5 gift ideas for dads for Father’s Day

Here’s an interesting bit of trivia: if you live in Antwerp and are planning on celebrating Father’s Day this Sunday, you’re late. For one reason or another, Antwerp follows the Catholic Church and celebrates Father’s Day on Saint Joseph’s (as in Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ parents) Day on 19 March. 

But before you panic and send and e-card begging forgiveness, relax. If you’re anywhere else in Belgium, Father’s Day falls on the second Sunday of June, which happens to be coming up on the 14th.

If you’re still scrambling to find the right gift, we have a few suggestions. Of course, quality time is usually the best gift you can offer. Failing that, go with booze.

1. Self-care

While mom’s, wives, sisters and girlfriends so often receive days at the spa as gifts for special occasions, men are less frequently treated to the same luxury. But both genders can greatly enjoy and benefit from a little bit of relaxation and self-care.

The various Aspria clubs around the city have wellness centre that offer treatments specifically geared toward men. You can buy “spa days” packages and pick out the services you want to give your father from pick such as massages, facials and scrubs, or you could just give gift card and let him choose for himself. For non-members at Aspria, a 90-minute scrub and massage will cost around €125.

The beautiful Martin’s Hotel in Genval, just outside Brussels on the way to Wavre also provides a picturesque place for Dad to spend a day relaxing in their spa and thermal bathes. Their men’s day special includes 90 minutes of massage and

2. Wind and kite surfing

He’ll probably need a wetsuit, because the warm in Belgium never quite warms up to an agreeable temperature, but giving Dad lessons to wind or kite surf could be the perfect activity for an active father.

Surf & Kite Promotion runs surfing schools, training days and private lessons. There is also, apparently, a Vivabox you can buy that offers one 90-minute kite or wind surfing lesson for only €50 (or €30 if you’re a Vivabox member).

3. Wall climbing

Want Dad to reach new heights? Take him wall climbing. It’s a great way to spend a day together, solving “problems”, as a finding ways up routes are called in the climbing world, and depending on each other.

There are climbing gyms all over Belgium, including several in Brussels. Stadium Fitness in Saint-Jean-Molenbeek has one of the largest indoor walls in Belgium. There you can rent all the gear you need, including climbing shoes, and instructors are on hand for beginners to show you the ropes, literally.

4. Wine and spirits tasting

Of course, a relaxing day of du vin et du pain, sipping some spirits and eating some local treats, on the countryside can also be in order. Beer breweries aside, there are dozens of routes one could take for a day of wine and spirits tasting from Brussels. Get an early start and you can hit two of Belgium’s best vineyards plus a brandy distillery all within an hour’s drive of Brussels.

Start out heading east to Genoels-Elderen wine castle in Limburg. There you can take a morning stroll through the impressive castle grounds and taste the grapes of terroir that has been farmed for wine since Roman times.

Then cross the language border, heading southwest to the Domaine du Chenoy near Namur. Book ahead or join a group and winemaker Philippe Grafé  will give you a tour of his vineyards, along with tasting accompanied by bread, cheese and cured sausages.

End your day with a change of flavour by dropping into the Distillerie de Biercée to taste their famous eaux-de-vie Eau de Villée and brandy liqueurs.

5. Belgian Owl whiskey

And what if Dad doesn’t live in Belgium and you wish to send him a gift from afar? In that case, there’s always a bottle of Belgian Owl whiskey to say I love you.

This distillery based just outside Liège makes a handcrafted single malt that has been ranked the best single-cask whisky produced in continental Europe by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. It’s also won the Monde Selection Grand Gold award every year from 2010 to 2013. Made with exclusively Belgian products, this gift is as Belgian as it gets.

Photo courtesy ING Image