Weekendo
New Year's Eve fireworks at Portus Ganda (Ghent)
The City of Ghent welcomes 2027 with fireworks launched from the water above the Portus Ganda marina, preceded by mood images and music on the Voorhoutkaai.
Christmas holidays 2026: what to do from 19 December to 3 January 2027
Two weeks of holidays: Christmas markets, light trails and parades, skiing and skating, thermal baths when it rains, and what is open on 24, 25, 26 and 31 December and 1 January. Pick a day to see what is open, with that day's hours.
Pick a day
Holidays: 24, 25, 26, 31 December and 1 January
New Year's Eve
Ostend New Year's Eve fireworks
An Ostend tradition: at midnight, fireworks light up the sky over the sea in front of the Groot Strand near the Kursaal.
Electric Fireworks on Museumplein (Amsterdam)
A big New Year's Eve celebration on Museumplein with music and a light and laser show as an alternative to traditional fireworks, plus a children's party and countdown.
Leuven Countdown on the Oude Markt
The City of Leuven throws a free open-air New Year's Eve party on the Oude Markt, with a DJ from 10 pm to 00:30 and a countdown to 2027.
New Year's Eve on the Grand-Place in Mons
As part of Mons Cœur en Neige, the Grand-Place hosts a dance party from 10 pm and fireworks at midnight to welcome 2027.
Christmas markets
Bruges Christmas Markets (Wintergloed)
Two Christmas markets in the heart of Bruges, on the Markt and Simon Stevinplein, part of the Wintergloed festival, with an ice rink in King Albert I Park.
Gentse Winterfeesten (Ghent Winter Festival)
Ghent's Christmas market spreads across several squares in the historic centre, with chalets, an ice rink and winter bars open late.
Liège Christmas Village
Belgium's oldest Christmas market (38th edition): about 200 chalets between Place du Marché and Place Saint-Lambert, with pèket and a party mood.
Winter Wonders (Plaisirs d'Hiver)
Brussels' big Christmas market turns 25: 238 chalets along almost 2 km from the Grand-Place to De Brouckère, with a Ferris wheel and an ice rink.
Winter in Antwerp
Flanders' biggest Christmas market runs from the Grote Markt to the Operaplein, with an ice rink on Groenplaats and New Year fireworks.
Winterland Hasselt
A 15,000 m² winter village on Kolonel Dusartplein: Christmas market, covered ice rink, Ferris wheel, Santa's House and après-ski bars.
Aachen Christmas Market
Aachen's big Christmas market wraps around the cathedral and town hall, with the famous Printen gingerbread and stalls tucked into the old-town lanes.
Aegidii Christmas Market Münster
Family-friendly market in the Aegidiimarkt courtyard, around a large wooden pyramid with a chime and a nativity scene. 23 November to 23 December 2026.
Amiens Christmas Market
Over 100 chalets along nearly two kilometres, from Place René-Goblet to the town hall – one of the longest markets in the north.
opens Thu 26 November, 16:30
Amsterdam Light Festival 2026–2027
Around twenty light artworks along the canals, on foot (4.5 km) or by boat, 26 Nov–17 Jan.
Arras Christmas Market (Ville de Noël)
One of northern France's biggest Christmas markets, on the Grand'Place and Place des Héros, with Ferris wheel, ice rink and carousel.
Bernkastel-Kues Christmas Market
Market in the half-timbered old town on the Moselle, with wine stalls, an Advent calendar and fireworks on 19 December. 20 November to 20 December 2026.
Lights and festivities
Christmas Time at Pairi Daiza
The big animal park at Brugelette puts up more than a hundred light installations, video projections and an illuminated Christmas train over the holidays.
Christmas at Modave Castle – 'Christmas around the World'
Thirty rooms of Modave Castle are dressed in a 'Christmas around the world' theme, open daily from 12 December to 3 January, Christmas Day included.
Dinant Lumière: Santa's arrival with a parade of illuminated horses and tractors
On Saturday 19 December at 6 pm, illuminated tractors and horses escort Santa from the Rocher Bayard through Dinant's main streets.
Dino Nights light festival at ZOO Planckendael
After dark, more than fifty life-size dinosaurs and light installations turn the animal park in Muizen into a prehistoric evening walk.
Kerstmagie at Laarne Castle
In a moated castle near Ghent, a Christmas theatre walk with actors and light effects tells the story of 'the Frozen Heart'.
Kerstmagie at Wijnendale Castle (Torhout)
Between Bruges and the coast, Wijnendale Castle hosts a Christmas theatre walk with actors and light effects: 'the Forbidden Marriage'.
Kerstmagie at de Merode Castle (Westerlo)
An hour-long Christmas theatre walk through de Merode Castle, with live actors, light effects and a brand-new tale, 'Kerstmagie en de Dromenvanger'.
Lichtgolf light walk in Ostend
A new 3 km evening walk through Ostend past light installations, with an audio story about the city's seafaring soul.
Malmedy Christmas Parade (10th edition)
On the evening of Sunday 20 December, illuminated floats, children in costume and live music wind through central Malmedy to mark the parade's tenth edition.
Torchlight walk 'Count Henry and his Daughter' at Namur Citadel
On 18 and 19 December, a theatrical torchlight walk takes families along the ramparts of Namur Citadel in the company of Henry the Blind and his daughter Ermesinde.
Torchlit night tours of Bouillon Castle (winter holidays)
Over the Christmas holidays, a guide in medieval dress leads you through Bouillon's fortress by torchlight alone, from the underground passages up to the Austrian Tower.
Winter Evenings at Bokrijk
Between Christmas and New Year, Bokrijk Open-Air Museum lights up for five evenings of storytelling, group singing and an old-fashioned funfair.
Snow and skating
Natural slopes open only when there is enough snow — each page links to the official snow report.
Cross-country skiing at Baraque Michel
In the heart of the High Fens at 674 m, Baraque Michel rents cross-country skis and sledges, with loops from 3 to 25 km.
Cross-country skiing at Signal de Botrange
At Belgium's highest point (694 m), a cross-country ski rental centre gives access to marked, groomed loops of 4 to 20 km across the High Fens.
La Station – Baraque de Fraiture
At 652 m, one of Belgium's highest points, La Station offers three downhill runs, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and a sledging run.
Ovifat Alpine Ski Slopes
On the edge of the High Fens, the Ovifat ski club runs three downhill runs (green, blue, red) served by drag lifts, plus a marked sledging run.
Thermes de Spa
On the Annette et Lubin hill above the town, the Thermes de Spa offer baths, saunas and hammams, with textile and naturist areas.
Alpincenter Bottrop indoor ski slope
Set on an old Ruhr mining spoil heap, this 640 m covered slope is skiable all year, with all-inclusive tickets that cover rental gear and a buffet.
SnowWorld Landgraaf indoor ski slopes
The longest indoor slope in the Benelux: five runs on real snow and a proper chairlift, open daily from 9 am to 10 pm near Heerlen.
Thermae 2000 thermal baths, Valkenburg
Thermal baths fed by their own spring at the top of the Cauberg, with indoor and outdoor pools and a large sauna area, open daily 10 am–10 pm.
Willingen ski area
On the Ettelsberg, a gondola and two chairlifts serve the slopes of this ski-jumping village, with floodlit skiing on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Winterberg ski area (Skiliftkarussell)
The biggest ski area within reach of Belgium: more than 45 km of slopes and 46 lifts in the Sauerland, with floodlit skiing on several evenings a week.
Herzebösch Ski Centre, Elsenborn
On the Elsenborn plateau at 635 m, the Herzebösch centre grooms cross-country loops of 2 to 14 km, all suitable for skating, plus a sledging run.
Ice Mountain indoor ski slope, Comines
A covered ski slope kept at −6 °C on the French-Belgian border, open every day, with gear and ski suits for hire on site.
If it rains
Indoor markets, indoor slopes, rinks and thermal baths.
Thermes de Spa
On the Annette et Lubin hill above the town, the Thermes de Spa offer baths, saunas and hammams, with textile and naturist areas.
Alpincenter Bottrop indoor ski slope
Set on an old Ruhr mining spoil heap, this 640 m covered slope is skiable all year, with all-inclusive tickets that cover rental gear and a buffet.
Aqualand Cologne
A big indoor water park in northern Cologne with nine slides, including a trapdoor loop, plus a large sauna area.
Fluweelengrot Christmas Market (Valkenburg)
Underground Christmas market in the passages of the Fluweelengrot beneath Valkenburg castle ruins, with timed tickets.
Gemeentegrot Christmas Market (Valkenburg)
A Christmas market underground in the marl passages of the Gemeentegrot: sheltered from the weather, with timed tickets.
SnowWorld Landgraaf indoor ski slopes
The longest indoor slope in the Benelux: five runs on real snow and a proper chairlift, open daily from 9 am to 10 pm near Heerlen.
Thermae 2000 thermal baths, Valkenburg
Thermal baths fed by their own spring at the top of the Cauberg, with indoor and outdoor pools and a large sauna area, open daily 10 am–10 pm.
Tiki Pool Duinrell
Duinrell's big indoor water park near The Hague, with more than 20 slides in a Polynesian setting.
Aqua Garden – Terhills Resort by Center Parcs
On the edge of Hoge Kempen National Park, the Aqua Garden at Terhills Resort offers day visitors an infinity pool and a children's pool at modest prices.
Aqua Mundo – Center Parcs De Vossemeren
The subtropical pool complex at De Vossemeren in Lommel also welcomes day visitors, with a wave pool, wild-water channel, slides and a heated outdoor pool.
Aqua Mundo – Center Parcs Erperheide
In Peer, the Erperheide Aqua Mundo welcomes day visitors with a Water Playhouse, wave pool and wild-water channel, and can be combined with the BALUBA indoor play world.
opens Sun 15 November, 10:00
Aqua Mundo – Center Parcs Les Ardennes
Deep in the Ardennes near Vielsalm, the Aqua Mundo at Center Parcs Les Ardennes opens its wave pool, slides and children's pool to day visitors.
Frequently asked questions
When are the 2026 Christmas holidays in Belgium?
In Flemish and French-speaking schools the Christmas holidays run from Monday 21 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 (German-speaking Community: until 2 January). This page also covers the weekend before, from 19 December. Sources: vlaanderen.be, enseignement.be, ostbelgienbildung.be.
What is open on 25 December and 1 January?
Many markets close on 25 December and 1 January or open later; ice rinks, indoor slopes and thermal baths often have holiday hours. Pick the day above: places whose official hours confirm they are open come first.
Do I need a sticker for my car?
Several cities (Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Aachen, Cologne, Paris, Lille…) have a low-emission zone that requires registration or a sticker, also for foreign cars. Every page shows whether the place is inside a zone, with a guide to what to do.
Near you
Brussels 30Antwerp 25Ghent 27Liège 31Namur 27Charleroi 24Mons 23Leuven 33Hasselt 29Maastricht 28Aachen 30Luxembourg 13Lille 20Cologne 15
By region
Wallonia 18Flanders 31Belgian Ardennes 8Belgian Limburg 5Dutch Limburg 6Eifel and Aachen region 6North Rhine-Westphalia 20Lorraine 5Hauts-de-France 5Île-de-France 6