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Voykit pocket guide · Belgium
Eeklo
Spend a half‑day in Eeklo for the belfry, St Vincent church and a quick bike ride in Het Leen; otherwise use Ghent as base.
Eeklo is a small town in East Flanders, 20 km north of Ghent. Its main sights – the 1932 belfry, St Vincent church and nearby nature – can be seen in 4–5 hours. Good bike‑rental options let you explore the flat countryside, making it a convenient stop on a Ghent‑based itinerary.
- Country
- Belgium
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited daylight)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards work widely; a few cafés, market stalls and toilets still want coins.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–45 excl. bed · Mid €45–70 excl. bed · High €70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Proximus, Orange Belgium and Telenet/BASE; prepaid SIMs need ID registration.
- Emergency
- Police 101 · Fire and ambulance 112 · Medical out‑of‑hours 1733
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Same as France; UK and US plugs need adapters.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: Service included; add 5–10% for good service if you like.; Taxi: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe, though many Belgians drink bottled; restaurants rarely serve free tap water.
- Toilets
- Often paid (€0.50–1) in stations and some cafés; carry coins.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–3 |
| Beer (pub) | €3–5 |
| Bike rental (hour) | €5–7 |
| Train ticket Ghent‑Eeklo | €8–10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GND · Gand Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Ghent → Eeklo train
- ≈ €8, 35 min (check)
- Blue Bike card
- €12 for unlimited rides (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Train to Eeklo (35 min from Ghent). Bike rentals at the station via Blue Bike (€12 card). Walkable town centre; free parking at Het Leen forest.
See and do
Known for
- Town Hall and Belfry
- St Vincent Church
- Nature Reserve Het Leen
- Indoor adventure park Yeti Eeklo
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ghent | Train from Eeklo to Ghent Sint‑Pieters, about 35 min, hourly service. | ≈45 min total |
| Deinze | Bus line 30 from Eeklo, about 20 min. | ≈30 min |
| Beveren | Train via Ghent, total ~45 min. | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Boutique Hotel Shamon
- Art‑nouveau building, 10 rooms, close to train station.
- Villa Magdalena
- Family B&B, quiet road to Ghent.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez‑moi / Pardonexcusez‑moi / pardon |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?combien ça coûte |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?où sont les toilettes |
| Can I pay by card? | Puis‑je payer par carte ?puis‑je payer par carte |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; one cheek kiss among friends (three in some places); avoid: Overfamiliarity with strangers
- Language: English or the local language; avoid: French in Flanders, or Dutch in Wallonia, as a default
- Punctuality: Be on time; avoid: Late arrivals for dinner reservations
- Conversation: Food, beer, football and cycling; avoid: Flemish-Walloon politics unless invited
Scams and watch-outs
- Check Blue Bike card availability before arrival (service may be limited).
- Belfry opening hours not listed; verify on the tourist office site.
Eeklo is generally safe; keep an eye on bike lanes and lock bicycles securely.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Eeklo yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Town Hall and Belfry
- St Vincent Church
- Nature Reserve Het Leen
- Indoor adventure park Yeti Eeklo
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Eeklo official website: www.eeklo.be/
- Blue Bike service: www.blue-bike.be/en/blue-bike-points/eeklo
- Wikivoyage: Eeklo, revision 5068455 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5068455
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/eeklo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.