Plaisirs d’Hiver: Winter Wonders in Brussels

I've never really understand all those hypes for festivals. To me, they've always felt a bit like clever marketing wrapped in tinsel. As someone who prefers quiet corners to crowded parties, I usually spend festive seasons trying to avoid the noise. Christmas in Hong Kong has always been beautiful to look at. Yet despite all the incredible displays in shopping malls, they never quite touch that deeper, warmer place inside my heart.

But Europe? Europe does Christmas differently. There's a magic here I can't explain. Maybe it's seeing decorations that look like they were put up with genuine joy, not just commercial collaborations with big brand names. Maybe it's the way each little market has its own personality. Last year, travelling through Spain and Portugal, I caught a glimpse of it and was secretly hoping that I would come back again next year. So it led me to Brussels this year.

Winter Wonders and Christmas Market 2025
Location: Centre of Brussels
Grand-Place - Place de la Monnaie - Bourse - Sainte-Catherine - Marché aux Poissons (Vismarkt) - Place de Brouckère - Rue de la Madeleine - Place Poelaert
Dates: 28 November 2025 - 1 January 2026
Website: https://www.plaisirsdhiver.be/en

The Plaisirs d’Hiver market felt like a living snow globe: a Ferris wheel turning, merry-go-rounds spinning, an ice rink alive with movement. I wanted my camera to capture the feeling as much as the sight. Rows of wooden chalets unfolded before me, each a doorway to a different scent, a different treasure, a different piece of the Christmas dream.

I was lured by the sweet, doughy waffles mixed with the spicy punch of mulled wine. Every stall seemed to glow, selling everything from steaming drinks to delicate handmade ornaments. The 'Winter Wonders' market doesn't just sell you things; it gently hands you an experience, wrapped up in the warmth of shared smiles and good food.

Then I found myself in the Grand Place, and the world turned into a fairy tale. The massive Christmas tree was a tower of stars, its light painting the ancient buildings around the square in soft, shifting colours. Stone that had stood for centuries suddenly looked alive, dancing in blues, purples, and yellows.

On the front of the King's House, a digital clock was counting down. Cold and curious, I waited. The moment it hit zero, the square erupted. Light and music exploded across the old stone facades, turning history into a canvas for a dazzling modern show. It was breathtaking. And just when I thought it was over, a surprise guest showed up. (Guess who? Ho, ho, ho!) It was the perfect, cheeky ending that made everyone, including me, laugh out loud.

Of course, you can't visit Belgium and not eat. Mussels, chips, beef stew, waffles, just to name a few classics. I ducked into a cozy restaurant, ordered a pot of mussels steamed in wine and a pile of crispy fries, and warmed my hands on a mug of mulled wine. Sitting there alone, watching the festive world go by the window, I felt completely content. The waiter's kind smile as she checked on me was a small reminder that the season's magic often lives in these quiet, human moments.