Winter Season is a series of Christmas and winter events in the Leuven city centre, including the Leuven Christmas Market. It also includes concerts, the Light Art Festival and the Food Truck Festival.
Read on for confirmed 2024 dates and event details.
Leuven Christmas Market 2024
Dates – Confirmed
Leuven Christmas Market dates: 11th to 22nd December 2024 (confirmed).
Winter Season dates: 5th December 2024 to 5th January 2025 (confirmed).
Update: Dates were announced in March. Sign up for our newsletter for future updates.
Source: Dates are obtained directly from the event organiser’s website, available here.
Plan Your Visit
Location and Times
Location: Grote Markt. Plus events at Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein, Herbert Hooverplein and Oude Markt.
Opening times:
Sunday to Wednesday: 11am to 10pm.
Thursday to Saturday: 11am to 11pm.
Christmas Day: Closed.
Travel and Accommodation
Public transport: Bus from the main train station runs every 5 minutes.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Where to stay: Stay directly on Grote Markt at The Fourth.
Amenities and Attractions
Admission: Free, no tickets required.
Santa: Yes.
Ice skating: No.
Reason to Visit: The 15th-century Leuven Town Hall and the Light Art Festival.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian: Yes, plenty of options.
Vegan: Yes, plenty of options.
Gluten-free: Limited. Ask individual vendors, but beware of cross-contamination.
Food specialties: Glühwein bars, speculoos biscuits, knitwear booths and local food trucks.
Accessibility
Accessible: Yes.
Pet-friendly: Yes, but not recommended.
Convenient Hotels
Leuven is a relatively small, walkable city. Most of its sights are centred around Grote Markt, Oude Markt, Saint Peter’s Church and Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein (another large square). This central district is around 1km from the main train station along Bondgenotenlaan.
If staying overnight, The Fourth is well-located directly on Grote Markt; it’s a 3-minute walk to Oude Markt and 5 minutes to Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein.
Otherwise, this guide to hotels in Leuven lists several excellent hotels you might like.
Consider other destinations in my Belgian Christmas Markets List. There are some really interesting places to choose from.
Event Location
Wrapped up your Christmas visit? We’d love to hear about your experience. Share your story and tag photos with #UltimateChristmasMarkets on social media.
Christmas in Leuven
Leuven has some of the prettiest markets and neighbourhoods in Belgium. The markets include more than 140 chalets selling products from the surrounding regions.
In addition to handmade crafts and gifts, the gourmet food and drink stalls are hugely popular for local Belgian craft beers and specialties like speculoos biscuits.
Additional specialty stores and food trucks are on two nearby squares, Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein and Herbert Hooverplein.
Food Specialties
- Speculoos Biscuits: Traditionally baked for St Nicholas’ Day, speculoos are crisp, spiced shortcrust biscuits often beautifully decorated for the season.
- Kerststronk: The local Yule Log sponge cakes that are decorated to resemble a miniature log.
- Chocolates and Pralines: Belgian chocolate needs no explanation!
- Boudin Blanc: A white sausage typically made from pork and milk.
- Belgian Beer: There are many craft beers worth trying that are not available outside of Belgium.
- Belgian Waffles: Fluffy, chewy waffles topped with sweet options like icing sugar, chocolate sauce and fresh fruits.
- Frites: A common sight on many Belgian streets.
- Gluhwein: Of course, mulled wine is available here too. You often have the option of keeping your mug as a souvenir.
- Oliebollen: Similar to a doughnut, this deep-fried Dutch treat is usually rolled in sugar and served hot.
- Raclette: A wheel of Swiss cheese is melted and scraped onto potatoes, pickles and onions, sometimes with as a baguette sandwich.
What to Buy
- Artisanal Chocolate: Chocolatiers sell their delicious creations at market stalls and at the stores in the surrounding streets.
- Local Crafts: Jewellery, woodwork, artwork and woollen scarves are just some examples.
- Belgian Lace: Belgium is the place to buy delicate lace items such as handkerchiefs, tablecloths and doilies. I still have a lace tablecloth I purchased in Belgium 20 years ago.
- Belgian Beer: Leuven is the birthplace of Stella Artois and has a beer culture that dates back centuries. Leuvense Tripel and many craft beers sell gift sets and souvenirs.
- Decorations: Hand-painted glass baubles and nativity scenes are popular souvenirs.
Sustainable Travel Tips
- Shop mindfully. Only purchase what you really need.
- Walk, cycle and use public transport to get around.
- Stay in a sustainable hotel powered by renewable energy.
- Stay in hotels. Short-stay apartment accommodation can lead to a lack of affordable housing for locals.
- Avoid using plastic or buying items made or packaged with plastic.
- Try to eat locally sourced organic food where possible.
- Limit your consumption of meat and dairy.
- Be open to diverse cultures and experiences.
- Explore more than just the main tourist areas.
- Support the arts and attend local events.
Comment below if you want to leave a Xmas review, have any questions or would like to report any inaccuracies.
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Recommendations are independently chosen based on personal travel experiences and extensive research. While we make every effort to provide accurate information, the dates and details listed here should not be relied upon. Please consult the official website before booking your trip or planning a visit.
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