Birdwatching in Belgium: How to Start (and Where to Go)

Birdwatching is one of the easiest ways to see more of nature. You can do it anywhere: in your garden, in the park or in a nature reserve. You need very little, and the more you look, the more you discover. This guide will get you started.

What do you need?

Binoculars

This is the only real "equipment" you need. Binoculars have two numbers on them, for example 8x42:

• the first number is the magnification (8 times closer);
• the second is the diameter of the front lenses in millimetres. The bigger, the more light and the brighter the image, but also the heavier.

Advice for beginners:

• 8x is ideal in forests and at shorter distances: a wider view, making it easier to find a bird.
• 10x is handy in open landscapes, such as polders and by the water.
• No more than 10x: you can't hold that steady enough by hand.
• A solid mid-range pair is more than enough for a beginner. Try a few before you buy.

An app or bird guide

With the free ObsIdentify app you can have a photo of a bird identified. You can submit your sightings via waarnemingen.be (observation.org), contributing to research on birds in Belgium. A small paper field guide is handy when you don't have signal.

Clothes in natural colours

Birds see colours very well. Bright colours stand out; green, brown, grey and black much less so. Also choose clothing that doesn't rustle.

How to behave as a birdwatcher

• Be quiet and move calmly. Put your phone on silent.
• Keep your distance. If a bird flies off or stops feeding, you're too close.
• Leave your dog at home, or keep it on a lead where allowed.
• Use bird hides: you can see birds up close there without disturbing them.
• Stay on the paths, especially during the breeding season (spring and early summer).
• Go early: most birds are active at sunrise.

The best birding areas in Belgium

The Zwin (Knokke-Heist)

Belgium's best-known bird area, also called the "airport for migratory birds". Around 350 bird species have been recorded there. With hides, binoculars on stands and a visitor centre, it's an ideal place to start.

Uitkerkse Polder (Blankenberge)

Vast meadows and ditches, important for meadow birds. In winter, large flocks of geese arrive.

Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen (Ghent)

A nature reserve in the middle of the city, with many ducks in winter, such as wigeon, shoveler and pintail, and waders like the curlew.

Daknamse Meersen (Lochristi)

A good spot for the kingfisher, bluethroat, barn owl and stork.

Wijvenheide and Sint-Maartensheide (Limburg)

Heathland and ponds with herons, spoonbills, bitterns, several duck species and, with a lot of luck, a white-tailed eagle.

De Doode Bemde (Oud-Heverlee)

A valley with golden oriole, cuckoo and harriers, and you might also come across beavers.

Den Battelaer (Mechelen)

Nightingale, bluethroat and lapwing, right next to the city.

More tips are available from Natuurpunt.

Autumn: time for migration

In autumn, millions of birds migrate south over Belgium: finches, starlings, thrushes, geese, birds of prey… On a good morning you can see hundreds or even thousands of birds flying over.

On 3 and 4 October 2026, EuroBirdwatch takes place: migratory birds are counted in more than 35 European countries. Many local nature groups open their counting stations to the public. An ideal moment to watch alongside experienced birders and learn a lot.

5 birds that are easy to recognise as a beginner

1. Robin: small, with an orange breast. Often comes close when you're working in the garden.
2. Blackbird: the male is black with an orange beak, the female brown.
3. Grey heron: large grey bird that stands motionless by the water.
4. Common buzzard: the bird of prey you most often see sitting on a post along the motorway.
5. Kingfisher: small, bright blue and orange, and fast as an arrow. You often see it first as a blue flash above the water.

Frequently asked questions

Which binoculars are best for birdwatching?

For beginners, an 8x42 or 10x42 from the mid-range. 8x for forests, 10x for open landscapes.

When do you see the most birds?

Early in the morning. In spring you hear the most song; in autumn and winter you see the most migratory birds and winter visitors.

Where is the best birdwatching in Belgium?

The Zwin is the best-known place for beginners. The Uitkerkse Polder, the Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen, the Daknamse Meersen and the Limburg heathlands are also highly recommended.

For those who love to look up

Our Bird collection features birds that capture the imagination: the owl in Night Watch, the raven in Dark Raven, the diving falcon in Swift Dive and the eagle above the mountains in Iron Wing. In natural colours, so perfect for a morning in the hide.