Belgium Christmas Markets: Chocolates, Trinkets and Twinkling Lights

Below is part of an essay I wrote for my Travel Writing class. After visiting Brussels and Bruges, Belgium, I was fascinated by their emphasis on Christmas, and their premature decorations. While I was not there during the markets, there were lots of lights, garland and Christmas trees everywhere during my stay. Happy Holidays and enjoy!

During the most magical time of the year, the cities of Brussels and Bruges, Belgium are transformed into winter wonderlands with their Christmas markets. The Brussels market takes place in the picturesque Grand-Place, surrounding the Bourse, the Place de la Monnaie, the Place Sainte-Catherine and the Vismet. In Bruges, there is a market with different attractions, which is set up in Market Square and Simon Stevinplein. The Bruges also features snow and ice sculpture and dance festivals. Brussels and Bruges are just an hour apart by train, so you can easily get to both galas in one weekend. This year, it will be especially accessible for citizens of the U.K. to travel to the markets. The DFDS Seaway has made a decision to offer daily ferries from Newcastle to Amsterdam. From Amsterdam, people are encouraged to go to the markets and experience the fantastic holiday celebration.

            The Brussels Christmas market was established in 2000, and is more modern than many of the other markets around Europe in places such as Berlin and Prague. Last year at the Brussels market, there was a lot of controversy with the modern Christmas tree, replacing the traditional one. Instead of having a normal Christmas tree at the festival, there was a lit-up geometrical figure that was made to look like a tree. After receiving many complaints in 2012, the art piece will not be returning to the market this year. To keep the modern art theme going however, this year there will be an innovative and interactive lit-up iceberg through which attendees can walk. The iceberg lights up different cool colors: blue, pink and purple, which reflect off of the snow and make for a beautiful small light show. Similar to this is the Grand-Place light show, which actually runs from the summertime through the winter. It is especially exciting during the holiday season because there is sound to go along with the lights. When I was just in Brussels in mid-November, the lightshow occurred every night at 9 o’clock. It really was an amazing sight, and also something that attracts a lot of people into the square. If you have not yet been to Brussels, the Grand-Place is a beautiful attraction all year round. I met both locals and tourists alike watching the lightshow on a Saturday night. These modern aspects are only part of what makes the Brussels market so special.

            The Christmas markets attracts people of all ages. There are around 250 chalets set up throughout the city center. These chalets are wooden structures, built just for the market to look like gingerbread houses. They sell souvenirs, chocolate, Christmas ornaments and more. Their twinkling lights and white-capped roofs will make you feel like you are at the North Pole. While I was in Brussels the market was beginning to be set up and it already felt like Santa’s workshop. The Brussels market is very child-friendly and aims to attract families with the Ferris wheel, merry-go-rounds, slalom track and ice-skating rink. Just a quick train away, another joyful festival is set up, in the sentimental city of Bruges.

            Bruges is the perfect holiday getaway for a couple. By mid-November, all of the streets are lit-up, ornament stores are open, and the big tree is placed in the Center of Market Square. Bruges boasts to be a romantic city with beautiful, historic places to kiss. While less family-friendly than the market in Brussels, it appeals more to the young adult. Belgian florists prepare their most pristine garland centerpieces, wreaths, baskets and bulbs. They will teach you how to make these decorations and famous Belgian florists will present their latest winter works for all the guests to see.

During your stay in Bruges, I highly recommend buying decadent sweets from Pur Chocolat. It is just about a five-minute walk from the train station towards the city center. Compared to many other chocolate shops (there is one on every corner), it is inexpensive and tastes better than the pricey places. When I asked the woman behind the counter what her favorite piece was she pointed to them all and said that she had been trying to figure it out since she was six years old. She is the daughter of the owner, and has worked there her whole adult life. She grew up being the best taste-tester her father has ever had. She nibbles on chocolate while helping customers, and will eagerly tell you through broken English about the most popular chocolates behind the glass. I suggest getting a box of café truffles, and a bag of assorted candies of your choice. I can personally say that I had the best chocolate I had ever tasted at this little shop in Bruges.

There is really no better way to immerse yourself in celebration and get into the Christmas spirit than by attending the festivities in Brussels and Bruges. Belgium offers something for people of all ages and interests. There are options for the artsy type, the child-at-heart, the romantic, and the foodie. The holidays are a time of indulgence and appreciation meant to spent with the people that mean the most. So whether you are looking to get away with your family, your girlfriends, a loved one or a group of friends, Belgium is the place to go.

Picturesque Bruges in November

A European's View On Americans

          While at a bar in Amsterdam, I got the opportunity to visit with a student my age, who has lived in the city is whole life. Throughout my time here in Europe, I have had a lot of opportunities to speak briefly with other Europeans, and I have found it to be very common that they ask us about politics. I personally find this annoying, but I always go along with it. When beginning a conversation with this young man, I never thought we would discuss this bothersome topic. However after about 45 minutes of speaking to him, we began a bit of a controversial and political discussion.

            It was probably my fault that this subject matter got brought up because I asked him about the legal marijuana laws in The Netherlands. He informed me that weed is, in fact, legal in all of Holland, not just in Amsterdam. I also asked him if it is common for people to smoke marijuana with their families, in their homes and at a young age. I figured that it would be fairly common since it is legal. He made it very clear, though, that parents raise their children to believe that it is a drug with negative impacts, and is seen as low-class and unintelligent. He then proceeded to tell me that the biggest “pot-head” he knew was a friend of his who spent a year at an exchange program in Oregon during high school. This made me laugh but did not really surprise me. It just added to the thought that when something is illegal and seen as a rebellious activity, it is more common for young adults. Similar to how many Europeans can maturely handle their alcohol by the time they are 19 years old, unlike in the United States.

            I think he thought my reaction to this was amusing, so he then asked me my opinion on Europeans. I told him that each European country I’ve been to has been so different that it is hard to make a generalization about everyone. So he said, “Okay, well then what is the difference to you between Europeans and Americans?” I thought for a few minutes and said, “You guys are much more into traditions than we are, and you also pay more attention to beauty, at least in many places I have been.” He agreed.

            So I asked him, “Why? What do you think the difference is?” To which he quickly replied, “Well, for example, we don’t walk around with guns in our pockets.”

            I nearly spat out my drink on him, laughed, and asked if he was serious. He told me that he knows weapons are much more accessible in America and that we all have guns for hunting and protection. He also told me that in The Netherlands hunting is illegal.

            With the current controversies around gun control, I found it really interesting to get the European, or at least the Dutch perspective on the issue. I cleared it up for him that we do not just walk around with guns in our pockets and that I personally have never hunted or even held a gun. We continued to talk about other political differences such as health care, taxes and higher education.

            At the end of the night when I was leaving, he told me that he had never before talked to an American girl about such topics, and that I had really changed his views. Although he did mention that he is still not very fond of Americans, aside from me of course, he admitted he dreams of traveling to The States one day. Hopefully he will relay the knowledge I gave him to the rest of Europe so that they can all stop hating us. But the odds of that happening are slim to none.