20 Christmas Markets in Belgium 2026-2027: Dates & Locations

Jump to a market: Brussels · Bruges · Antwerp · Ghent · Liege · Leuven · Hasselt · Ostend · Namur · Ypres · Mechelen · Mons · Tournai · Dinant · Kortrijk · Durbuy · Aalst · Charleroi · Lier · Louvain-la-Neuve

Yes, Belgium has Christmas markets in nearly every city and town, and this guide covers all 20 of them for the 2026-2027 season, from the country’s largest events in Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent to smaller town markets in Hasselt, Ypres, Kortrijk, Durbuy, Tournai, Lier and Aalst that do not have their own guide on this site yet. We checked each market’s own tourism office or city website in September 2026 for its 2026 opening and closing dates. Where a city had not yet published its dates at that point, we say so plainly and give the market’s usual timing instead of guessing, and those markets are marked “not yet announced” in the table below and again in their own section, so you can see at a glance which dates to double-check before you book.

All 20 Belgian Christmas markets at a glance

The table below answers the two questions most readers ask first: when does each market run in 2026, and where in Belgium is it. Markets marked “not yet announced” are confirmed to be returning; only the exact 2026 calendar dates were still unpublished when we checked in September 2026.

Of the 20 markets in this guide, 11 sit in Flanders, eight are in Wallonia and one, Brussels, has its own Brussels-Capital Region, so a Christmas market is rarely more than an hour’s train ride away regardless of which half of Belgium you are visiting.

Planning your Belgium Christmas markets trip

Most Belgian Christmas markets sit inside a compact old town, so a single hotel base and Belgium’s dense train network cover several markets on one trip. Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Liege all have their markets a short walk from the main train station, and SNCB/NMBS trains connect all of them in under two hours. Compare flights into Brussels, Antwerp or Charleroi airport first when flying in, since Charleroi’s budget airport sits close to both the Charleroi and Mons markets. International visitors arriving from Paris, London or Amsterdam can take the Eurostar high-speed line straight into Brussels. For a place to stay near any of the markets below, search hotels in Belgium here. Compare car rental rates in Belgium before you go when driving between the smaller Ardennes markets such as Durbuy and Dinant, where trains run less often, and check city parking options for Antwerp and Ghent, where the market squares are car-free.

Belgium’s Christmas markets run through the coldest, darkest weeks of the year, so pack for standing outdoors after dark: warm layers, a hat and gloves, and waterproof shoes matter more than a heavy coat alone, since most market evenings involve walking between several squares. Bring a reusable insulated cup if you plan to buy several rounds of mulled wine or hot chocolate, since some markets charge a small deposit on the cup.

We rechecked every market’s own tourism or municipal page in September 2026 rather than relying on last year’s dates, and we name the source for every confirmed date in the sections below. Several smaller cities had not yet published their 2026 calendar at the time of writing; for those, we say so directly and give the market’s usual timing instead of a guessed date, and each one carries the same “not yet announced” note in its own section below, so you know exactly which dates to double-check before you travel. Where a city had not confirmed its 2026 dates, we looked at its two most recent seasons to describe the pattern it usually follows, such as which week of November or December it tends to open and whether it usually runs past New Year, rather than inventing a specific day. That is why several entries below read “usually late November to early January” instead of an exact date: it reflects a genuine gap in what each city had published when we checked, not a guess dressed up as a fact.

Weekday afternoons are generally quieter than weekend evenings at every market in this guide, and visiting in the first couple of weeks after a market opens tends to be calmer than the final run-up to Christmas itself, when local shoppers and school groups add to the usual visitor numbers.

1. Brussels Christmas Market

The Brussels Christmas Market, branded Winter Wonders (Plaisirs d’Hiver), runs from Friday, 27 November 2026 to Sunday, 3 January 2027, according to the City of Brussels and the market’s own site. The market fills the Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, and a chain of squares through the historic centre, including Place de la Monnaie, the Bourse, Place Sainte-Catherine, the Marché aux Poissons (Vismet) and Place de Brouckère, covering roughly 2 km (1.2 miles) of squares and streets in total. Brussels’ Christmas tree and nativity scene stand on the Grand-Place, and the market’s evening sound-and-light show plays on the Bourse facade. Visitors can browse wooden chalets selling Belgian waffles, chocolate, fries, mulled wine and fondue sandwiches along the full stretch between the squares.

Winter Wonders is the country’s biggest Christmas market by the ground it covers, spanning the centre of the capital rather than a single square. Brussels also hosts the European Union’s main institutions, and its Christmas market regularly draws visitors combining a market trip with sightseeing in the EU quarter. For the full list of chalets, the ice rink and the Ferris wheel at Marché aux Poissons, see our dedicated Brussels Christmas Market guide, which we update separately for 2026.

2. Bruges Christmas Market

The Bruges Christmas Market runs from Friday, 20 November 2026 to Sunday, 3 January 2027, as part of the city’s “Winter Glow” season, according to Visit Bruges. The wider Winter Glow programme, which adds light installations and an ice rink, continues to 14 February 2027, but the two Christmas markets themselves close on 3 January. The market sits on two squares: the Markt, where wooden chalets sell classic Christmas items and local food around the main Christmas tree and ice rink, and Simon Stevinplein, a quieter market with crafts and games for children. Visit Bruges says the 2026 edition adds two new features to the wider Winter Glow programme: a winter-themed legend created for the city and a new light-and-music spectacle, on top of the returning Christmas markets.

Bruges’ medieval Markt gives its Christmas market one of the most photographed backdrops in Belgium, and the canals a short walk away, part of why the city is nicknamed the “Venice of the North,” stay lit for the full Winter Glow season. For opening hours, the ice rink and the rest of the Winter Glow trail, see our Bruges Christmas Market guide, and our broader Bruges guide for where to stay nearby.

3. Antwerp Christmas Market

The Antwerp Christmas Market, branded Winter in Antwerpen, runs from Friday, 4 December 2026 to Sunday, 3 January 2027, confirmed by the City of Antwerp. The market is centred on Grote Markt and Groenplaats in the historic centre; recent editions have also used Handschoenmarkt, Steenplein, Suikerrui and Hendrik Conscienceplein, though the full 2026 layout was not yet published when we checked, so treat the exact square list beyond Grote Markt and Groenplaats as provisional. Winter in Antwerpen drew over 1.5 million visitors last season, making it the largest Christmas market in Flanders by attendance, per the city’s own figures.

The market closes with a fireworks display on 31 December 2026 and a free New Year’s drink for residents on 3 January 2027. The Cathedral of Our Lady and the Rubens House both sit within walking distance of Grote Markt, so the market is easy to combine with a few hours of sightseeing, and Antwerp’s diamond district, one of the largest in the world, is a short walk from the market near Antwerp-Centraal station. For the ice rink, the JOE X-mas House and the rest of the programme, see our Antwerp Christmas Market guide and our Antwerp city guide for more to see beyond the market.

4. Ghent Christmas Market

The Ghent Christmas Market, known as the Gentse Winterfeesten, runs from Thursday, 3 December 2026 to Sunday, 3 January 2027, per Visit Gent and the festival’s own site. From 2026 onward the festival no longer stops on 31 December; it now runs to the last Sunday of the Christmas school holidays instead, which is why the 2026 edition extends into January. More than 150 wooden chalets spread across Sint-Baafsplein, Botermarkt, Klein Turkije, Korenmarkt and several connecting squares in the historic centre, with an ice rink under the Stadshal and a Ferris wheel giving views over Ghent’s towers. Admission to the festival is free.

Ghent’s Christmas market is one of the largest in the country by chalet count, and its walking route links most of the city’s medieval landmarks in one loop, including the Belfry of Ghent, which is part of the UNESCO-listed Belfries of Belgium and France, and the nearby view of the Belfry, St Bavo’s Cathedral and St Nicholas’ Church lined up together, often called Ghent’s “three towers” view. For the food stalls, the Winter Forest and the rest of the programme, see our Ghent Christmas Market guide and our Ghent guide for the rest of the city.

5. Liege Christmas Market

The Liege Christmas Market, the Village de Noel, had not published its 2026-2027 dates on the official villagedenoel.be or visitezliege.be sites when we checked in September 2026. Its most recent confirmed edition ran from Friday, 28 November 2025 to Saturday, 3 January 2026, and the market is billed by its own organisers as Belgium’s oldest, with roughly 38 editions behind it. Expect the 2026 run to open in late November and close in early January again, but treat that as our closest estimate rather than a confirmed date until the city publishes its programme.

The market spreads from the esplanade in front of the Opera through Place Saint-Lambert to the Place du Marche, with around 200 chalets from Walloon artisans and a large ice rink. Liege-Guillemins station, the glass-and-steel terminal designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, is a short walk or tram ride from the market, making Liege one of the easiest markets on this list to reach by train from Brussels, Maastricht or Cologne. Liege is nicknamed “La Cite Ardente” (the fiery city) for its history of resistance and industry, and that same spirited character shows up in the market’s cultural programme. For the theatre programme, the food stalls and confirmed dates once they land, see our Liege Christmas Market guide and our guide to Liege province.

6. Leuven Christmas Market

The Leuven Christmas Market had not posted official 2026 dates on visitleuven.be at the time of writing, though the site still displayed its closed 2025-26 season. Several independent travel sites report the 2026 edition running from Thursday, 3 December to Sunday, 20 December 2026, as part of the city’s wider “Wintertijd” (Winter Time) programme; we have not been able to confirm those dates on an official page, so treat them as reported rather than certain and check back closer to your trip. The market sits on Ladeuzeplein (Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein) and Herbert Hooverplein in the city centre, next to Leuven’s Town Hall and University Library.

Leuven’s market is smaller and cosier than the markets in Brussels or Antwerp, with a light trail and food festival running alongside it as part of Wintertijd. Leuven is a university town, and the market sits a short walk from the Oude Markt, a square lined with cafes and bars that locals call “the longest bar in Europe.” For details on the light installations and full opening hours, see our Leuven Christmas Market guide and our Leuven city guide.

7. Hasselt Christmas Market

The Hasselt Christmas Market, branded Winterland Hasselt, is confirmed to run from Friday, 13 November 2026 to Sunday, 3 January 2027, according to the city’s own UiT event listing. Winterland is set on Kolonel Dusartplein, a large square in the city centre, and it is one of Belgium’s bigger winter events, with a covered ice rink, a giant Ferris wheel, a Grand Carrousel, an Alpine-style Almhutte and a mirror tent alongside dozens of market chalets.

Hasselt calls itself Belgium’s “jenever city,” and Winterland leans into that with dedicated jenever bars next to the more usual glühwein and hot chocolate stands; food stalls also serve bratwurst, fries and churros. The market is a short walk from Hasselt railway station, and De Lijn runs a free shuttle bus, the Boulevardpendel, from the station to a stop right by Kolonel Dusartplein in around eight minutes, which is worth using if you are visiting straight off a train. Because Hasselt has no dedicated Wonderful Wanderings city guide yet, this market has no page of its own on the site beyond this entry, so bookmark this section if you plan to return. If you are coming from further afield, compare trains and buses across Belgium and Europe here to reach Hasselt station.

8. Ostend Christmas Market

The Ostend Christmas Market has a new organiser for the coming seasons: the City of Ostend awarded a five-year contract to run “Winter in Oostende” to Polar Bear Company in July 2026, confirming the market is returning, though exact 2026 opening and closing dates had not been published when we checked. Recent editions ran from late November to early January, and that pattern is the most reliable guide until the new organiser confirms 2026 dates. The market itself is set up on Wapenplein in the city centre, with a new family square and ice rink planned for Sint-Petrus- en Paulusplein for the 2026-27 season; the previous Leopold Park edition of the market was discontinued for the 2025-26 season, so do not expect chalets there this year.

Ostend’s market sits closest to the Belgian coast of any on this list, a short walk from the beach and the Kursaal, and it is easy to combine with a ride on the Kusttram, the coastal tram line that runs the length of the Belgian coast and is often cited as the longest tram line in the world. For opening hours and the ice rink once they are confirmed, see our Ostend Christmas Market guide and our Ostend guide for the rest of the coast.

9. Namur Christmas Market

The Namur Christmas Market had not published confirmed 2026 dates when we checked; its most recent edition ran from Friday, 28 November 2025 to Sunday, 4 January 2026, per the City of Namur, and a similar late-November-to-early-January window is the closest estimate for 2026. The market runs across Place d’Armes and Place de l’Ange with around 70 chalets from local artisans, and the 2025-26 edition added ice sculptures on Place du Theatre and a new “Village gourmand des Commerçants” on Place Maurice Servais; whether those extras return in 2026 is unconfirmed.

Namur’s Citadel and the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers sit a short walk from the market squares, making it an easy add-on to a Dinant day trip, and a cable car connects the lower town to the Citadel for anyone who wants the view over both rivers without the uphill walk. Namur is also the capital of Wallonia, so its market tends to draw a strong regional crowd from across the French-speaking south of the country in addition to day-trippers from Brussels. For the ice rink and full programme, see our Namur Christmas Market guide and our guide to Namur province.

10. Ypres Christmas Market

The Ypres (Ieper) Christmas Market had not published its 2026-27 dates on the city’s tourism site when we checked; the most recently confirmed edition ran from Friday, 28 November 2025 to Sunday, 4 January 2026, and that late-November-to-early-January pattern is the most reliable guide for 2026 until the city confirms otherwise. The market is set on the Grote Markt, the main square in the centre of Ypres, surrounded by the rebuilt Cloth Hall and Belfry. Its most recent edition included a covered ice rink and a large Christmas tree; the ice rink charges an entry fee, while browsing the chalets is free.

This entry gives the fullest coverage of the Ypres Christmas Market on the site because Ypres has no dedicated Wonderful Wanderings guide yet. Ypres railway station is about a 10-minute walk from Grote Markt, making the market an easy stop for visitors who are also seeing the In Flanders Fields Museum or the Menin Gate the same day. Evening light-and-sound shows have played across the Cloth Hall and Belfry facades in past seasons, and local stalls sell Belgian waffles, Glühwein, stoverij (Flemish beef stew) and Oliebollen. The Cloth Hall itself was rebuilt after the First World War using the original medieval plans, and its carillon rings out over the market chalets below on the hour throughout the season. Omio is a useful way to compare routes and times for travelling on to Ypres by train from elsewhere in Belgium.

11. Mechelen Christmas Market

The Mechelen Christmas Market had not published confirmed 2026 dates when we checked; the city’s own event page said only that the market “is coming back” with an exact date to follow. Mechelen’s market typically runs across two or three weekends in the second half of November and December, centred on Vismarkt with connecting activity on Haverwerf, Korenmarkt and Onder-den-Toren, all within the old town near St Rumbold’s Cathedral.

Mechelen’s market keeps a medieval, small-town feel compared with the bigger markets in Antwerp or Brussels, with an outdoor ice rink at Vismarkt as its main draw. St Rumbold’s Tower, part of the UNESCO-listed Belfries of Belgium and France, rises over the old town a short walk from the market squares. Mechelen sits roughly halfway between Brussels and Antwerp on the main rail line, which makes it an easy stop to add to a day trip between the two bigger cities rather than a separate overnight visit. For confirmed dates once they land and the full attractions list, see our Mechelen Christmas Market guide and our things to do in Mechelen guide for the rest of the city.

12. Mons Christmas Market

The Mons Christmas Market, Mons Coeur en Neige, had not published confirmed 2026 dates when we checked; its 2025 edition ran from 6 to 31 December on the Grand-Place and Marché aux Herbes, with the Place Leopold ice rink and market running a little longer into early January. The market fills three squares in the historic centre: the Grand-Place, with around 50 chalets and a carousel; Marché aux Herbes, with a lit-up bar and wooden stalls; and Place Leopold, home to the indoor ice rink.

Mons’ UNESCO-listed belfry and Gothic town hall overlook the Grand-Place market, and a “petit train féérique” (magical little train), free to ride and accessible to visitors with mobility difficulties, connects all three squares on certain dates. For the ice rink prices and full programme once confirmed, see our Mons Christmas Market guide and our Mons city guide for more of the city.

13. Tournai Christmas Market

The Tournai Christmas Market, branded Tournai d’Hiver, had not published confirmed 2026 dates when we checked, though the city confirmed the market is returning for what will be its 35th edition. Recent seasons opened in the first week of December and ran to around 28-31 December. The market spans three linked spaces in the historic centre: an ice rink on the Grand’Place, outdoor chalets on Place de Gaulle, and an indoor market with more than 70 artisans inside the historic Halle aux Draps (Cloth Hall).

Tournai’s Belfry, built in 1188, is the oldest in Belgium and anchors the UNESCO-listed Belfries of Belgium and France, and it rings out over the Grand’Place ice rink throughout the market season. Because Tournai has no dedicated Wonderful Wanderings guide yet, this entry carries the fullest coverage of the market on the site. Tournai’s own railway station is a short walk or taxi ride from the Grand’Place, and the market’s night walks and carillon concerts from the Belfry are worth timing your visit around. Regional specialities sold nearby include tarte au sucre (sugar pie), carbonnade flamande (beef and beer stew) and speculoos, cougnou and pain d’epices at Christmas. If you are driving in from elsewhere in Wallonia, compare car rental options here, and search hotels near the Grand’Place if you want to stay overnight for the evening illuminations.

14. Dinant Christmas Market

Dinant’s Christmas market picture has changed since older guides described one large central event: the town’s own listings now show several smaller, separately run markets rather than a single market with hundreds of stalls, and none of them had confirmed 2026 dates when we checked. The main Syndicat d’Initiative market has recently run along La Croisette by the Meuse, while a separate “Marché de Noël de Leffe” has used Place Cardinal Mercier and a gourmet market has used the Esplanade Princesse Elisabeth in past seasons; which of these run in 2026, and on what dates, is unconfirmed, so treat any specific date you see elsewhere for Dinant with caution until the town publishes its 2026 programme.

Dinant’s setting is still the draw regardless of exactly which market runs where: the Citadel and the bulbous-towered Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame overlook the Meuse, and chalets typically sell local specialities such as couque de Dinant, a hard honey biscuit that is the town’s signature treat. Dinant is also the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, and a large saxophone statue on the riverside promenade is a common photo stop before or after visiting the market. For the confirmed 2026 dates and layout once published, see our Dinant Christmas Market guide, and consider renting a car if you are combining Dinant with other Ardennes towns such as Durbuy on the same trip.

15. Kortrijk Christmas Market

The Kortrijk Christmas Market, branded Winter in Kortrijk, is confirmed to run from Thursday, 3 December 2026 to Sunday, 3 January 2027, according to the city’s own newsroom announcement. The market and its linked winter programme spread across the Grote Markt, home to the main Christmas tree and market chalets; Schouwburgplein, with a Ferris wheel and funfair rides; Sint-Maartenskerkhofplein, a covered “winter garden” for drinks and concerts; and an illuminated evening walking route linking Begijnhofpark and the Buda park and island. The city says more than 1,000 Christmas trees and 1.3 million lights decorate the centre for the season.

This entry gives the fullest coverage of the Kortrijk Christmas Market on the site because Kortrijk has no dedicated Wonderful Wanderings guide yet. Kortrijk’s own railway station is about a six-minute walk from the Grote Markt, making the market one of the easiest on this list to reach by train. Compare train and bus routes into Kortrijk for visitors coming from Brussels, Ghent or the coast, and search hotels near the centre to stay for the evening illuminations along Buda island.

16. Durbuy Christmas Market

The Durbuy Christmas Market is confirmed to be returning for 2026, though the exact dates carried different levels of confidence across sources when we checked: the regional Visit Wallonia listing says only that the event is “planned between December 2026 and January 2027” and notes the dates may change, while the market’s own local organiser reports specific dates of Friday, 20 November 2026 to Saturday, 3 January 2027. We treat the specific dates as reported rather than fully confirmed until the regional listing catches up, so check again closer to your trip. The market is set on Place aux Foires, Durbuy’s central square, and in the adjoining Parc Roi Baudouin, where an indoor ice rink sits at the far end of the park.

Durbuy’s own tourism office markets the town as one of the smallest in the world, a promotional claim rather than an official ranking, but its narrow old-town lanes genuinely do give the market an intimate feel compared with the big-city events in Brussels or Antwerp, with lights and craft chalets lining streets alongside the main square and park market. A recurring food speciality at the market is “Patate au Foie Gras,” a baked potato topped with foie gras, alongside the usual waffles and mulled wine. Durbuy itself has no railway station; the nearest is Barvaux-sur-Ourthe, about 3.9 km away, with a roughly 10-minute onward bus connection into town. Because Durbuy has no dedicated Wonderful Wanderings guide yet, this entry is the fullest coverage of the market on the site. Given the limited public transport, comparing car rental options is worth doing if Durbuy is on your itinerary.

17. Aalst Christmas Market

Aalst’s December Christmas market is a different event from the “Aalst Winterfoor,” and it is worth being clear about that distinction before you plan a visit: Winterfoor is a funfair tied to Aalst Carnival that runs in February (6-22 February 2026, according to the City of Aalst), not a Christmas market at all, and describing it as a winter Christmas fair, as older guides have, sends visitors to the wrong event at the wrong time of year. The actual Christmas-season event, branded “Kerst in Aalst” or “[Over]Winteren,” is confirmed to run into early January 2027, closing on Sunday, 3 January 2027; the city’s own pages disagreed on the exact opening date when we checked, giving either 4 or 11 December 2026, so treat the opening date as unconfirmed until the city aligns its own listings, and expect the market to be open by mid-December at the latest.

Kerst in Aalst is set on the Grote Markt, with a Christmas tree, carousel and a 200-square-metre Austrian-style winter chalet, and on the Hopmarkt, home to a covered ice rink with a panorama bar. A Christmas circus has run on Werfplein in recent seasons as part of the same programme, and the market traditionally opens with an “Aalst Twinkelt” late-night shopping evening on the Grote Markt. Because Aalst has no dedicated Wonderful Wanderings guide yet, this entry carries the fullest coverage of the market on the site. Aalst’s railway station sits inside the historic centre, about a seven-minute walk from the Grote Markt, so the market is easy to reach without a car; if you are coming from Brussels or Ghent, compare trains here.

18. Charleroi Christmas Market

Charleroi’s Christmas market has moved since some older guides described it: the City of Charleroi’s own current listing puts the market on Place de la Digue and Place Verte, not on Place Charles II and Boulevard Audent as previously reported, and the 2026 exact dates had not been published when we checked. The most recent confirmed edition ran from 21 November 2025 to 24 December 2025 on Place de la Digue, with the Place Verte ice rink and market continuing to 4 January 2026, and a similar window is the closest estimate for 2026 until the city confirms.

Place de la Digue hosts around 40 chalets with food and craft stalls plus a covered, heated winter restaurant, while Place Verte’s alpine-themed area centres on a 700-square-metre ice rink paired with a small ice museum. Charleroi Airport, a major low-cost hub for flights from elsewhere in Europe, sits a short drive from the city centre, which makes Charleroi worth combining with a Mons or Brussels market trip if you are comparing flights into Belgium. For confirmed 2026 dates once published, see our Charleroi Christmas Market guide.

19. Lier Christmas Market

The Lier Christmas Market had not published 2026 dates when we checked; its 2025 edition ran over the single weekend of Friday, 12 to Sunday, 14 December, and a similar mid-December weekend is the closest estimate for 2026 until the city confirms. The market is spread across two connected squares, the Grote Markt and Felix Timmermansplein, named for the Flemish writer born in Lier, with more than 100 stalls selling Christmas items, handmade crafts and food.

Lier’s most recent market featured a nativity scene themed around Felix Timmermans’s own literary characters and a Santa’s house near the lowered quay by Felix Timmermansplein. The town’s own culinary claim to fame is the Liers vlaaike, a spiced, syrup-filled pastry with EU-protected status that has been made in Lier for around 300 years, and it is worth seeking out at a local bakery even if you cannot confirm it is sold at a specific market stall. Because Lier has no dedicated Wonderful Wanderings guide yet, this entry is the fullest coverage of the market on the site. Lier’s railway station is about a 10-minute walk from the Grote Markt, an easy add-on to an Antwerp or Mechelen day trip; compare trains into Lier here.

20. Louvain-la-Neuve Christmas Market

The Louvain-la-Neuve Christmas Market, branded Louvain-la-Neige, is confirmed to run from Friday, 27 November 2026 to Sunday, 20 December 2026, according to the market’s own site. The market is set on Place de l’Université and the Grand Place in this pedestrian-only university town, with chalets also spread through Pop-Up Chalet zones nearby; recent editions have gathered up to 180 exhibitors across roughly 85 chalets. A towering Christmas tree stands on Place de l’Université as the market’s centrepiece.

Louvain-la-Neuve is unusual among the markets in this guide because the town itself is modern: it was purpose-built in the 1970s around its French-speaking university, so it has no medieval old town like Bruges or Tournai, and its market squares were designed as pedestrian spaces from the start, with shops, restaurants and the train station connected by an underground level below the market itself, unusual for a town of its size. Louvain-la-Neuve has no car traffic through its centre, so most visitors arrive by train to Louvain-la-Neuve-Université station, a direct connection from Brussels via Ottignies. For the ice rink, the mini-train and the rest of the programme, see our Louvain-la-Neuve Christmas Market guide.

What is the biggest Christmas Market in Belgium?

Winter in Antwerpen is the largest Christmas market in Flanders by attendance, drawing over 1.5 million visitors in its most recent season according to the City of Antwerp, while Brussels’ Winter Wonders covers the most ground of any market in the country, spreading across six squares and streets through the capital’s historic centre. Both are strong choices if you want the widest range of stalls, entertainment and food in one visit, and both are large enough that a single afternoon rarely covers everything on offer.

What is the oldest Christmas Market in Belgium?

The Liege Christmas Market, the Village de Noel, is generally billed as the country’s oldest, with around 38 editions behind it according to its own organisers. It runs along the Meuse in the historic centre of Liege, with around 200 wooden chalets from Walloon artisans, an ice rink and a sledding run. Tournai’s Belfry, built in 1188, is older still as a building, though the Tournai Christmas market itself is a newer addition to the city’s calendar than Liege’s.

What is the best Christmas Market in Belgium to visit with kids?

Antwerp’s Winter in Antwerpen is a strong pick for families, with an ice-skating rink, a Ferris wheel and a light tunnel through the market area, plus regular appearances from Santa Claus. Ghent’s Gentse Winterfeesten is another good family option, with a Ferris wheel, a reindeer carousel and an ice rink under the Stadshal, all within easy walking distance of each other. For a quieter alternative with shorter queues, Mons’ Grand-Place market and its free “petit train féérique” between squares tends to suit younger children well.

What are the best things to do in Belgium during Christmas?

Listed below are some worthwhile things to do in Belgium during the festive season:

1. Visit the Brussels Christmas Market: Winter Wonders fills the Grand-Place and the surrounding squares with stalls, a sound-and-light show and traditional Belgian treats like waffles and chocolate.
2. Explore Bruges’ historic centre: Bruges’ medieval buildings are strung with lights during Winter Glow, and a walk along the canals combines easily with the Christmas market on the Markt and ice skating nearby.
3. Attend the Ghent Light Festival or Winterfeesten: Ghent’s winter season lights up the city’s medieval towers, with light installations, performances and the Gentse Winterfeesten market running alongside.
4. Visit the Antwerp Christmas Market: Winter in Antwerpen is one of the largest in the country, with a wide range of chalets, live performances and an ice rink set against the city’s historic buildings.
5. Take a winter walk in the Ardennes: The Ardennes region offers scenic winter walks through forests and hills near towns such as Durbuy and Dinant, with opportunities for outdoor activities in the colder months.
6. Explore the Village de Noel in Liege: Liege’s market spreads chalets, live music and an ice rink along the Meuse in the city centre, easily reached on foot from Liege-Guillemins station.
7. Visit the Durbuy Christmas Market: Durbuy, one of Belgium’s smallest towns, sets up a Christmas market with craft stalls and an ice rink in Parc Roi Baudouin, next to its old-town lanes.
8. Visit the Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula: This Gothic cathedral in Brussels hosts Christmas services and events during the season, a short walk from the Winter Wonders market. Our guide to the best things to do in Belgium covers more ideas beyond the Christmas season.

What are the best foods to try in Belgium during Christmas?

Listed below are some of the foods worth trying in Belgium during the Christmas season:

1. Belgian chocolates: Belgium’s chocolatiers make pralines, truffles and chocolate figurines that are especially popular as gifts around Christmas.
2. Speculoos: These spiced, cinnamon-and-clove cookies are a Belgian Christmas staple, usually eaten with hot chocolate or coffee.
3. Belgian waffles: Sold hot from market chalets across the country, waffles are typically topped with sugar, whipped cream, fruit or chocolate sauce.
4. Stoofvlees (Flemish beef stew): A slow-cooked beef stew made with beer, onions and spices, common on market food-stall menus in winter.
5. Waterzooi: A creamy chicken or fish stew that originated in Ghent, often served as a warming winter dish.
6. Moules-frites: Mussels cooked in a herb, garlic and white-wine broth, served with fries, available year-round but especially cosy in winter.
7. Belgian Trappist beers: Beers brewed by Trappist monks are known for their depth of flavour and are a popular choice at Christmas markets.
8. Carbonade flamande: A beef stew cooked with beer, onions and bacon, usually served with bread or fries.
9. Belgian cheeses: From creamy Brie-style cheeses to sharper blues, Belgium’s cheese counters are worth a stop over the holidays.
10. Christmas cookies: Belgian bakeries sell a range of shaped, spiced holiday cookies through December. Our guide to local food in Belgium covers more of the country’s food scene.

When do Christmas markets start in Belgium?

Most Belgian Christmas markets start in the last week of November or the first week of December, and the majority run into the first days of January. Among the confirmed 2026 dates in this guide, Bruges and Louvain-la-Neuve open earliest, on 20 and 27 November 2026, and Hasselt opens even earlier, on 13 November 2026, while Antwerp, Ghent and Kortrijk all start in the first week of December. Most markets that run past Christmas close on or around the first Sunday of January, as Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, Ghent, Hasselt and Kortrijk all do for the 2026-2027 season, while a handful of smaller markets, such as Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve, close before New Year’s Eve. Exact dates still vary by city and by year, which is why we check each market’s own tourism page directly rather than repeating a fixed calendar window.

Which Belgian Christmas markets can I combine in one trip?

Brussels, Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp sit close enough together by train that a long weekend based in any one of them can realistically cover two or three markets. Brussels works well as a base because it has direct rail connections to Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Leuven, all of which run in well under an hour and a half, so you can visit the capital’s own Winter Wonders market and add a day trip to one or two more without changing hotels. Namur, Dinant and Charleroi sit within a similar short train ride of each other for visitors travelling through Wallonia instead, and Liege connects onward toward the Ardennes towns of Durbuy and, further south, Luxembourg. The smaller markets with no page of their own on this site, such as Hasselt, Kortrijk, Lier and Aalst, all sit on direct or one-change train lines from Brussels or Antwerp, so they make easy half-day additions to a longer Belgium itinerary rather than a full trip on their own.

Do visitors need to pay to enter the Christmas markets in Belgium?

No, entry to Belgium’s Christmas markets is free at every market covered in this guide, based on what each city’s own tourism page says. You can walk through the chalets, browse stalls and enjoy the lights without a ticket; the parts that usually cost extra are specific attractions such as ice rinks, Ferris wheels and other rides, plus whatever food, drinks or gifts you buy.

What are the most fun facts about Belgium and Christmas?

Listed below are some fun facts about Belgium and Christmas:

• Christmas markets everywhere: Belgium runs Christmas markets in cities and small towns alike, from the country’s biggest events in Brussels and Antwerp to single-weekend markets in towns like Lier.
• Christmas beer: Belgian breweries release special seasonal beers for the holidays, often stronger and richer than their year-round beers.
• Santa’s Belgian helper: In Belgian folklore, Sinterklaas travels with a companion known as “Zwarte Piet” or “Père Fouettard,” a tradition that has become the subject of ongoing public debate in Belgium and the Netherlands over its origins and imagery.
• Christmas chocolates: Belgian chocolatiers are known for finely crafted chocolate figurines, pralines and truffles, a Christmas gift staple.
• Christmas lights: Belgian towns and cities decorate their squares and landmarks with lights through the winter season, well beyond the market chalets themselves.

What are the most important holiday dates in Belgium?

Listed below are the most important holiday dates in Belgium:

1. New Year’s Day (1 January): A nationwide public holiday marking the start of the year, with fireworks and family gatherings.
2. Easter Monday: The day after Easter Sunday is a public holiday, often marked with family time and egg hunts for children.
3. Labour Day (1 May): A public holiday celebrating workers, sometimes marked with parades and demonstrations.
4. Whit Monday: The Monday after Pentecost Sunday is a public holiday, commonly used for family time and short trips.
5. Flemish Community Holiday (11 July): Observed in the Flemish Region and Brussels-Capital Region, marking Flemish cultural heritage with local events.
6. Assumption (15 August): A public holiday marking the Assumption of Mary, observed with religious services in many towns and a family day off for most Belgians.

WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips

The 5 tips below come from checking all 20 markets against their own city or tourism-office pages in September 2026, and each one saves a wasted journey or a hotel booked on the wrong weekend.

1. Book flights around the 7 markets whose dates are confirmed. Only Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, Ghent, Hasselt, Kortrijk and Louvain-la-Neuve had published firm 2026 dates when we checked. The other 13 cities usually publish in October, so hold off on any non-refundable booking pinned to a specific weekend in those towns.
2. Search “Kerst in Aalst” rather than “Aalst Winterfoor”. The Winterfoor is a funfair attached to Aalst Carnival and it runs in February, on 6 to 22 February 2026 according to the city. Older guides file it as a winter Christmas fair, which sends visitors to the right town in the wrong season.
3. Ignore the old locations for Ostend, Charleroi and Dinant. Ostend’s Leopold Park edition was discontinued and a new operator took over in July 2026, with the market on Wapenplein and a new family square planned for Sint-Petrus- en Paulusplein. Charleroi’s own listing now puts its market on Place de la Digue and Place Verte rather than Place Charles II. Dinant runs several smaller markets under separate organisers instead of the one large market by the Collegiate Church that older write-ups describe.
4. Drive to Durbuy, or plan the bus. The town has no railway station of its own, the nearest is Barvaux-sur-Ourthe about 3.9 km away, and the onward bus takes roughly 10 minutes. That also makes Durbuy the natural pairing with Dinant on the same car trip through the Ardennes.
5. Take the free Boulevardpendel in Hasselt. De Lijn runs it from Hasselt railway station to a stop beside Kolonel Dusartplein in about eight minutes, which puts you at Winterland and its jenever bars without walking in from the station in the cold.

About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the team has covered Belgium’s Christmas markets on this site for several seasons. Every year, the team checks each city’s own tourism office for opening and closing dates, the squares each market uses, and where a market has changed or paused, so this guide reflects what is actually confirmed rather than repeating old dates. It also covers how to get between markets by train, where to stay nearby and when to rent a car for the smaller Ardennes towns, and updates this page as soon as cities publish their 2026 dates.