Things to Do in Belgium in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Belgium
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Museum and gallery season at its peak - locals retreat indoors November through February, meaning cultural institutions roll out their best exhibitions and you'll actually have space to appreciate them without summer tour groups
- Chocolate season in full swing - November marks when chocolatiers release their winter collections and praline-making workshops become available, with temperatures perfect for chocolate that won't melt the moment you buy it
- Genuine local atmosphere - with minimal tourists and Belgians settling into their cozy season routines, you'll experience cafes, bars, and restaurants as they actually function for residents, not as tourist attractions
- Christmas market preview without the chaos - late November sees markets opening (typically around November 22-25) before the December crowds arrive, giving you first access to the best stalls and actual elbow room
Considerations
- Daylight is brutally short - sunrise around 8:15am, sunset by 4:45pm means you're sightseeing in twilight or darkness for most of the day, and that grey light doesn't do much for photography
- The damp cold penetrates everything - 87% humidity at 3-8°C (37-46°F) feels significantly colder than the thermometer suggests, and that raw, bone-chilling quality catches visitors off guard even if they're from cold climates
- Rain is persistent rather than dramatic - expect 18 drizzly days rather than proper downpours, meaning you're constantly damp rather than occasionally soaked, and umbrellas become a daily accessory you'll genuinely use
Best Activities in November
Historic city walking tours with strategic cafe breaks
November's raw weather actually makes this ideal - you'll appreciate medieval architecture without crowds, and the Belgian cafe culture becomes essential rather than optional. The grey light suits Gothic architecture surprisingly well, and you'll have Bruges' canals and Brussels' Grand Place nearly to yourself on weekday mornings. Plan routes with warming stops every 45-60 minutes at traditional brown cafes.
Belgian beer experiences and brewery tours
November is peak season for darker Belgian ales - breweries release their winter beers and abbey ales taste better when it's cold and damp outside. The warmth of fermentation rooms provides welcome relief, and tasting sessions feel appropriately atmospheric. Trappist monastery breweries like those near Bruges are particularly atmospheric in November mist.
Chocolate and praline making workshops
November through February is when Belgian chocolatiers are most active, and the cool temperatures mean your creations won't melt on the walk home. Workshops typically run 2-3 hours in heated ateliers, teaching traditional praline techniques. You'll work with seasonal flavors like speculoos spice and learn why Belgian chocolate genuinely differs from other varieties.
Art museum marathons in Brussels and Antwerp
November is when locals do their serious museum-going, and institutions respond with major exhibitions. The Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Magritte Museum, and KMSKA in Antwerp are genuinely uncrowded on weekday mornings. You can spend 4-5 hours indoors comfortably, and the grey light outside makes the transition to viewing art feel natural rather than like you're missing sunshine.
WWI battlefield tours in Flanders
The somber November weather suits Flanders Fields perfectly - the grey mist over Ypres and Passchendaele memorials creates the atmosphere that summer sunshine never could. November 11th (Armistice Day) brings ceremonies at Menin Gate that are genuinely moving. The cold and mud give you a tiny sense of what soldiers experienced, though obviously without the horror.
Traditional Belgian cooking classes
November is when Belgians cook their heartiest dishes - carbonnade flamande, waterzooi, and stoofvlees - and cooking schools focus on these comfort foods. Classes typically run 3-4 hours in warm kitchens, ending with a proper sit-down meal of what you've prepared. You'll learn techniques for the beer-based sauces that define Belgian cuisine and understand why this food evolved for exactly this weather.
November Events & Festivals
Armistice Day Ceremonies at Menin Gate
November 11th brings the most significant WWI commemoration ceremonies in Ypres, with the Last Post ceremony taking on extra weight. Thousands attend, including veterans and dignitaries. The daily 8pm Last Post happens year-round, but the November 11th version includes additional military presence and wreath-laying. Arrive by 7pm for any chance at a decent viewing spot.
Brussels Christmas Market opening weekend
Late November typically sees Plaisirs d'Hiver opening around November 22-25, transforming central Brussels with 200-plus chalets, ice skating, and the light show on Grand Place. The opening weekend has fewer crowds than December while offering the full experience. Evening visits (5-9pm) show the lights at their best, and the mulled wine actually serves a functional purpose in November cold.
Saint Martin's Day celebrations
November 11th also marks Sint-Maarten in Flanders, traditionally when new wine and beer batches are released and roasted goose appears on menus. Not a tourist event but worth knowing - many traditional restaurants feature special menus this week, and you'll see locals gathering for convivial dinners that feel authentically Belgian rather than performed for visitors.