Christmas markets and activities
Christmas Market Bruges
22 November to 5 January 2025
Location: Markt and Simon Stevinplein
Discover the Christmas and winter market in the heart of Bruges, where visitors are spoiled with a wide range of local delicacies.
Warm up with homemade hot chocolate, taste ice-cold jenever or be tempted by spicy mulled wine. There are also plenty of Belgian beers, delicious cheeses and tasty savoury snacks.
Be surprised by a variety of charming, original and handmade Christmas items.
Bruges will be enriched with hundreds of Christmas trees, thousands of lights, and 41 decorated streets and squares to really get into the Christmas spirit.
Light experience walk Bruges
November 22 to January 5, from 5:30 PM
Location: Bruges city center
The new light trail "FIRE & ICE" takes you on a magical journey from the warm heart of the city center to the fairytale ice landscape on the ramparts. As you walk through the atmospherically lit streets of Bruges, you will discover ten special light installations that connect the warmth of fire and the icy splendor of winter.
Be surprised by the creative works of art, each telling its own story and immersing you in a world of light and shadow.
Light trail locations: Jan Van Eyckplein –Spaanse Loskaai – Gouden-Handrei – Potterierei – Snaggaardstraat – Kruisvest – Sint-Janshuismolen – Hugo Verrieststraat – Jeruzalemkapel - Spinolarei
Ice Rink Brugge
22 November to 5 January
Location: Minnewater
You can't just walk past the romantic Minnewater during Wintergloed. A sustainable figure skating rink floats on the lake, atmospherically decorated with countless twinkling lights. Young and old can enjoy themselves to their heart's content on the synthetic ice.
And after all that, you can visit the winter bar while you enjoy the enchanting view of that unique setting.
Ice Skating Rink Knokke-Heist
29 November to 5 January
Location: Alfred Verweeplein, Knokke
Discover the annual ice skating rink in the centre of Knokke-Heist.
A cosy ice skating rink with tasty snacks, drinks and a funfair to entertain even the littlest ones.
The ice skating rink is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
Atmospheric Christmas lights Knokke
29 November to 5 January
Location: Various locations
Knokke-Heist is bathed in a sea of Christmas lights, with a Scandinavian touch. Take a journey along beautifully lit avenues and squares. You will discover majestic elks, impressive wolves and bears, a fairytale deer gate, metres-high Christmas balloons and countless other surprises.
Ghent Winter Festivities
5 to 31 December 2024
Location: Ghent City Centre
Immerse yourself in a magical and cosy winter atmosphere with cosy chalets, a Ferris wheel, Christmas tree carousel, reindeer carousel, decorations, entertainment and many food and drink stands.
Christmas run Bruges
6 December, 6km 19:30, 10km 20:15
Location: 't Zand Brugge
€ 17.00
Each participant receives an illuminated Santa hat to create a magical image in the city centre of Bruges.
Because atmosphere, music and animation remain the basic ingredients of the Christmas run.
The run visits all the most beautiful places in the city centre that are at their best at this time of year with the unique Christmas lights and with music and animation at 20 places on the run. In combination with the WINTERGLOED event of the City of Brugge, this must be the most beautiful thing a running competition can offer. A fantastic run in a festively lit city.
Winterfair Cadzand
7 and 8 December, 10:30 - 17:00
Location: Mariakerk Cadzand
Cosiness and Christmas atmosphere at the Winterfair in the Mariakerk of Cadzand Dorp with a variety of quality products, including exclusive handmade items from Rwanda from the Love to help project. Of course there is also delicious mulled wine!
Winter walk Schoondijke
7 December, 13:00 - 17:00
Location: Schoondijke centre
On Saturday 7 December, the Schoondijkse Winter walk will be organised again from 13:00.
For example, last year there was a hat quiz, also a horse with a wagon, music, activities for children, a wishing tree, coffee, tea, mulled wine and much more.
The bar opens at 16:00.
Christmas Bingo and Christmas Market Aardenburg
December 13 and 14
Location: Multifunctional center
December 13: 19:30 - 01:00 Crazy Christmas Bingo with performance by Jacco Ricardo
December 14: 13:00-19:00 Christmas Market
Ice Skating Rink Sluis
14 December to 5 January, 11:00-19:00
Location: Groote Markt, Sluis
From Saturday 14 December to Sunday 5 January you can enjoy ice skating on the ice rink in Sluis. The ice rink has been a great success for years, as is evident from the many enthusiastic reactions from visitors.
The ice rink covers the entire Groote Markt in Sluis, and what is special is that the ice rink is built around the old 'Wilhelmina tree'.
Especially for the smallest skaters, there is a separate toddler track where they can learn the basics of skating at their leisure.
In the adjacent N'Icebar there is a cosy seating area where you can look out over the ice rink and enjoy a drink or watch the activities of the skaters. This is also where the ticket sales, skate rental desk and toilets are located.
The ice rink is open from Saturday 14 December to Sunday 5 January, except on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve (open until 6 pm) and 1 January.
Christmas Fair Hoofdplaat
December 14 1:00-10:00 PM
Location: Schoolstraat 14, Hoofdplaat
Christmas Market IJzendijke
December 14
Location: Waterpoortstraat 18 IJzendijke
Winterfair Breskens
December 15, 10:00-17:00
Location: Spuiplein Breskens
Christmas Fair Groede
December 21, 11:00-16:00
Location: Market Square Groede
A cozy Christmas market with 30 varied stalls, live music, open museums and a light route from 15:00 to 19:00
Aardenburg Christmas Concert
December 21, 19:30
Location: Roman Catholic Church.
Traditional and modern Christmas and peace songs will be sung, accompanied by their own combo with images on a large screen.
Be on time, because the church was full in previous years!
Christmas Walk Nieuwvliet
December 22, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: Provincialeweg 2 Nieuwvliet
The Christmas story comes to life! You will travel with Joseph, the pregnant Mary and the donkey to Bethlehem, looking for a place to sleep. Who will you meet along the way? And where will they end up?
The walk is also fun for the little ones (about 600 meters walk).
Christmas Carols Groede
December 22 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: Groede
Illuminated tractors tour
December 27th
Location: various locations (route follows)
A long tour of tractors and trucks, decorated from top to bottom with lights, drives through West Zeeland-Vlaanderen.
Many spectators have gone before.
There will be an after-party at 9:30 p.m. in the Klinket in Schoondijke.
Open Air Christmas Concert Cadzand-Bad
December 27, 5:00-7:00 PM
Location: Duinplein Cadzand
Music festival Cadzand-Bad
December 28 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Duinplein Cadzand
Street Parade Knokke-Heist
December 28 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: Lippenslaan, Knokke-Heist
Music Cadzand-Bad
December 29, 4:00-6:00 PM
Location: Duinplein Cadzand-Bad
Rudolf Rodeo championship Cadzand-Bad
December 30 2:00-5:00 PM
Location: Duinplein Cadzand-Bad
Take a seat on Rudolf the Rodeo Reindeer! Try to stay seated as long as possible.
Coverband Stuk
December 30 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Duinplein Cadzand-Bad
New Year's Dive Cadzand
1 January, 12 o'clock noon
Location: Beach Pavilion De Zeemeeuw, Gerrit van Hoekestraat 2, Retranchement
Dive into the sea with dozens of other brave swimmers for the traditional New Year's Dive! Afterwards you can warm up with a nice drink at Beach Pavilion De Zeemeeuw.
Christmas tree burning
January 3 7:30 PM
Location: Beach pavilion Caricole Cadzand
