The Holiday Markets of Europe

By Chris Wildgen, McMaster Alumna, travel writer, photographer and tour leader

To experience the joy and magic of Christmas, visit a Christmas market in Germany, Luxembourg or Belgium. Nothing makes bundling up in warm clothes, woolly hat and gloves more worthwhile than going to one of these Christmas markets in Europe, day or night, rain or shine!

Over 10 days, I visited the Christmas markets of Bruges, Brussels and Luxembourg City, noticing their similarities and differences, each one unique.

Maybe because Bruges was the smallest city, its Christmas market was the smallest, occupying one main square. Though there were clearly tourists like me, locals heartily greeted each other, and gathered around the food and drinks stands, celebrating together with a glass of local beer or Gluwein. The Christmas lights and large decorated Christmas tree in the middle of the square cheered up an otherwise dreary, rainy day. Actually, it was perfect for standing under the umbrellas, sipping a warm glühwein and watching the excited children exclaim over the decorations, and try to interest their parents in the toys in several of the stands! Being Belgium, frites and waffles were offered by several vendors, but all the stalls were worth a visit. After all, it was Christmas shopping time!

The Christmas market in Brussels was bigger, with three different locations as well as in the streets surrounding the brightly lit Bourse (stock market) location, making it a good landmark. Sainte Catherine Place had a ferris wheel and another, the ice skating rink. Tiny chalet-looking stalls lined the streets and filled the three locations — over 200 booths over the three locations, one of them a stand from Quebec selling maple syrup. Luckily there were large maps posted at each!

Again with the emphasis on food, I also quite enjoyed the stall with a family from Crete who sold their own olive oils and olive oil products. With white fully snowflakes gently falling, it was a chilly experience for them.

Part of the Christmas show but not really part of the market was something that only happens in Brussels: the hourly sound and light show in The Grand Place that is projected hourly onto the facades of the buildings of the main square every evening after dark. Luckily I was there with well-prepared friends who had booked us accommodation overlooking the square. We were probably part of the light show as we watched, leaning out of our windows to catch the whole show.

And notwithstanding the place of honour on the square in Brussels, my favourite Christmas market was in Luxembourg City. As in Brussels, there were three locations, Place d’Armes, the Place de la Constitution and the Place de Paris, with the main one feeling like a real Christmas village. Following the crowds, we entered through the arch, and grabbed a glass of warm Gluwein to wander through the rows of specialty stalls — socks, Christmas hats, candles, chocolate, candies, handmade wooden toys, Christmas decorations, Christmas toys, local food and drinks.

In the far corner of the market, my favourite food vendor of all the markets was the big grill covered with various kinds of sausages, made by a local. And nearby, a large covered bar that sold, among other things, the local Luxembourg beer, with a seating area, nice to take cover from the cold and rest from walking around.

As a second course, the super-sized cheesy spaetzle with bacon, another local delicacy, was hard to pass without ordering.

Then back to the entry, for the large Christmas themed ride, where for 10 euros we enjoyed a nice view over the market and its oversized, bright Christmas lights and decorations, listening to lots of chatter and laughter below.

Like the Christmas market in Luxembourg, there was the tempting ice skating rink, with a rink-side bar to listen to the music and watch people skating laps, some pushing a plastic chair, perhaps learning how to skate, or pushing a child around.

But for music, live music stages provided the best entertainment, with the acts changing every hour. At one, a school choir bundled up in warm clothing with a jaunty conductor played classical Christmas music. Another stage featured individual singers and other performers. They looked cold, and in need of warm Gluwein!

For a mini-getaway from the excitement, there was a lot off to one side, with a path leading through dozens of decorated Christmas trees, quiet and serene and apart.

Even though I had my favourite market, I enjoyed comparing the regional differences of the foods, drinks and local artisanal for sale, and the differences in personality among the three markets.

After an international career in sports medicine and sales and marketing, McMaster graduate Chris Wildgen is following her dream of connecting with people and diving into local cultures around the world through travel. Now a digital nomad, Chris is a travel writer, photographer and tour leader. With a natural flair for languages, she can converse in German, French, Italian, Spanish and English. Visit her site www.travelbetterlivebetter.com.

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