A Festive Belgian Adventure: Bruges at Christmas

Often referred to as the ‘Capital of Chocolate’, it would be criminal of us to visit Belgium without getting a taste of this popular treat — and there are plenty of places to do so! Be it a café on the seafront, an independent shop on a cobbled street, or a museum bursting with information, there are many ways to indulge. We opted for all the above, with the highlight being a visit to an immersive museum.

The campsite we stayed on, Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Klein Strand, is just a 20-minute drive or a short bus ride to ‘Choco-Story’ in Bruges. This would be a good option for those who can manage steps, but we ventured a little further afield to the more wheelchair-friendly ‘Chocolate Nation’ in the lively city of Antwerp. Well worth the drive, the largest Belgian chocolate museum in the world enticed us in with its sweet aroma wafting out into the street. Inside, it only became more mouth-watering! An enchanting tour of the museum guided us through a series of rooms, taking us on a chocolatey journey. From deep in the jungle where the cocoa plant grows, and the whirring and popping of the chocolate factory, to the makeshift cobbled street, complete with a fine-dining restaurant where special effects project an animation onto your plate. Through sights, sounds, and smells, we found this to be an exciting experience for all the senses! Stephen’s favourite part, of course, was the tasting room. Its walls were lined with machines dispensing a variety of warm, gooey, melted chocolate, from the milkiest white to the richest dark, and everything in between. Exiting through the gift shop commenced our Christmas shopping, and we left with bags full of goodies made by expert chocolatiers right there on-site. A taste of Belgium to enjoy back home.

After a fantastic day out, we cosied down for another evening in front of our caravan Christmas tree, smug at the warm temperature inside despite the thick frost forming on the roof. It was truly beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

One of the main reasons we chose Klein Strand as the base for our festive getaway is its proximity to the medieval city of Bruges. A city which, although picturesque during every season, really comes to life at Christmas. We headed there the following afternoon for the beginning of Wintergloed (Winter Glow) — a magical event that takes over the city from the end of November to the start of January. This festive celebration includes a light trail, ice rink, winter bar, numerous Christmas markets, and a wealth of decorations. We couldn’t wait to get stuck in!

Driving into city centres isn’t usually our favourite thing, but with Bruges, it was a joy. The traffic was free-flowing, and we easily navigated our way to an underground car park, emerging from an elevator right in the heart of it all. As dusk set in, we began to explore the cobbled streets, lined with historic buildings and draped in twinkling lights. The shops, a mixture of high street and independent, housed some of the most eye-catching window displays we’ve ever seen! Following the aroma of bratwurst and waffles, we made our way to Market Square, where we felt as though we’d stepped into a Hallmark movie. Horse-drawn carriages passed us by as we absorbed the bustling atmosphere. The Christmas market, surrounded by glowing trees, was in full swing, with rows of chalets selling locally produced food and trinkets from independent sellers, as music played overhead. It may not be the biggest Christmas market in the country, but it felt undeniably intimate, safe, and authentic, with the setting amongst the cobbled streets and grand old buildings giving it such a romantic feel.

The romance of Bruges continued as we crossed the bridge of the canal to the Rosary Quay viewpoint. Away from the hustle and bustle, we watched the reflections on the calm water, our breaths escaping as clouds into the cold night sky. “Content” only begins to describe how we felt.

With our final day upon us, we had one last thing to tick off our list, Minnewater, otherwise known as the Lake of Love. The sun came out for the occasion, and we took the short drive back into Bruges under bright blue skies, parking alongside the canal to explore on foot. For those with campervans and motorhomes, we spotted a convenient aire here, located on the ring road surrounding the city, with only a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute bike ride into the centre.

We soon made it to Minnewater Lake. Like Bruges itself, it’s picture-perfect in any season but completely transforms at Christmas time. On the edge of the water, we discovered a winter bar emanating scents of frites (a Belgian favourite: chips commonly served with a healthy dollop of mayonnaise). The temporary ice rink sits below, floating on the lake. Warming our hands on a hot chocolate, we strolled down the ramp to watch the skaters trying their best to stay upright and admire the surrounding scenery. Another moment of perfection during what had shaped up to be a fantastic trip!

Not only is Belgium an unbelievably quick and easy destination to get to, but it proved itself to be well worth visiting. We arrived excited to explore and left with gained knowledge, a festive buzz, a whole lot of memories… and a sleigh full of chocolate.