From 1st December 2024 to 7th January 2025

Visit Ostend Christmas Market, one of the Best Christmas Markets in Belgium. If you are into art, cosiness, shopping, ice skating, Santa Claus, Christmas presents and/or delicious food, you should definitely pay a visit to Ostend this winter. Christmas is the perfect time to take a trip to Belgium and explore the City by The Sea. Ostend doesn't have one but two (!) cosy Christmas Markets. Another eye-catcher during the ‘Winter in Ostend’ event is an illuminated tunnel in the Adolf Buylstraat shopping street. This tunnel will be covering the entire street for a distance of 188 meters with a breath-taking canopy consisting of 232,500 lights! 

Book your flights, your accommodation as well as your tours & activities and visit the Best Christmas Markets in Belgium. 

Need more inspiration? Discover the Best Christmas Lights in Europe and Best Sunny Christmas Destinations in Europe.

All those who have really become fed up with the dark and gloomy winter months should come down to Ostend to enjoy the heart-warming lights. The entire city will then be decorated in Christmas lights and the city centre streets will be livened up with Christmas animations. A number of iconic locations including the sailing ship Mercator will also be put in the (proverbial) spotlight.

And why not combine your visit to the city with a search for the ideal Christmas gift? Those who still need inspiration to find the right present should definitely check out the inspiration magazine featuring more than 100 Ostend gift ideas. And the biggest advantage of shopping in Ostend is the fact that shops are also open on Sundays and bank holidays! Moreover, your presents will be packaged in the special Ostend Christmas gift wrapping.

One of the eye-catchers during the ‘Winter in Ostend’ event is an illuminated tunnel in the Adolf Buylstraat shopping street. This tunnel covers the entire street for a distance of 188 meters with a breath-taking canopy consisting of 232,500 lights! 

This winter, more than 80 shopkeepers will be packaging your Christmas shopping in a unique Ostend gift wrapping paper! 

Ostend’s latest event, “Winter in the Park”, focuses on re-creating the good old-fashioned ice skating experience. Each winter, ice skating fanatics await the moment they are allowed to practise their skills on a frozen lake or canal. Those who do not want to wait, however, should definitely come to Ostend. For 38 days, the City by the Sea will be turning the pond in the cosily decorated Leopold Park into an ice skating rink. After a few rounds on the ice, you will be able to stroll along the many stalls set up around the pond selling Christmas articles.