Things to Do in Belgium in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Belgium
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
43°F (6°C)
High Temp
35°F (2°C)
Low Temp
3.4 inches (86 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Near-freezing temperatures, pack warm layers
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December lands squarely in Belgium's driest stretch, mornings break crystal-clear, giving photographers the rare chance to catch Bruges' medieval facades mirrored in the canals without the grey wash that smothers the country the rest of the year.
- + Seafood hits its yearly prime as North Sea fleets chase year-end quotas. Ostend's fish market erupts with fat Zeeland mussels and sweet North Sea shrimp. Locals line up before sunrise to claim the best crates.
- + Christmas markets turn medieval squares into head-spinning mixes of mulled jenever (Belgian gin) and speculoos cookies. The Ghent market at Sint-Baafsplein develops beneath floodlit gothic spires that make every snapshot look like a postcard.
- + Hotel prices fall 25-30% from summer highs. Yet restaurants keep their full winter menus. That Michelin-starred table in Antwerp you've stalked online suddenly opens up two weeks ahead, not two months.
Considerations
- − Daylight shrinks to eight usable hours, by 4:30 PM you'll be thumbing your phone's flashlight to pick your way along Bruges' cobblestone alleys, and outdoor photography stalls without pro gear.
- − North Sea storms slam the coast with 50 mph winds that turn beach strolls into sandblasting. When red flags whip above Knokke-Heist and Blankenberge, even locals steer clear of the shore.
- − Plenty of outdoor attractions cut back for winter, Bruges' canal boats drop from every 20 minutes to hourly, and several coastal tram stops shut completely until March.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December in Belgium is cold and damp. Temperatures hover just above freezing. People seek the warm glow of a café or the steamy interior of a tavern. The month feels quiet, full of anticipation. It builds toward ancient traditions, like a medieval bishop's arrival in Antwerp or sharing spiced beers in an abbey cellar. The year ends with spectacular pyrotechnics over the North Sea, their colors reflecting on wet sand. The food is comforting. Think rich stews, the scent of melted chocolate, and the yeasty aroma of Trappist ales. Brussels and Bruges have Christmas markets with wooden chalets selling ornaments and warm waffles. But the real character is in scheduled events. It is a time for specific pilgrimages. See a historic parade. Taste a beer brewed for a few weeks. Stand on a windswept beach under winter fireworks.
European Quarter Comedy Tour
entertainmentThe European Quarter Comedy Tour uses humor to examine the European Union's complex politics and architecture. You will walk past the gleaming glass facades of the Berlaymont and Espace Léopold. Hear hurried footsteps on wet pavement. A guide points out artistic quirks and bureaucratic absurdities. This tour cuts through Brussels' formal reputation with wit. It makes institutions feel accessible and human.
It transforms the imposing seat of European power into an engaging, laugh-out-loud urban exploration.
Insider tip: Book a late afternoon start. You will see the district's glass towers shift from dull gray daylight to an illuminated spectacle against the winter dusk.
Navigate through Brussels and Discover Beer and Chocolate
otherNavigate through Brussels and Discover Beer and Chocolate connects two famous sensory pleasures. Feel the cool weight of a proper chalice. Taste the malty depths of an abbey ale. Contrast that with the rich melt of a single-origin chocolate square. The route weaves through grand galleries and narrower, cobbled lanes. The smell of cocoa and roasting nuts hangs in the cold air.
This experience links the craftsmanship of Belgium's most celebrated edible arts on one tasting trail.
Insider tip: Wear comfortable, water-resistant shoes. The tour proceeds regardless of the frequent December mists that slicken the historic cobblestones.
Brussels Private Family Tour: Highlights, Tasting and Museum
culturalThe Brussels Private Family Tour: Highlights, Tasting and Museum tailors history for young minds. Children can gaze up at the Manneken Pis statue. They can smell sugary clouds from a waffle iron. They can touch interactive exhibits inside a chosen museum. The private guide adapts stories to interests like comic book heroes or medieval knights.
It delivers a personalized, stress-free introduction to Brussels. It respects a child's attention span and an adult's desire for depth.
Insider tip: Request the Musical Instruments Museum. Its audio headsets let you hear the instruments you see. This is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser on a cold afternoon.
Daily tour of Brussels Lower Town and Upper Town
guided_experienceThe Daily tour of Brussels Lower Town and Upper Town charts the city's social evolution. It goes from the busy Grand Place up steep slopes to austere royal precincts. You will see gilded baroque facades shimmer under overcast skies. Hear the carillon bells from the Town Hall tower. Feel the climb in your legs as you ascend to the Place Royale. The view opens up there. The guide explains how geography shaped power and daily life.
This tour provides the essential framework for understanding Brussels' layered identity.
Insider tip: Stand near the guide in the Grand Place. You will catch detailed explanations of the specific guild symbols carved into each building.
Brussels Highlights and Secrets: Private Tour with Beer Stop
private_tourBrussels Highlights and Secrets: Private Tour with Beer Stop balances well-known sights with concealed corners. It ends at a traditional estaminet. Your guide leads from the gilt of the Grand Place to a hidden courtyard with a forgotten fountain. Finally, you reach a tavern filled with the smoky scent of aged beer. The beer stop is a proper sit-down moment. Savor a local brew and ask unfiltered questions.
It offers the depth of a private guide with the authentic reward of a neighborhood pub visit.
Insider tip: Ask your guide to point out Art Nouveau ironwork and stained glass on residential buildings in the Sablon district. These details are easy to miss.
Bruges Beer Tour with chocolate pairing by a young local
foodThe Bruges Beer Tour with chocolate pairing by a young local focuses on the relationship between two great crafts. In a classic Bruges beer cafe, taste the spicy notes of a seasonal brew. Let a piece of dark chocolate with sea salt dissolve on your palate. Discover how each enhances the other. Canals outside glow with reflected Christmas lights. The warm atmosphere inside is thick with clinking glasses and conversation.
This tour goes beyond tasting. It demonstrates the intentional pairing of specific beers with complementary chocolates.
Insider tip: The tour often ends at a bar favored by locals. Plan to stay after the official conclusion. Enjoy another beer from the extensive list.
Where to Stay in Belgium in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early December
Sint-Niklaas Arrival Parades
The real St. Nicholas steams into Antwerp's harbor on December 4th, no commercial Santa, just the bishop in full ecclesiastical robes parading medieval streets on a white horse. Children belt out Sinterklaas songs in Dutch while vendors sell speculoos cookies warm from centuries-old iron molds. The route from Steen Castle to Groenplaats starts at 2 PM, when winter light strikes the gothic cathedral just right for photos.
Mid December
Christmas Beer Festival
Essen's beer festival on December 18-19 shows 200+ Belgian Christmas beers, seasonal brews flavored with cinnamon, orange peel, and dark candy sugar that taste like liquid speculoos. The festival happens inside the 14th-century Benedictine abbey where stone cellars maintain perfect 8°C (46°F) storage temperatures. Local brewers pour beers you can't find anywhere else, limited releases like Kerstbier that monks bottle only for the holiday season.
Late December
New Year's Eve Fireworks at Blankenberge
Belgium's most spectacular fireworks happen over the North Sea at Blankenberge, the display launches from the 350-meter (1,148-foot) pier that extends into the sea, creating reflections that double the visual impact. Locals arrive at 10 PM to claim spots on the beach where temperatures hover around 5°C (41°F), the cold keeps crowds manageable and creates atmospheric fog when fireworks explode. The show runs 20 minutes and includes traditional Belgian elements like horse-drawn carts carrying mulled wine along the promenade.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Belgium Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The real Belgian Christmas markets open at 11 AM but don't get interesting until 4 PM, vendors start pouring jenever and lighting fires around sunset, creating that atmospheric glow guidebooks photograph.
Train tickets between cities cost the same regardless of when you buy, unlike airlines, Belgian rail doesn't do dynamic pricing, so you can book day-of without penalty.
Most Trappist abbeies close to visitors at 5 PM sharp, the monks ring bells that echo across the valleys, and if you're still inside, you'll get escorted out by a brother who takes silence vows seriously.
Ostend fish market vendors speak English but respond better to attempts at Dutch, even mispronounced 'goedemorgen' gets you samples of North Sea shrimp that tourists never taste.
Art Nouveau building owners in Brussels often refuse entry to large tour groups, book private architecture tours or arrive early to catch smaller group sessions that enter the buildings.
Avoid These Mistakes
Booking canal tours in Bruges at noon, the winter sun sits so low that midday tours leave you staring into shadowy underpasses instead of the famous reflections.
Assuming all Christmas markets serve the same food, Ghent's specialty is 'nose of Gent' (cone-shaped candy) while Brussels focuses on Liege waffles, and vendors get offended if you confuse them.
Wearing sneakers to medieval town centers, the cobblestones in Bruges and Ghent are polished smooth by centuries of footsteps and become treacherous when wet, which happens most December days.
Explore More Activities in Belgium
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Belgium.
See All Belgium Tours on Viator