Ostend Christmas Market
2 December 2011 - 18 December 2011

Held on the Wapenplein.

A plethora of items is on sale during an international Christmas market.

The Ice Skating rink is in place from 2 December 2011 until 8 January 2012 and is open daily until 18h00 during weekdays and 20h00 during weekends.

During the Christmas Holidays, the whole city will be submerged in the Christmas spirit with lots of activities and animations for children throughout the city.
 
New Years Eve Fireworks on 31 Dec 2011.

Royal Greenhouses of Laeken
16 April - 8 May 2011
Brussels, Laeken Greenhouses
Admire the wonders of the plant kingdom in Alphonse Balats art nouveau Green house, wich he built for Leoplold II.  Once a year during the flowering season the greenhouses are open to the public so that everyone can enjoy the bewitching colours and intoxicating perfumes. www.monarchie.be

Ostend at Anchor
26 to 29 May 2011
Ostend at Anchor is the largest annual festival for authentic shipping and the North Sea. In the space of ten years this maritime event, which attracted no fewer than 250,000 visitors in 2008, has become the most important fixture on the Belgain coast's spring calendar. There will be a retrospective exhibition of all the past editions and there will be some 200 craft for this jubilee edition. www.oostendevooranker.be

Brussels Jazz Marathon
27 to 29 May 2011
Brussels, Grand Place, place du Sablon, place Ste-Catherine & place Fernand Cocq. Now in its thirteenth edition, the weekend of the Brussels Jazz Marathon has become an annual mecca for enthusiasts of jazz and swinging live music of every description. With more than 450 musicians performing on the main squares in Brussels as well as in 50 venues/clubs/hotels, this three-day event invariably brings music fans flocking. This years edition promises to live up to its great reputation with renowned artists of international reputate alongside a new generation of exceptional young talents waiting to be discovered. Access to all concerts is totally FREE! www.brusselsjazzmarathon.be

Mechelen Hanswijk Procession
29 May 2011
The legend of this annual procession venerating Our Lady of Hanswijk, came about when Mary’s intercession, in 1272, freed the city of the plague. The people of Mechelen then promised to carry the figure of Mary through the streets every year as an expression of their gratitude. This popular procession has since become an intriguing and colourful, large-scale spectacle. Tickets are available from 2nd April by calling 0032 15 20 22 94, or as of 21 April, by calling the ‘Hanswijk’ main office 00 32 15 42 01 40, or by email: frieda.vanvaeck@catho.kerknet.be. Seat prices for groups (min. 20 persons): €5 & €4 for stand seats and €3 for chairs. Web: www.hanswijkprocessie.org

Bruges Procession of the Holy Blood
2 June 2011

Held on Ascension Day since 1970, this procession illustrates scenes from the Old and New Testaments in a style that recalls Burgundian rule in the fifteenth century. It also tells of how the relic of the Holy Blood came to Bruges through the mediation of crusader Knight Diederik of Alsace and was venerated here. Future dates: 17 May 2012 and 9 May 2013. More information about this procession can be found at www.holyblood.com and www.brugge.be

 

Bruges Zand Fests
03 July,07 August & 25 September 2011
Koning Albertpark & ‘t Zand
Held three times during the summer, visitors can enjoy perusing one of the largest flea markets in Flanders. Contact: 0032 50 34 17 36

Brussels Ommegang
5 July and 7 July 2011
Taking place at 9pm on 5 July and 7 July, this reconstruction remains one of the most important historical and cultural events staged in Brussels. No fewer than 1,400 extras dressed in authentic historic costumes, scores of horses and giants take part in the spectacle, leaving from the Grote Zavel and plunging the Grote Markt back into history. Tickets reservations at Brussels International by tel: 0032 2 548 04 58,fax: 0032 2 548 04 44 or email: (attention of Mrs Sas) a.sas@brusselsinternational.be web: www.ommegang.be VIP seats(covered) €75.00, in front of the TownHall - Tribune B:€45 and in front of the house of the Dukes of Brabant - Tribune H: €75.00 - €45.00 - €35.00.

Ghent Festivities
16 to 25 July 2011
Every year this long-established, ten-day cultural event takes over Ghent’s historic city centre. There is free music on all the central squares and hundreds of other activities, plus three international-level festivals! Future Dates: 16-25 July 2011. www.gentsefeesten.be

Bruges Zand Fests
10 August & 26 September 2011
Koning Albertpark & ‘t Zand
Held three times during the summer, visitors can enjoy perusing one of the largest flea markets in Flanders. Contact: 0032 50 34 17 36

Antwerp Taste Festival
18 to 21 August 2011
Antwerp, Zuid
If you are a foodie then try out the annual Taste Festival, one of Belgium's most popular cuisine fairs. This year it moves from Groenplaats to Zuid (the former docks Waalse Kaai/Vlaamse Kaai) where you can expect to titilate your senses and get to meet well-known flemsih chefs and up an coming talent. Taste all kinds of regional delicacies and typical Antwerp products (meat, fish, beer, genever, coffee and sweets). Theres no entrance fee, simply purchase vouchers at the festival to exchange for food. Vouchers cost €1.90 each and all stall holders will offer at least 2 dishes for 2 vouchers, more fancy restaurants will offer larger meals for a maximum of 9 tickets per dish.  Contact: 0032 497 41 84 58 or office@aproeft.be

Brussels Beer Festival
2 to 4 September 2011

Brussels Grand Place/Grote Markt
Take a city with an age-old tradition and a brew that cmes in more than four hundred guises or flavourw.  Then take the most beautiful market square in the world and a crowd of bon vivants who in good Brussels tradition, are always ready to chink glasses.  This makes for a thoroughly enjoyable weekend.
www.weekenddelabiere.be

 

Poperinge Hop Parade
18 September 2011
As the hop-growing centre of Flanders, Poperinge organizes a Hop Parade every three years. This is a unique event in which 65 groups, 1,400 extras and 12 floats take part. The Hop Parade tells the history of the development of the hop industry, provides an overview of the various activities in the field through the four seasons and includes a presentation of the main hop-producing countries in the world. To tie in with the parade, Poperinge Hop Museum will be open throughout the day. You also have the chance to visit a hop company, where you can see a huge picking machine in action. There are also shows, a beer festival in the festival marquee and a stunning firework display to round it all off. For more details about this event call 0032 57 34 66 76.

Bruges Zand Fests
25 September 2011

Koning Albertpark & ‘t Zand
Held three times during the summer, visitors can enjoy perusing one of the largest flea markets in Flanders. Contact: 0032 50 34 17 36

Halloween In Ostend
8 October to 6 November 2011

City Centre
Ostend welcomes its annual Halloween festivities, opening up the city to ghosts, spiders, pumpkins and vampires and the like for 10 days of the year. Whether you come in costume or enjoy the dressed window displays, the city has something for everyone.
www.toerisme-oostende.be

Hasselt Jenever Festivities
15 to 16 October 2011
Streets and squares in the city centre
During the third weekend in October jenever (gin) flows freely in the centre of Hasselt! On the Saturday, drinks are on the ‘Borrel Man’ who changes water into jenever! On the Sunday the traditional waiter competition is held. Visitors can take part in the jenever walk or take a ride on the jenever tram. Music fills the streets, adding to the atmosphere. www.hasselt.be More information will be available later on at www.jeneverfeesten.be

Bruges Chocolaté Festival
11 to 13 November 2011

Belfort Mueum, Bruges 
Held bi-annually, this exhibition brings together artisans, who sculpt, craft and shape chocolate into intricate masterpieces.  Large-scale displays combine in the opportunity to sample and purchase unusual concoctions from chocolate suppliers. Local prodcers as well as representation from African cocoa producers, enable the visitor to enjoy an exciting chocolate experience. More information is available at www.choco-late.be

Bruges Christmas Market
25 November 2011 - 3 January 2012

Simon Stevin Plein and Markt Sqaure, Bruges

This yearly market offers the best of winter products, christmas gifts and warming gluwein and snacks.

For more information www.winterinbrugge.be

Brussels Christmas Market
25 November 2011 - 1 January 2012

Bourse(Stock Exchange) and Marché aux Poissons
Once again the city of Brussels will be hosting its Winter Wonders programme of events this winter. Find no less than 240 chalets of winter and gift items for the perfect Christmas gift idea this year.  The Winter Wonders Ice rink will also be open everyday to skaters on the Marché aux Poissons and there will be street artisits and sound and light shows to brighten the skies. For more information see: www.winterwonders.be

 

Ypres Christmas Market
26 November 2011 - 02 January 2012

Grote Markt
Approximately 35 stall will sell christmas gifts, food and drinks.
For more information: www.kerstmarkt-ieper.be
Opening hours:
tues/weds/thurs: 16h00 to 20h00
Fri/Sat:              14h00 to 22h00
Sunday:             16h00 to 20h00
Closed on Mondays

Ghent Christmas Market
9 December 2011 - 30 December 2011

Located on St Baafsplein
Ghents Christmas Market offers approximately 50+ stalls of goodies, including candles, jewellery, woolies and more.  There are also food and drink stalls to keep your energy levels up!
Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 13h00 until 21h00
Sat & Sun: 11h00 until 21h00
24th Dec 09: 11h00 until 16h00
from 25th until 19h00

Leuven Christmas Market
9 - 18 December 2011

Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein and Herbert Hooverplein
Tasting stalls stand next to stalls selling traditional christmas items, floral decorations, candles etc.

For more information www.leuvensekerstmarkt.com

 

Antwerp Christmas Market
10 December 2011 - 08 January 2012

Christmas Market 10-28 December 2011, Handschoenmarkt, Grote Markt & Suikerrui.
Christmas Market 10 Dec 2011 - 08 Jan 2012, Steenplein
The market has around 90 stalls offering all kinds of gifts and present ideas and local delicacies.

Ice Skating: 10 Dec 2011 - 08 Jan 2012, Steenplein
New Years Eve Fireworks Display: 31 Dec, on the Left bank

Sunday shopping 11 & 18 December 2011

Mechelen Christmas Market
16 - 17 -18 December 2011

Grote Markt
For just 3 days every year, Mechelen has a great christmas market with approximately 80 stalls to peruse and wander for christmas gift ideas.