Christmas Markets in Belgium Worth Visiting This Winter

Decked out in twinkling lights, sprinkled with Christmas trees, and punctuated with delicious food and beverages to keep you warm, visiting the Belgian Christmas markets is a perfect way to celebrate the season. Wherever you go, you’ll find handmade crafts, Christmas decorations, and local food items to take home alongside rides, games, and other fun activities. The variety of things to see and do at the Christmas markets in Belgium makes them fun for the whole family.

From Bruges to Liege, we have visited several times at Christmas to fit in as many markets as possible. The cities listed here are only a short train ride from Brussels, so it’s easy to go to several, even on a short trip. While there are common elements among them (for instance, every market must have gluhwein), each Christmas market also has something that makes it stand out from the rest. Here’s a look at some of our favorites.

In the first two sections, many vendors display their crafts, winter clothes, and Christmas decorations. There’s also plenty of food to eat on the spot and to take home. Seafood is popular in Bruges because of its location near the North Sea, so in addition to sweets and heartier fare, there is fried shrimp, snails, and shrimp croquettes. You can find many types of local cheeses, sausages, chocolate, and beer wrapped up as a gift for yourself (or someone else, of course, if you’re feeling generous).

In the surrounding streets and squares, the shops pull out all the stops for the holidays with beautifully decorated store fronts and lots of goodies packaged to take with you. Check out the Old Chocolate House, the Chocolate Line, and some of the other boutiques for wrapped boxes or delicious hot chocolates to warm you up.

In addition to the traditional markets, visitors will find the Winter Glow trail which illuminates different landmarks and spaces around the city. Maps and signs guide you from site to site, including to the ice-skating rink and bar at Minnewater.

You can easily visit the Christmas market in a couple of hours, so consider taking a little time to see the rest of this charming city. To cover a lot of ground, a canal cruise is one of the best ways to experience the wonder of Bruges, even in winter. The medieval homes and merchant buildings, statues, and hidden alleys take on a different look when you see them from the water. The 30-minute boat tours take you all over the city and the guides provide a brief history lesson.

If Belgian beer is your thing, take a trip to the only remaining brewery left in the Old Town—De Halve Maan Brewery. A guided tour lets you see how the 160-year-old brewery brings their famous Brugse Zot and other brews to life. If you don’t have time for a tour, check out the restaurant for lunch.

In the city center, more than 150 wooden stalls make up the Ghent Winter Festival (Gentse Winterfeesten). The vibe has a lot in common with the other Belgian Christmas markets, but it also has a distinctly international flare with a bit of Ghent’s signature hipness thrown in. We enjoyed some spicy South American hot chocolate, a drink at the pop up Chez Babette bar at the City Pavilion, and some absurdly good raclette. You won’t go hungry or lack for choice here.

If you’re looking for something that’s not related to eating or shopping, check out the rides at St. Bavo’s Cathedral and along the Korenmarkt. For something even more active, the new roller skating rink at the City Pavilion is great.

The market is fun during the day when crowds tend to be a little more manageable, but things really come alive at night. When the city’s monuments light up, they make a spectacular backdrop to the Christmas chalets serving waffles, genever, and everything else that’s good about Christmas in Belgium.

You don’t have to wander far from the Christmas market to see some of the other highlights in Ghent.

Throughout the city, there are large murals by well-known artists as well as smaller works by novice painters. Check out Werregarenstraat, the pedestrian street known as “graffiti alley,” which has been a haven for street art projects for over 20 years.

Another highlight is my favorite spot for stunning views–the belfry (belfort). The 14th-century structure is in the middle of Ghent’s three towers, so you’ll have fabulous views of St. Nicholas Church and the old center of Ghent on one side and St. Bavo on the other.

For even more history, the 12th-century Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen) is impossible to miss. With a moat and turrets, the imposing structure looms over the Lys River. At Christmastime, you’ll find it decorated for the season and can relax with some gluhwein in the café.

Just a few steps away on the other side of the Cathedral of Our Lady, Grote Markt hums with activity. On the square ringed by the old merchant houses and Antwerp City Hall, there are even more opportunities for buying handmade goods and artisanal Belgian foods. Check out the colorful lanterns, Christmas village decorations, and all the knitted scarves. Around Suikerrui, the lines of chalets and festive decorations continue.

Across all the squares, you’ll find more than 100 stalls with gifts, trinkets, and all manner of food and drink. We found some beautiful candles, embossed leather bags, and plenty of wine and cheese to take home with us. Grab some frites or try a crepe with Nutella or the local smoutebollen, an old-fashioned donut.

If you’re visiting for the Christmas market, it’s worth taking the time to explore some of the other things to do in Antwerp. In the city center, the 14th-century Cathedral of Our Lady is impossible to miss—you can see its 404-foot-tall spire from almost everywhere in the historic area. Inside, it is home to brilliant stained glass and several masterpieces by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens. Nearby, the Rubens Experience is open for visiting (his residence is closed for renovations).

A short walk from the heart of downtown, you’ll find the Red Star Line Museum. Much more than just the story of a cruise line, this museum tells the stories of some of the 2 million people who traveled from Antwerp to North America in search of a better life. There are many personal accounts of the reasons people left, the sacrifices they made, and what they took with them on their immigration journey to Ellis Island or other destinations.

There are technically five sections to the main Brussels Christmas market in downtown with other smaller markets happening in the neighborhoods throughout December. Over 2.5 million visitors fill the streets of Brussels city center each season to experience the festivities.

One of the most popular areas—Grand Place—doesn’t actually host a Christmas market at all. Instead, it’s the location of the fantastic light show that happens multiple times each evening. Brilliant colors crawl across the UNESCO-listed buildings of Brussels’ historic center square as crowds watch in awe and work to get photos of the fabulous spires and facades lit up. In the middle, is the city’s Christmas tree, a giant Norway Spruce.

For more information about the Brussels Christmas market, see our in-depth article.

Between the Bourse, Place Sainte-Catherine, and the Marché aux Poissons, you’ll find many of the 200+ stalls that make the markets such a fun experience. They are a carnival of crafts, Christmas ornaments, gifts, food and drink, and more.

By the time you reach the Marché aux Poissons, it’s hard to imagine that you’re still just scratching the surface of what Brussels has to offer at Christmas. There are so many vendors selling food, genever, gluhwein, and all the tasty seasonal treats. If you’re in the market for gifts or souvenirs of any type, this is the place to look.

Once you’re done shopping and eating your weight in Belgian chocolate, check out the carousel, get a bird’s eye view of the city from the Ferris wheel, or stop by the ice-skating rink at Place De Brouckère.

There are lots of other fun things to do when you visit Brussels for the Christmas markets.

The city’s top attraction is a 2-foot-tall statue of a peeing boy known as Manneken Pis. Originally made in 1619, he’s been replaced and refinished over the years and is as popular as ever. If you’re lucky, you just might see him dressed up for the season.

If you like pretty views, head to the top of the Mont des Arts. At the viewpoint adjacent to the Musical Instrument Museum, you can look out over the garden below and see the spire of Grand Place.

Just 20 minutes from Grand Place is one of the best places to try a lambic beer—Cantillon Brewery (aka Brasserie Cantillon). Take a self-guided tour through the 100-year-old working brewery and see how their unique brews come to life. The visit ends with a sampling (or more) of their famous gueuze and kriek lambics.

One of the oldest Christmas markets in Belgium, the Leuven Christmas market (Leuvense Kerstmarkt) has welcomed visitors for more than 30 years. Compared to markets in some of the other cities, it maintains a local, cozy feel while expanding to meet the demands of its popularity.

In addition to the market, you’ll find a winter garden in the beautiful Grote Markt, a food truck fiesta weekend, Christmas concerts, and a special candlelight program at the Beguinage.

Throughout the Leuven market, you can visit the unique boutiques and sample food from all over Europe. One of my favorite treats was some amazing mushrooms cooked with garlic and wine—so simple and so perfect.

There are spots to warm up around fireplaces and even an indoor bar for when it gets really cold. Kids will enjoy the old-fashioned carousel and sweet treats like waffles and sneeuwballen. Plus, they have a chance to meet Santa at his house in the center of Ladeuzeplein, which is next to a merry-go-round.

On some Thursday evenings you can head up the University Library tower to see the market from above. The library itself is interesting to visit, and the tower balcony is a great place from which to see the market lit up.

Venture beyond the Christmas market to see other highlights of the city.

The library of the Catholic University of Leuven is a main site. Though it has burned down twice, its neo-Flemish Renaissance exterior makes it look centuries old, so it fits in in the historic center. It is open for self-guided tours and its tower provides panoramic views of the city.

My favorite place is the main square, Grote Markt, which has existed in its current form since the 14th century. It’s fair to say that I developed a not-so-small obsession with the intricately carved façade of the city hall and the guild houses that ring the square. It’s particularly worth stopping here in the winter for a look at the unique winter garden. Grab a cup of Belgian hot chocolate and wander through the decorations at your leisure.

Just off of Grote Markt, you’ll find Oude Market. Originally build in 1150, it was home to a market for centuries. Today, it’s known as the longest bar in the world. In all seasons, it’s a meeting place where the terraces fill with people hanging out and enjoying some fine Belgian beer. During the winter season, you’ll find the apres-ski themed Moose Bar here.

The organization of the Christmas Village—which fills St. Lambert square and the Liège Market Square (Place du Marche)—is meant to mimic a real village. The wooden chalets form streets, and there is a town square, a post office, and a church, and the village even has aldermen and a mayor.

The Liege Christmas market has over 200 vendors. Some sell crafts, clothing, and decorations, but the focus here is heavily on food and drinks.

You’ll find regional specialties alongside international offerings—everything from Liege waffles to flammkuchen (thin crust pizza) to tapas. There are also lots of kiosks that are dedicated bars, so you’ll never run out of drink options whether you’re looking for standard gluhwien, Spanish Cava, or special Alsatian wines.

In addition to the food, you’ll find attractions like an ice-skating rink and a toboggan run. On the weekends, the atmosphere is enhanced by brass band parades, choirs, folk dance groups, and other performances and entertainers. Depending on the date, you may also find children’s activities such as face painting, crafts, and storytelling.

Many of Liege’s top attractions are close together in the city center and are worth visiting.

The brightly colored Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew with its twin towers dates from the end of the 11th century, making it one of the oldest buildings in town. In addition to its striking red and yellow designs on the exterior, the church has an impressive art collection inside. One of the most notable works is a large brass baptismal font dating from the 12th century, which features five baptism scenes in high relief.

Cutting right through the city center, the so-called Montagne de Bueren (Bueren Mountain) isn’t actually a mountain—it’s a workout. With 374 stairs, the passage was created as a way for soldiers to get from the hilltop to the city center without passing the bars and red light district along the way. You get a great view from the top, not to mention the sense of accomplishment from having survived the climb.

The Gothic-style Liege Cathedral dates from the 13th century. It boasts a magnificent altar and stained glass windows as well as medieval and Renaissance statues. Some of the most remarkable pieces, which are called the Cathedral’s treasures, are housed in the cloisters. Many of them originate from the city’s first cathedral that was destroyed during the Liege Revolution in 1789. They include paintings, stunning gold statues, relics, and other masterpieces.

Located in one sprawling city square at Kolonel Dusartplein, Winterland is themed around the Alps. Many of the food areas are modeled after cozy Austrian mountain retreats, and the impressive toboggan ride called La Suisse lets visitors race down a super high slide on a special bean bag.

The amount of food and drink options here feels endless. There are typical grill stands, genever bars, and mulled wine, and you’ll also find several indoor areas where you can escape the cold. Alongside the Belgian frites, Swiss raclette, pretzels, and pancakes, there are lots of international offerings ranging from churros to stir fry. There were so many delicious options that we found it hard to choose.

Kids and teenagers will particularly enjoy this market thanks to all the rides. You’ll find a gigantic Ferris wheel, a Christmas train for young children, and several thrill rides. There is also a haunted attraction called Santa’s Ghost Villa that was quite a surprise. One of the biggest draws is the 1000-square-meter covered ice skating rink. For something a little calmer, kids can visit Santa every day beginning on December 7.

About 50 merchants bring crafts, food items, and other merchandise to sell. There are lots of Christmas decorations and gifts, but shopping isn’t the focus here. If you’re looking for more traditional markets, the spectacular cave market in Valkenburg is only 45 minutes away, and the Aachen Christmas market is an hour away.

Rows of vendors fill the Place d’Armes and spill over to the Place de l’Ange. Among them, you’ll find a wide range of seasonal products, decorations, and gifts of all kinds. From leather goods to perfume and candy, there is a lot to see.

One of the interesting aspects of the Namur market is the chance to talk with the artisans who are selling their handmade products. We chatted with a soap maker, a distiller, and a woodworker who were all eager to tell us more about their process and their products. It’s fun to see people’s passion for their work, and it’s nice to have an opportunity to support craftsmen rather than buying more mass produced items.

The squares are filled with food and drink vendors, including several large indoor areas. Many locals use days with nice weather to eat lunch at the market, so it may be bursting with activity at unexpected times, which adds to the atmosphere.  You’ll frequently find folk groups, brass bands, and choirs performing.

Don’t miss the skating area, which is popular every year. Depending on the energy situation, it has been both an ice skating and a roller-skating rink. This year, the ice is back and admission is €5 for kids and €8 for adults. Nearby at Place du Theatre a 130-foot-high Ferris wheel welcomes riders from November 15, 2024 to January 5, 2025.

What to eat

Eating and drinking is a key part of the fun. Look out for these treats as you make your way through the aisles of chalets.

Tartiflette – A warm and hearty dish, tartiflette is made in giant skillets with potatoes, cheese, lardons, onions, and white wine. It’s delicious and is sure to warm you up.

Gluhwein/Vin chaud – The most popular drink at the Christmas markets is gluhwein. Hot mulled wine infused with spices like cinnamon and cloves, it’s the perfect drink to have as you shop.

Raclette – Raclette is all about cheesy goodness. A half-wheel of cheese is warmed under a heating unit until it’s melted. It’s then scraped off onto bread and served with cornichons, pickled onions, and sometimes cold cuts.

Genever – Genever is a juniper flavored spirit similar to gin. It’s a combination of neutral alcohol and malted wine and is available in dozens of flavors.

Sneeuwballen – Sneeuwballen are a regional product that you’ll find particularly in Ghent. Literally meaning “snowball,” the round candy balls are coated with chocolate and icing sugar.

Peket – Peket, which you’re most likely to come across in Liege, is another tasty tipple of the season. It’s a fruit brandy flavored with juniper berries, but it’s available in numerous kinds of fruit and sweet varieties like lemon, apple, chocolate, cinnamon, and more.

Tips for visiting the markets

Weekends are the most crowded, so avoid them, if you can.

Keep an eye on your belongings, especially if you’re carrying shopping bags—it’s easy for things to go missing in crowded places.

We found credit cards to be widely accepted across all types of vendors, but it’s always a good idea to have some cash, just in case.

One of our visits to the Brussels market fell on Christmas Eve. The market was much less crowded then than it was on Christmas Day when it seemed like the whole city had piled into the streets to enjoy the festivities.