houtopia

Houtopia:
heaven for children, a feast for the senses

Profile picture for user Nathalie Diot

Nathalie Diot

Member for 5 years 4 months

Alone or with my family

Simplicity is the key

A step-by-step journey to self-discovery

 

Houtopia, or how to hone the 5 senses

Heaven for children, a feast for the senses

5 mins OF ESCAPE

At the heart of the fabulous little town of Houffalize, on a bend of the River Ourthe, the Houtopia recreational centre is an absolute must for families. A real hive of activity, this highly original site is an invitation for children and adults alike to (re)discover their senses through 80 sensory experiments. Its both fascinating and thrilling.

Happiness above all
"Oh look mum, you can see your eyes!" Just one of the countless exclamations I heard repeatedly throughout the afternoon at Houtopia with my two boys, Samuel, aged 5 and Gabriel, 7. This brand new activity centre is highly original and offers a whole host of magic moments. Before entering, a presentation panel explains the concept. The town of Houffalize suffered a great deal during the second world war. The little peace haven of Houtopia was created as a constructive means of dealing with this distressing past, supporting children's rights and civic education. Its aim is to help children to grow, develop and flourish. That's what it did for mine for quite a few hours.


An original and inviting layout
We feel good as soon as we set foot in the reception area. The huge hall is bright and full of colour, announcing what's in store for us. While I check the map and listen to the advice announcements, the children are drawn to an outdoor area visible beyond the glass doors.  A beautiful park with play features surrounded by trees stretches along the opposite bank of the Ourthe. To reach the play areas we have to go down to the basement. Surprise surprise, the building is half underground and part of it connects with the outdoor area. It feels like a cosy cocoon, warm yet airy and, again, very colourful. Full of lights, rounded forms, and nooks and crannies waiting to be discovered... An abundance of features that sparks the curiosity and enthusiasm of the two brothers. The magic of this place is already at work.

An hour of exploration that heightens all our senses!

Children on the playground

An exploration of the five senses
After consulting the children, we all agree to stay indoors, and take off our shoes. Before we can say anything else, they've disappeared into a mousehole that's too small for me to get through. Oh that's prickly, ah this is soft, hey it scratches! So I guess that's the touch tunnel. They reappear and promptly disappear again, into another tunnel meant for toddlers. They laugh noisily with delight but the receptionist doesn't seem to mind.  We were told not to run or shout, but laughing is highly recommended. Nevertheless, I tell them to calm down and invite them to move on to one of the other activities.

 

Learning self-awareness

The next feature is a coloured wooden panel with holes to put their hands through. They sit on the stools and try to figure out what they are touching, without looking. Samuel's very good at this game, but Gabriel decides to try a different activity which fascinates him: studying his own eyes. The device shows accurate details of your pupil and iris, without dazzling you. I'm just as fascinated as my son, as it isn't often that you get the chance to study yourself so closely in everyday life. We pursue our leisurely tour, gleaning information here and there. I'm amazed to learn so much on a subject I thought I was already familiar with. A step-by-step journey to self-discovery.

A fabulous playground!

Enthralled by the outdoor playground

After an hour of exploration, all our senses are honed! So much information gathered in just a few square metres. It's time

to release some of the body's energy, so we open the door and step outside. It's like the gold rush. The play apparatus is fabulous. The outdoor playground features an adventure trail that's safe for children, taking them several metres above the ground and bringing them back down on an enormous 30-metre slide! "Oh it's great, it's brilliant, let's do it again!" The boys can't believe it and they're jubilating. 

A peace haven
I sit on a bench and enjoy this beautiful autumn day, serenely watching the boys having fun in their world of ropes and slides. The park is pleasantly divided up into cosy little areas that invite you to relax and unwind.  To eat the afternoon snack we've brought with us, we sit at the picnic tables provided on the terrace. There are also a few vending machines offering drinks and sweets. After a few more stunts we go back indoors. We still have to do the taste exploration and try the psychedelic colour features.

 

Hey, where's Samuel? He's quietly relaxing in a pod hanging from the ceiling, listening to the sound of the sea. Gabriel joins him for this most unusual moment of calm. Music tempers behaviour, according to the panel. I'd definitely agree with that. And so does a day at Houtopia.

Houtopia

Try this experience 
Houtopia
Place de l'Eglise 17, 6660 Houffalize, Belgium
+32 61 28 92 05
https://www.houtopia.be/