Belgium trip question for Christmas and....

It's fine to ask. Lots of stuff will be closed on Christmas Day, but in the days leading up to it, central Brussels is usually fantastically lively, with the Christmas market, and lots of people out in those pubs/cafes/restaurants. Now, the security thing is a real concern, if people are staying away from the center and places are closed. However, we've already gone down a notch, and I expect something like to move back toward "normal" in the next few weeks. I can't even begin to imagine that your trip would be disrupted by alerts and threats and whatnot. Downtown may be, sadly, a little less jam-packed than normal but I doubt it will be as deserted as a week ago. Have a good visit.

 

Who says he's visiting Brussels . Go to Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Ypres region and you'll be fine.

 

What's the deal with the Christmas market? I too am going to be in Brussels around Christmas.

 

It's on. Reduced hours and more security in early days. Crowds have returned and it sounds much the same ever. I'll get down there this weekend at some point, but aiming to avoid the most crowded bottlenecks (like the rue from the Bourse into Grand' Place) in any case.

 

Let me know if someone wants to have a drink around Christmas... Cheers

 

i'd guess that stuff would be closed in the Christian-er cities of Bruges and Ghent

 

I spent 2 weeks in Belgium over the summer and loved it. Visited all of the cities of Belgium it seemed but spent majority of my time in Brussels. we stayed at Cantillon, A La Becasse, Delirium, and Moeder Lambic