Christmas in Belgium -2019

Two words for Belgium winter: Gloomy and Rainly. Not really that cold compared with New York, but the sky is mostly gray and rainy. There is hardly any snow (based on the people who lived here for a long time. For me, just being 6 months in Belgium, I could not really tell what to expect to tell the truth.. Naturally I start wondering myself what Christmas would be like.

To my surprise, Christmas in Belgium is something you got to experience. Christmas market around Europe is very famous. A lot of local products from local vendors, and people who enjoy Gluhweine, hot chocolate, Christmas bread and Waffles (let’s not forget about this in Belgium) – My personal favorite: Roasted Nuts – Christmas market has full of Christmas spirits and of course, ornaments, trees and live musics. I am not really the expert of Christmas market, but I can definitely feel something special about this tradition. My husband told me Nuremberg has the best Christmas market in Europe.. Hopefully we will have a chance to go there next year for Christmas market.

Christmas in Leuven

Where I work is a small town called Leuven, in Belgium. Leuven, a small college town 20 mins away from Brussels, is a wonderful town in December. I always think Leuven is a nice town, but personally Leuven becomes the magical town in Christmas. The historical City Hall in Leuven lights up with different colors, and Christmas market starts from the beginning of December. Around every corner of the market, there are small gathering of people who enjoy one another’s companies. Like more intimate atmosphere around Christmas market in Leuven.

Leuven City Hall in Christmas

Inside the Christmas hut in Leuven

Christmas in Brussels

Brussels is a wonderful city itself. Beautiful Grand Place with historical buildings and great atmosphere during Christmas. Many many shops and streets decorated with Christmas ornaments and lights, and wonderful to visit during December! There is also a Christmas Market (did I say pretty much every town has the Christmas market? ). Bigger than Leuven and also very popular. We were there on Dec 23rd, and there are seriously a lot of people which reminded me of New York during Christmas time. Watching people itself was a lot of fun to me. What fascinated me is the diversity of people in Brussels.. Truly the capital of EU.

Christmas market in Brussels is like a big block party and really festive for Christmas. For me, Leuven has more intimate atmosphere. It depends on your preference. Personally, Leuven makes me feel like Christmas to me.

I was wondering about why Christmas makes people feel special. It is not just a present or party, but more deep down as if we long for something homey. For me, Christmas always reminded me of home (whichever it means ) and family.. Experiencing Christmas in Belgium is truly an experience which I never thought of, and celebrating this with my family in Belgium is something I will never forget.