Search
Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
AustriaBelgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Canada
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican RepublicTurkey
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Popular festival · Brussels
From late November to early January, the Plaisirs d'Hiver spread Christmas chalets, a Ferris wheel, an ice rink and lights across central Brussels, from Place Sainte-Catherine to the Grand-Place.
In the photo: Brussels
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Click a photo to enlarge it.
Brussels Christmas Market — Brussels
From late November to early January, for about five weeks.
November/December/January
Dates change every year: check this year's date before you travel.
The festival
The Plaisirs d'Hiver, also called Winterpret in Flemish and Winter Wonders in English, are the year-end festivities in central Brussels. For about five weeks, between late November and early January, hundreds of wooden chalets fill several squares, along a route that is travelled on foot.
The heart of the market is at Place Sainte-Catherine and the Vismet, the old fish market, where the food stalls, the Ferris wheel and many of the chalets are concentrated. From there the route continues via Place de la Bourse, Place De Brouckère and Place de la Monnaie. On the Grand-Place you’ll find the large Christmas tree, a nativity scene and a light-and-sound show projected onto the façades, repeated several times each night.
Beyond crafts and gift shopping, there is an ice rink, carousels, concerts and entertainment. Each edition features a guest region or country with its own space along the route.
For visitors to Belgium in December, the Plaisirs d'Hiver are a way to see Brussels lit up, with the smell of mulled wine and waffles in the air.
The night light-and-sound show at the Grand-Place. The Ferris wheel and the food stalls at Place Sainte-Catherine. Walking the full route at dusk.
The market is most enjoyable at night when the lights come on; it gets very crowded on weekends. From Brussels-Central station you can walk everywhere, or use De Brouckère and Sainte-Catherine metro stations. Dress warmly: December in Brussels is usually cold and damp.
Mulled wine, Brussels and Liège waffles, croustillons (fried doughnuts dusted with sugar), fries, cheeses, sausages and hot chocolate at the stalls.
December weekends are in high demand; the earlier you book your hotel, the more options you’ll have near the squares. Opening hours change on December 24 and 31; check the event website.
In the city
Flavors of Belgium
Rectangular waffle, light and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, served dusted with confectioners' sugar. It is the first specialty presented by Brussels official tourism and appears in Flemish paintings related to celebrations.
Chocolate bonbon with a soft filling, such as ganache, praliné or cream. According to the inventory of intangible heritage of Brussels, the first modern praline was created in 1912 by Jean Neuhaus Jr. in the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert; the protective box, the ballotin, appeared three years later.
November/December/January
Your questions
From late November to early January, for about five weeks, opening on a Friday.
In several squares in the city centre, mainly Place Sainte-Catherine and the Vismet, as well as the Bourse, Place De Brouckère and Place de la Monnaie. The Christmas tree is on the Grand-Place.
Festivals and events in Belgium
February/MarchFrom Carnival Sunday to Shrove Tuesday, the three days before Ash Wednesday, in February or March depending on the date of Easter.
The Binche carnival, in the province of Hainaut, culminates on Shrove Tuesday with the Gilles, figures wearing wax masks and ostrich-feather hats who dance through the streets to the sound of drums and throw oranges to the crowd.
February/MarchFrom Saturday to midnight on Fat Tuesday, before the start of Lent, in February or March, depending on the date of Easter.
The Cwarmê is Malmedy’s carnival, in the Ardennes: four days when masked figures such as the Haguètes take to the streets, everything is spoken and sung in Walloon, up to the burning of the Haguète on the final night.
March/AprilOn Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter, in March or early April; from Saturday to Monday.
Three weeks before Easter, Stavelot celebrates Laetare with the Blancs Moussis, figures dressed in white with long red-nosed masks who go through the town throwing confetti at the crowd.
May/JuneOn the weekend of the Holy Trinity, the Sunday after Pentecost, between May and June, depending on the date of Easter.
On Trinity weekend, Mons carries the relic of Saint Waltrude on a gilded carriage through the streets and stages the Lumeçon, Saint George’s fight with the dragon, on the Grand-Place.
MayEvery three years, on the second Sunday in May. · Every three years
Every three years, on the second Sunday in May, Ypres celebrates cats with the Kattenstoet, a parade of floats, giants and costumes that culminates with the town jester throwing stuffed cats from the Lakenhalle bell tower.
May/JuneOn Ascension Day, a Thursday forty days after Easter, in May or early June.
On Ascension Day, the relic of the Holy Blood is carried out of the basilica on Burg Square and processes through Bruges’ medieval centre in a parade with biblical scenes, singing, music and horses, an intangible UNESCO heritage event.
