The delights of Belgium at Christmas
At any time of year Brussels is renowned for its cuisine, but the festive season means even more lovely things to try. The Grand-Place surrounded by its beautiful guildhouses is turned into a Christmas market, and is festooned with strings of lights. As well as the usual Christmas decorations and steaming mulled wine, the market has some very good food stalls, selling gorgeous French olives, the utterly delicious Belgian chocolates, cooked mussels, and even steamed snails in garlic! You can buy jars of preserved fruit, and gingerbread men.
At this time of year an ice rink is set up at the Fish Market, and there are carol singers, jugglers and street musicians all making for a lively spectacle.
If you are in Belgium at this time of year, then you may also want to take a look at beatiful small Flemish town of Bruges, or Brugge, as the Flemish call it, where the shops do some beautiful lace goods that make marvellous Christmas presents. Bruges has some lovely Belgian pubs too, where you can sip Stella Artois and eat snacks while you contemplate the Christmas shopping list.
If you want to see more Christmas markets, then Liege has a great market of 155 wooden chalet stalls at this time of year, where you can buy jewellery, crafts, toys and Christmas decorations. The market, which runs right up until 30th December also serves some real gastronomic treats, such as forest mushrooms on toast, oysters, foie gras, chocolate and special Christmas beers.
With its fairytale architecture, fine goods and conviviality, Belgium is an exciting destination in the run-up to Christmas.
Filed under: Christmas markets, Belgium
