Experience Unique Camping with Teardrop-Shaped Tents in Belgium

This is not your average campsite. For those who dislike the discomfort of sleeping on cold, hard ground, staying in a treehouse can be an excellent alternative. Moreover, for many Belgians, this small camping ground, called Tranendreef, offers the ideal setting for a summer night.

Discover Borgloon, Limburg: A Campground Like No Other

Located in Borgloon, Limburg, Belgium, campers can enjoy a unique overnight experience in four distinctly shaped tents that are suspended from trees. The tents, resembling teardrops, were initially created as an art installation but have since become a notable tourist attraction since their arrival in 2011.

Art and Nature Unite

Artist Dré Wapenaar originally created the tents in the 1990s as part of the Pit Landscape art festival in Belgium, which showcases the intersection of art and nature. The artwork promotes environmental activism, particularly against tree felling. Furthermore, Dré Wapenaar has other tent structures worldwide, including locations in Bornem, the U.S., France, and the Netherlands.

Due to the limited number of tents, they tend to get reserved quickly. “The tents are fully booked every summer, but this year, the bookings went much faster. If we had more tents, they would also be taken every day of July and August,” said Katrien Houbey, head of tourism for Borgloon.

Escape to Nature: Ideal for Belgians and Adventurous Travelers

Even though lockdown measures are easing throughout Europe, many Belgians are seeking travel opportunities within their own country—making these tents an exceptional choice for a summer getaway. Dré Wapenaar remarked, “My tents are too expensive to produce (commercially); if I wanted to sell many of them, I should have designed them differently.”

Comfortable Camping with Amenities

The tents are accessible via a ladder and include a mattress suitable for two people, along with a bench, small storage areas, and a window for gazing out into the forest and starry night sky. Additionally, outside the tents, guests can find a bathroom and barbecue facilities.

Staying in one of these unique tents costs 70 euros (approximately $83 USD), offering an affordable and socially-distanced vacation option—if you manage to secure a booking.

To learn more about the campsite and its offerings, visit the Limburg Tourism website.