Bokrijk with your dog: are dogs allowed and where can he run free?

Bokrijk in Genk is a large green estate with about 550 hectares of walking area: woodland, ponds, an arboretum, a castle and an open-air museum. Your dog is welcome as long as he is on a leash. Only in the fenced off-leash meadow near the Infocenter can he run free.

Dogs allowed in Bokrijk: on a leash

Bokrijk says on its own website that dogs on a leash are welcome across the whole estate. That also applies to the open-air museum and to the terraces and indoor areas of the food and drink venues. The estate’s police regulations forbid letting dogs run free. The only place Bokrijk allows it is the off-leash meadow. Letting your dog off the leash on a forest path is therefore not allowed.

Where your dog can’t go

• The animal yard of the Duifhuis museum farm in the open-air museum.
• The “De sixties” exhibition.
• The toddler and preschool village in the playground. The playground’s house rules go further: the toddler garden and the adventure playground are also off limits to dogs, even on a leash.

Everywhere else in the open-air museum your dog can come along, on a leash. The museum charges admission (€17 for ages 13 to 59) and in 2026 is open from 4 April to 8 November, Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Mondays too during school holidays. Bokrijk does not say on its prices page whether there is a separate rate or ticket for dogs. The estate itself is free to enter.

The off-leash meadow

If you want your dog to run free, there is the off-leash meadow. You’ll find it diagonally opposite the castle, to the right of the Infocenter and the museum entrance, close to Parking 1.

• The meadow is fenced and always open.
• Dogs can run free there under your supervision and play with other dogs.
• There is no drinking water. Bring water and a bowl, especially in summer.
• Don’t bring a sick, in-heat dog, or one that doesn’t get along with other dogs. When two dogs meet for the first time, check whether the other dog wants to play.

If your route doesn’t pass an off-leash meadow, read can my dog run free here? for the general rules.

Eating and drinking with your dog

Dogs on a leash are welcome on the terraces and inside the estate’s food and drink venues. Bartizan has a dog ice cream on the menu. You’ll find more tips for eating out with your dog in dog-friendly restaurants.

Walking in Bokrijk with your dog

Bokrijk has routes from 1.5 to 9.5 kilometres. The arboretum has its own loop of about 2 kilometres. The signposted Fietsen door het Water route (4 km, paved) starts at the Infocenter. The estate also lies on the Wijerstrail through Limburg’s water landscape, a 110-kilometre walk that you can also do in five day walks of about 20 kilometres. You can buy a paper walking map at the Infocenter. See Domein Bokrijk on GoPuppy.

What to watch for with your dog:

• Stay on the walking paths. The police regulations forbid leaving the paths.
• No going in the water. Swimming and entering the water are forbidden, for your dog too. Cooling off in a pond is not possible. You’ll find swimming spots in swimming with your dog.
• Don’t disturb wildlife. Chasing game, disturbing nests and feeding animals are forbidden.
• Cattle along the route. Galloway cattle graze on the routes towards Kiewit. Third-party route descriptions report that dogs are not allowed between walking junctions 59 and 58, with a detour around that stretch. This is not on Bokrijk’s own website. Follow the signs on site. For how to walk past livestock, read dogs and livestock.
• Arboretum and castle park. We found no ban on dogs on a leash, but Bokrijk doesn’t confirm it separately either. Keep your dog close and, if in doubt, ask at the Infocenter.

Picking up poop

Under the police regulations you must carry something to pick up your dog’s waste while walking, and be able to show it if an authorised person asks. Leaving waste behind is not allowed. The regulations don’t give a number of bags. Bring plenty, even for a short loop: two or three is a safe margin.

Evenings and Winteravonden

The estate is open from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. According to Bokrijk’s FAQ, dogs on a leash are allowed at the “Winteravonden” winter evenings (26 to 30 December), but there is loud music and fire during the acts. Whether your dog can handle that is for you to decide. It is no place for an insecure or easily startled dog. You’ll find help with a fearful dog in helping an insecure or anxious dog.

Practical

• Address: Bokrijklaan 1, 3600 Genk.
• Parking: in the tourist season €5 per day (the first half hour is free). Outside the season parking is free, except during the Winteravonden from 26 to 30 December (€5).
• Ticks: in woodland and heath, a tick check after the walk is part of the routine. Read how to do it in ticks on dogs.
• Autumn: walking your dog in autumn has tips for wet paths and early dusk.

This guide was compiled on 16 October 2026 from Bokrijk’s websites and regulations. Rules and prices can change. Check them before you leave at bokrijk.be.

Frequently asked questions

Can my dog come to Bokrijk? Yes, dogs on a leash are welcome across the whole estate, including the open-air museum and the terraces. The exceptions are the animal yard of the Duifhuis museum farm, the De sixties exhibition and the toddler and preschool village in the playground. According to the playground’s house rules, the toddler garden and the adventure playground are also off limits to dogs.

Where can my dog run off-leash in Bokrijk? Only in the fenced dog meadow, diagonally opposite the castle and to the right of the Infocenter, close to Parking 1. Everywhere else your dog must be on a leash.

Can my dog swim in the ponds in Bokrijk? No. The estate’s police regulations forbid letting animals into ponds or streams, and also forbid swimming or entering the water in general.

Do I need to carry poop bags? Yes. Under the police regulations you must always carry something to pick up your dog’s waste while walking, and be able to show it if an authorised person asks.

Is there drinking water for dogs at the off-leash meadow? No, there is no drinking water at the off-leash meadow. Bring water and a collapsible bowl.

Can I still walk my dog in Bokrijk in the evening? The estate is open from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. Entry outside those hours is forbidden.