There are two Christmas Markets that I’d like to visit this month. Both are located outside the Netherlands, one is Brussels (Belgium) and the other one is in Germany. My initial plan was to go to Germany with the Dutch mother, but on a last minute move I asked her which Christmas Market she would prefer—Brussels or the one in Germany.
She chose Brussels because it’s nearer, about 2 hours drive from Utrecht (2.5 hours from Amsterdam).
I can’t thank Dutch mother enough for choosing Brussels because we had a grand time yesterday! We were both blown away by the exquisite and animated Christmas atmosphere in the city. So nice and so ‘gezellig’. I heard Dutch mother saying, ‘We do not have something like this in the Netherlands.’
In the Netherlands, the holiday winter season is primarily about ‘Sinterklaas’, the biggest Dutch traditional event in the country that starts in the 2nd half of November culminating to Sinterklaas’ eve on 5 December. Then we have the two days of Christmas, the 25th and 26th that are spent having intimate dinner with family while the second day is utilised as a family day outing or shopping for sales at the home boulevard. During New Year’s Eve, the Dutch literally go crazy with fireworks. It is an annual passion. And when the temperatures dip below zero, everyone goes out ice skating. If the below zero temperatures stays longer, the whole country gets into a fever for ‘Elfstedentocht’ (Eleven Provinces Ice Skating Race).
Anyways, enough about the Netherlands, this is about Brussels!
Because we saw so many stuff in Brussels, did so many things as well, that naturally ensued to countless intense (point-and-click) camera actions. Nonetheless, I shot a gazillion of pictures!
In order not to clog everyone’s internet lines, I will be posting two entries of our holiday season trip to Brussels. For this entry, it will be about Brussels’s Christmas Market and some pictures of the beautiful city and the shops.
Without further ado, let me take you to Brussels on a very cold December day:
The prettiest place in Brussels is the main city square, the Grote Markt (Grand Place). The Christmas Markets are not located here though. They are located in the Bourse area, Place Sainte Catherine and the Marché aux Poissons.
We kicked off the day with some gluhwein (spiced red wine).
Dutch mother in front of the ‘La Cure Gourmade’ shop. They sell candies, cookies and pastries, as well as vintage canisters to put in the goodies. A nice idea as a present, see below.
This is the ‘Turkish Christmas Market’
Here in the Turkish Christmas Market we encountered the first vintage children’s carousel. It is a cool thing but I don’t know… it somehow gives me the eerie feeling?
Click to see the quick video I made.
The food! I am drooling but I am craving for something else. Nevertheless, I bought a lot of dried sausages!
Different flavours of ‘Jenever’ (a variety of gin popular in Belgium and the Netherlands).
We came upon the second vintage children’s carousel. Look at how behaved and orderly the kids are waiting for their turn.
Like I said, its cool but a bit eerie… Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings?
There is a skating rink of course.
And a ferris wheel as well.
I was craving for some fresh oysters.
Sluuuuuuuuuurrrrrp! Not the best oyster I’ve had but this will do to tame my craving.
Cool find at the Christmas Market — Lavender flower seeds. In the Ardennes, in the southern part of Belgium,you can find many lavender fields.
Cool find at the Christmas Market — NOT! Haha, who would want to use this little horesey as a bag???
More entertainment for the kids.
We bought some grilled chestnuts.
Elegantly presented macarons. So far they only have one shop so next time I visit Brussels, I will drop by at ‘Pierre Ledent’. I can definitely use these as presents.