Belgium and Luxembourg as long as you know where they are! All the Aires Belgium & Luxembourg is a guide available as a printed book or a digital PDF and lists the motorhome camperplaats in Belgium providing the address, GPS co-ordinates and directions.

How do I find co-ordinates for Aires to use in Satellite navigation?: The GPS coordinates provided in the All the Aires Belgium and Luxembourg guide book guide were taken at the camperplaats and it should be possible to drive to the spot where they were taken. However, always check the directions within the guide as these contain useful information. If you are struggling inputting GPS co-ordinates into your Sat Nav read our guide.  

Are there directions in All the Aires Belgium?: The directions are written to assist you with map navigation. We have attempted to select the simplest route that is free of height and weight restrictions. Where possible you should follow road signs, abbreviated ‘sp’ in the directions, and look for Aires signs, abbreviated to ‘signed’. In Benelux the standard motorhome symbol is frequently used to indicate the parking spaces, but the area and direction signs are often written as camperplaats.

Can you park overnight at Aires in Belgium?

Not all Aires in Belgium provide overnight parking. Time restrictions are provided within the listings of All the Aires Belgium and Luxemboug. Many Aires restrict use to 48hrs, which is logical because it should be enough time to visit the local attractions. Aires not displaying time limits should be assumed to be 48hrs.

Is there any designated motorhome parking in Belgium and Luxembourg?

The majority of camperplaats are Municipal Aires which share space in pre-existing car parks. In Belgium these are often just designated parking, there is no Service Point. Each listing within All the Aires Belgium and Luxembourg provides detailed information on the parking including: the number of marked bays; where bays are restricted in size we have given definitive bay lengths, amount of overhang and width if relevant. 

Service Points are few and far between at municipal Aires in Benelux. Many are simply signed parking areas, described as ‘designated parking’ in the guide book All the Aires Belgium & Luxembourg. Always check the Aire details to ensure that the facilities are adequate.

Can large motorhomes (RVs) +7.5m use Aires in Belgium?
The highlighted coach symbols used within All the Aires Belgium identify Aires in Belgium and Luxembourg where the inspectors believe it should be possible for motorhomes over 7.5m to access the parking and Service Point. There is normally more space at marina Aires. Many of the municipal Aires in Belgium have been designed to accommodate motorhomes up to 7m long and have sign posts preventing overhang. In general it is unacceptable to park across bays. We sometimes write that there are more bays than allocated, or extra space if it appears that the space is not normally used by cars. Remember to put your responsible tourist hat on when you are making parking decisions. During busy periods Service Point access may not be possible.

Are Aires in Belgium and Luxembourg open all year?

Aires make suitable night stops all year round and, unlike campsites, few camperplaats in Belgium or Luxembourg close for the winter. Most Aires have a hard surface. Grass covered parking areas often have reinforcing. The open all year symbol is not highlighted for grass parking, but it can usually be accessed as long as weather conditions allow. Water may turned off during the winter to prevent frost damage.

What are Marina Aires in Belgium and Luxembourg?
The Aires network is growing across Benelux, but it would be insufficient for demand if the marinas stopped accommodating motorhomes. These marinas fill the gap between Aires and campsites. They differ significantly, but many have excellent facilities and toilet blocks for boaters and campers. 

What are motorhome Service Points?
Service Points provide three main functions: to replenish fresh water, and to dispose of waste (grey) water and toilet (black) waste. Service Points may facilitate one or all of these functions and some provide electricity. Park on the Service Point for no longer than it takes to exchange fluids.
Most Service Points are branded, simple and durable. Electricity is frequently provided and is mostly euro coin-operated and metered by kWh used. Sometimes the layout of a Service Point is confusing or a facility is a little way from the parking, especially at marinas.

Can I drink tap water in Belgium and Luxembourg? In Belgium and Luxembourg tap water is very palatable and consistent throughout the region. Thoughtless users are known to contaminate taps at motorhome Service Points when rinsing toilet cassettes. Using disinfectant wipes or spray before drawing water will improve hygiene. Taps are normally threaded to assist the connection of hoses. Flot Bleu, Euro and Pacific Service Points have all the facilities located in one enclosed space increasing the risk of cross contamination. In addition, we have found the drinking water hose down the toilet emptying point on several occasions, so consider disinfection essential.

How to I empty motorhome waste (grey) water in Belgium?: Drive over drains differ widely in construction. Typically in Belgium a shallow metal sink is set in concrete near the Service Point. Some drains are so badly designed or located that it is necessary to use a length of flexible pipe to direct waste water accurately. Some Service Points do not have a drain, but it is often possible to direct a pipe to the toilet emptying point. Flot Bleu, Euro and Pacific Service Points often have a short flexible pipe instead of a drive over drain.

How to I empty my campervan toilet cassette in Belgium?: Cassette emptying points differ so widely that you may have to think about it before you work out the correct place. It may be necessary to remove a grid. Some drains are too small, so do not rush this operation as spillage will occur. In Benelux the drive-over emptying point is often the only facility. Local motorhomers usually travel with some bottled water for rinsing and flushing. Many Belgian Aires have waste height toilet emptying points referred to in this guide as Seijsenser WC sinks. Make sure that your toilet is not too heavy to lift.

Can I connect my campervan to electric hook-up in Belgium?: The electricity symbol E is highlighted for every Aire in Belgium within the guide that has an electricity supply, regardless of cost or duration. No further information is provided if the electricity supply is less than one hour. Electricity bollards are common in Belgium and Luxembourg that charge per kWh. Normally these bollards take euro coins. 

Commercial and marina Aires often include electricity in their nightly charge. Be aware that in busy periods there may not be enough electricity points for the number of motorhomes staying. Should you be lucky enough to stay at an Aire with free electricity, you will be expected to share it with several motorhomes.

Do all campervan stopovers in Belgium have toilets and showers? Public toilets are inconvenient in Benelux due to their almost total absence. If the designated parking is at the sports hall, toilets and showers may be available during the day. The facilities at commercial and marina Aires may include toilets and showers and are normally impeccably clean. Where necessary, prices and further information is detailed within the text of the entry within All the Aires Belgium and Luxembourg.

What types of Service Points are there in Belgium and Luxembourg?

HOLIDAY CLEANY: These are practical machines that have an accessible WC emptying point at the bottom. When two taps are fitted one is fresh water and one is for cassette rinsing. The cassette rinsing tap may work without payment. Ensure the switch, located on one side, is correctly positioned. They usually have CEE electric points requiring payment with euro coins.

HOLIDAY CLEAN: These are practical machines that have an accessible WC emptying point at the bottom and are fitted with both a WC rinse tap and a drinking water tap. They do not have electricity.

MARYCAMP XL: These are practical machines that have an accessible WC cassette emptying point at the bottom with a WC rinse tap above. The drinking water tap is on the other side. When payment for water is required it is normally euro coins. Electricity is not provided.

SEIJSENER BOLLARD: These simple Service Points do not have a WC point. Both water and CEE electric are usually metered and payment is by euro coins.

SEIJSENER WC SINK: The stainless steel sink is designed for WC cassette emptying and can be encased in a variety of surrounds. Often they are at waist height, so cassette lifting is required. There is usually a tap for rinsing.

SANI STATION: These Service Points should require payment by euro coins before WC cassette emptying possible, however the roller shutters are often broken and left open. A rinsing tap is located inside the shutter. On the payment side there is a threaded tap. Ensure you connect your hose before payment is made. A hose is essential because of the tap’s location.

FLOT BLEU: The Flot Bleu Euro and Pacific have all the services located behind a locked, narrow door on the left side of the cabinet. Be aware, the drinking water hose is prone to fall into the toilet disposal point, so clean the dispensing pistol before use. Flot Bleu Service Points normally provide 20 minutes of ‘environ’, access to water and electricity. These units are very robust and designed to be used all year around. Flot Bleu electricity bollards normally provide four hours of electricity per token and up to 12 hours of electricity can be paid for in one go. 

DEPAGNE: These oversized units are easy to use and normally provide an accessible WC emptying point. A WC rinse tap is located on one side and a fresh water tap on the other.

EURO RELAIS/RACLET and AIRE SERVICES: Euro Relais and Raclet are the same and Aire Services are very similar. These are practical machines that have an accessible WC emptying point at the bottom. Often there are two water taps. The one for toilet rinsing normally works without payment. When tokens or payment is required, 100 litres of water and one hour of electricity is dispensed.

CUSTOM: These Service Points are built by local craftsmen to individual designs. Take your time to find all the services as a facility may be a little way from where you expect.