Things to Do in Belgium in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
August Weather in Belgium
Is August Right for You?
Advantages
- Summer festival season peaks in August with major events like Gentse Feesten in Ghent - 10 days of free street performances, concerts, and theater across 15 stages drawing 1.5 million visitors. The city transforms into one massive party zone with locals actually outnumbering tourists for once.
- Beach towns along the North Sea coast hit their stride with water temperatures reaching 17-19°C (63-66°F) - chilly but swimmable if you're game. De Panne and Knokke-Heist have excellent beach clubs and the seafood is genuinely outstanding this time of year, particularly the grey shrimp that's in peak season.
- Outdoor terrace culture is at its absolute best - cafes and bars extend seating into squares and streets, and Belgians embrace the rare warm weather with day-drinking sessions that stretch from lunch into evening. The social atmosphere in cities like Brussels, Antwerp, and Leuven is unmatched.
- Beer gardens and brewery tours are infinitely more enjoyable in warm weather. August is when locals head to places like Orval Abbey or the Trappist breweries in the Flemish countryside, and outdoor beer festivals pop up in smaller towns where you'll pay €3-5 per beer instead of tourist-trap prices.
Considerations
- Many Belgians take their annual vacation in August, which means some smaller restaurants, family-run shops, and local businesses close for 1-2 weeks without warning. This particularly affects Brussels and residential neighborhoods - you might find your favorite local spot shuttered with a handwritten note taped to the door.
- The weather data provided shows some inconsistency that's worth acknowledging - a high of 35°F (2°C) and low of 68°F (20°C) doesn't align with typical August patterns. Belgium in August actually tends toward 18-23°C (64-73°F) with occasional spikes to 28°C (82°F). Expect variable conditions with sudden rain showers, which is standard Belgian summer behavior.
- Popular tourist sites like Bruges and the Atomium in Brussels see peak crowds, especially mid-August when French and Dutch tourists flood in. You'll wait 45-60 minutes for popular attractions versus 15-20 minutes in shoulder season, and restaurant reservations become essential rather than optional.
Best Activities in August
Gentse Feesten Street Festival Experience
Mid-August brings Belgium's largest cultural festival to Ghent - 10 days of completely free performances spanning jazz, rock, theater, and street acts. Unlike most European summer festivals, this one maintains its local character with Flemish comedy acts, traditional folk music alongside modern bands, and food stalls serving proper Belgian fare rather than generic festival food. The crowds are massive but the vibe stays relaxed, and you'll hear more Dutch and French than English. Best experienced by picking a neighborhood - Vlasmarkt for alternative music, Sint-Baafsplein for mainstream acts, or Korenmarkt for the most chaotic party atmosphere.
North Sea Coast Beach Towns
The Belgian coast comes alive in August when locals head to De Panne, Ostend, and Knokke-Heist for proper beach time. Water is cold at 17-19°C (63-66°F) but locals swim anyway, and the beach clubs serve excellent moules-frites and grey shrimp croquettes that are legitimately worth the trip. The Coast Tram runs 67 km (42 miles) along the entire coastline for €3 per ride, making it easy to explore multiple towns. Ostend has the best food scene and grittier local character, while Knokke-Heist attracts the wealthy Belgian crowd with upscale beach clubs and art galleries.
Ardennes Forest Hiking and Kayaking
August weather makes the Ardennes region in southern Belgium perfect for outdoor activities that would be miserable in the typical Belgian drizzle. The Semois and Ourthe rivers offer kayaking routes through forested valleys - typically 12-21 km (7.5-13 miles) taking 3-5 hours with operators providing transport back to start points. Hiking trails around Dinant, Durbuy, and La Roche-en-Ardenne range from easy 5 km (3 mile) loops to challenging 20 km (12 mile) ridge walks. The forests provide natural cooling when temperatures spike, and the region stays genuinely quiet compared to coastal areas.
Brewery Tours and Beer Festival Circuit
August brings outdoor beer festivals to smaller Belgian towns where you'll pay €3-5 per beer instead of €6-8 in tourist areas. Trappist brewery visits to Orval, Chimay, or Westmalle are infinitely better in warm weather when you can enjoy the abbey grounds and outdoor seating. Most breweries offer tours for €8-12 including tastings, though Westvleteren famously doesn't do tours at all. The beer festival in Bruges mid-August and various local festivals in Flemish villages offer chances to try 50-100 Belgian beers in one afternoon with proper glassware and knowledgeable pourers.
Brussels Art Nouveau Architecture Walking Routes
August's longer daylight hours and generally dry mornings make this the ideal time to explore Brussels' Art Nouveau heritage on foot. The Horta Museum, Cauchie House, and dozens of private residences designed by Victor Horta and contemporaries are concentrated in the Ixelles and Saint-Gilles neighborhoods - roughly 3-4 km (2-2.5 miles) of walking to see the major examples. Most tourists miss this completely, focusing on Grand Place and Manneken Pis instead. The architecture is best photographed in morning light between 8-10am before the sun gets too harsh.
Antwerp Diamond District and Fashion Shopping
Antwerp's diamond district operates year-round but August brings summer sales to the fashion boutiques in the Nationalestraat area where Belgian designers like Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester have flagship stores. The diamond district around Central Station offers certified diamond viewing and purchases at wholesale prices - genuinely 30-40% below retail in other countries if you know what you're looking at. The combination makes Antwerp worthwhile for serious shoppers. The city also has excellent museums including MAS and Rubens House that provide air-conditioned refuge during afternoon heat.
August Events & Festivals
Gentse Feesten
Belgium's largest cultural festival transforms Ghent into a 10-day street party with over 500 free concerts and performances across 15 stages. Unlike commercialized festivals, this maintains its local Flemish character with traditional folk music, comedy acts in Dutch, and genuine neighborhood atmosphere. Food stalls serve proper Belgian specialties rather than generic festival fare, and the beer selection is extensive. Expect crowds of 150,000-200,000 daily but the multiple zones spread people out reasonably well.
Brussels Summer Festival
Free outdoor concerts in central Brussels featuring international and Belgian acts across pop, rock, electronic, and world music genres. Stages set up in Place des Palais and Parc de Bruxelles with food trucks and beer gardens. The lineup quality varies yearly but it's free and the setting in front of the Royal Palace is impressive. Gets crowded for headline acts but easy to find space for afternoon performances.
Meyboom Tree Planting Brussels
Bizarre medieval tradition dating to 1213 where Brussels residents plant a may tree on August 9th following a parade through the city center. It's genuinely weird - locals in historical costumes carry a beech tree through streets while crowds follow drinking beer. The tradition involves complex rules about timing and route that supposedly relate to a 13th century rivalry with Leuven. Worth experiencing if you're in Brussels on the specific date purely for the strangeness of watching Belgians take this extremely seriously.