Pet-Friendly Stays Near Bellewaerde Aquapark
Bellewaerde Aquapark sits beside Bellewaerde Park on the Meenseweg, the old Menin road east of Ieper, and the four listed stays that accept pets are spread between that road and the town. Kasteelhof 't Hooghe is the closest, a country hotel with breakfast and a terrace. Novotel Ieper Centrum Flanders Fields and Flanders Lodge Hotel are larger hotels in and around Ieper, each with several hundred guest reviews, while B&B Fresco is a small family B&B rated 9.6. For a family bringing the dog on a water park trip, the choice is between a quiet base in the fields and a hotel close to the town walls.
Ieper is a compact Flemish town rebuilt after the First World War, ringed by old ramparts and moats, with the Cloth Hall on the Grote Markt and the Menin Gate memorial at the edge of the centre. East of town, farmland and war cemeteries line the road to Zonnebeke, where Bellewaerde Park and its Aquapark stand.
Where to stay
Where the dog sleeps near Bellewaerde
A water park day and a dog do not mix inside the pools, so the hotel becomes the dog's base for part of the day. Around Bellewaerde, the pet-friendly options range from a country hotel on the Menin road to hotels in Ieper close to green walks along the old ramparts.
Kasteelhof 't Hooghe is the obvious first choice for a family travelling with a dog. It stands on the Meenseweg close to the Bellewaerde entrance, accepts pets, and offers relaxed country-style rooms, free parking, a restaurant and a terrace, with breakfast included. Guests rate it 9 out of 10 across more than 400 reviews. Being so close to the park matters with a pet: the morning drive is short, and a parent can return during the day for a walk without losing much time at the pools. I would book it whenever the Aquapark is the main reason for the trip.
Novotel Ieper Centrum Flanders Fields is the most reviewed pet-friendly stay on the list, with more than 1,200 reviews and an 8.6 score. It is a modern hotel in Ieper with kid-friendly rooms, a restaurant with a terrace, a bar and a fitness centre. Staying in town suits families who want to combine the Aquapark with the Grote Markt, the Cloth Hall and the Menin Gate, where the Last Post is played every evening at 8 pm. The ramparts around the old town give an easy green loop for walking the dog before and after a day at the park.
Flanders Lodge Hotel is the other larger option, with more than 850 reviews and a score of 8 out of 10. It has air-conditioned rooms, a modern restaurant and a bar, free parking and breakfast included, and the listing describes a pet-friendly policy. It suits families who want a straightforward hotel with food on site after a long day of slides. Free parking is useful when the car is needed for the short drive out to the Menin road, and having dinner at the hotel saves going back into town with a tired dog and tired children.
B&B Fresco is the small-scale choice, a family B&B with comfortable family rooms that welcomes both children and pets, rated 9.6 by more than forty guests. It works for families who prefer a personal welcome over a hotel lobby. Whatever the address, I would ask each property before booking whether a dog may stay alone in the room while the family is at the Aquapark, because rules on unattended pets differ from one place to another, and plan the day around that answer. A parent taking turns with the dog for a walk is often the simplest solution.
A traveler's takeFor a family with a dog, I would choose Kasteelhof 't Hooghe: it accepts pets, includes breakfast and sits on the same Meenseweg as Bellewaerde Aquapark, so a walk with the dog in the middle of the day costs very little time. If the trip also includes evenings in Ieper, I would rather pick Novotel Ieper Centrum Flanders Fields and use the ramparts around the old town for the dog's walks.
Pet-FriendlyB&B Fresco
Check availabilityWhy guests love itI would choose B&B Fresco for a family that wants a quiet, pet-friendly base for Bellewaerde Aquapark and the wider area around it. Children and pets are both welcome, and the guest rating of 9.6 points to a well-kept, welcoming stay. It is a small bed and breakfast rather than a resort, with no water park on site, so I recommend it to families who plan to spend their days out and come back to a calm room.
Pet-FriendlyKasteelhof 't Hooghe
Check availabilityWhy guests love itOur family found Kasteelhof 't Hooghe to be a wonderfully convenient base for our Bellewaerde Aquapark adventure. The short walk to the park meant no fuss with parking or shuttles, which was a huge plus with young kids. After a day of splashing, returning to the quiet, comfortable rooms felt like a true escape. The complimentary breakfast was a lifesaver, getting us out the door quickly each morning. It’s a straightforward, no-frills stay that delivers exactly what a family needs for a slides-focused holiday.
Pet-FriendlyNovotel Ieper Centrum Flanders Fields
Check availabilityWhy guests love itI would pick the Novotel Ieper Centrum Flanders Fields for a family that wants a comfortable city base in Ypres while exploring the Flanders Fields region. The modern hotel has relaxed, kid-friendly rooms, a restaurant with a terrace, a bar and a fitness center, and pets are welcome. It has no water park on site, so I would treat it as a base for the day's plans, and guests rate it 8.6 out of 10.
Pet-FriendlyFlanders Lodge Hotel
Check availabilityWhy guests love itOur family found the Flanders Lodge Hotel a practical choice for our Bellewaerde Aquapark trip. The free breakfast was a lifesaver, getting us out the door quickly each morning, and having free parking meant no stress about where to leave the car. The rooms were clean and comfortable, perfect for unwinding after a full day of splashing. It was great to have a restaurant on-site for easy dinners, especially with tired kids. While not directly at the park, the short drive was manageable, and the overall value made it a smart pick for our water park adventure.
Local tips
- 1Ask each hotel whether a dog may stay alone in the room while you spend the day at the Aquapark.
- 2Book Kasteelhof 't Hooghe if you want to pop back from the park for a midday walk with the dog.
- 3Use the ramparts around Ieper's old town for easy green walks if you stay at a hotel in town.
- 4Mention the size and number of pets when booking, since pet policies can vary by room type.
- 5Choose a hotel with free parking, such as Flanders Lodge Hotel, if the dog travels with you in the car.
- 6Plan the Last Post at the Menin Gate as an evening outing, since it takes place every night at 8 pm.