Car & Van Hire - Zaventem

Though often overlooked in favour of its larger neighbour – the Belgian capital, Brussels – Zaventem is well worth a visit in its own right. Occupied since the Neolithic era, this historic town has plenty that will entertain and delight.

A great place to start your explorations is the De Veste Museum. Following the town's evolution from agricultural to industrial community, you'll be able to see historic threshing machines, ploughs and transportation devices, as well as machines for harvesting chicory, a signature vegetable of Belgium. The building itself is part of the story – it was constructed in 1957 in the style of a 17th-century house, then converted from storage in the 1970s to the museum you see today.

Fancy a bit of aristocratic wonder? Check out Mariadal Castle. Built in the 19th century on the former property of the Duke of Brabant, fragments of the earlier buildings remain. Set in the town's largest municipal park, the castle has been used over the years as a school, hotel and community centre. With a fish pond and municipal pool on the grounds, as well as plenty of eateries nearby, the park is a great day out for the whole family.

For those who want a more serene experience, the Church of Saint Martin really shouldn't be missed. Located on Kirkplein, the original Romanesque architecture was converted to a Gothic style in the 16th century, and tours are available to walk you through the history. Most notable about the church is Van Dyck's masterpiece "Sint-Martinus Divides his Cloak", which was donated to the parish by the Chancellor of Brabant, Ferdinand van Boisschot, in 1621. Taken by the French government in 1794, it was eventually returned to Saint Martin's in 1816 and has hung there ever since.

With a car hire in Zaventem, however, you can easily go further afield. Delight the kids and take a day trip to the capital to visit the Chocolate Museum. Less than 30 minutes away via the E40, as well as learning about the history of this versatile bean, you can even make a treat for yourselves in a workshop! While you're there, be sure to make the 10-minute drive to the Musee du Jouet. With 25,000 toys on display – from antique dolls to vintage vehicles – there's sure to be a favourite for every age.

Finally, for wannabe pilots of all ages, a visit to Brussels Flight Simulators is a must. You'll find it just south of the airport. Here you can try your hand at flying everything from fighter jets to jumbos!

The R0, or Brussels Ring as it is usually known, is the main ring road surrounding Brussels. At 75km, it covers a lot of ground and is a useful way to circumvent the city's more congested core. Zaventem is located just a stone's throw from the R0, so it offers the main means of access to other areas in the region as well as more distant destinations.

Driving in Belgium is generally a breeze. While streets in urban areas can be narrow, roads are well-maintained, and signposts are plentiful. What you will need to bear in mind is cyclists. Increasingly a destination for cycling tourism, nearly 50% of the population use it as their main form of transport in cities and towns. That means you need to keep an eye out at junctions and when turning – there may or may not be a dedicated cycle lane, but it's still illegal to pass within 1 metre when overtaking, as is driving outside of marked roads and tracks.

When driving a car or van hire in Zaventem itself, there are no significant pedestrianised areas, but you should always stick to the speed limits: 30 km/h in residential zones, 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h in the outskirts, and 120 km/h on motorways. Breaking the limit by even 1 km/h can get you a fine, with amounts increasing depending on where you are and how much you're going over the limit if caught.

You'll find a good selection of car parks and on-street parking in designated bays, and payment is by meters. You can usually get 30 minutes free, but you'll still need a ticket. After that, prices are per 15-minute period, up to a maximum of 9 hours. If you're paying with coins, note that the meters do not give change. However, you may also pay with bank cards.

One final note of caution: Belgian drivers have a habit of tail-gating, so be sure to keep your distance on motorways and in fast-moving traffic.