10th December - 8th January
The Grote Markt Handschoenmarkt and Suikerrui. host Antwerp's Christmas market where visitors can stock up on decorations, sip mulled wine by the huge Christmas tree and purchase seasonal produce in a vibrant festive atmosphere in keeping with the city's image.
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27th November - 24th December
The Arras Christmas market, set against the arcades of the beautiful Grand’Place, has become one of the most reputed Christmas markets in Northern France. With more than 60 exhibitors, the smells, sights and sounds of this event capture the real Magic of Christmas.
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Béthune
2nd - 24th December
Reputed as being one of the best in the area, the streets and squares of this interesting town come to life with festive cheer. Béthune is less than an hour from Calais, so is a good local alternative to some of the bigger cities. (stay in one of our châteaux in the area)
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10th - 11th December
Boulogne's Christmas market, held within the old city walls, is among the most beautiful in the Nord-Pas de Calais region. In addition to a wide variety of arts and crafts, visitors will find local specialities such as smoked herring, Craquelin pastries and even Christmas pudding, which should make British visitors feel at home!
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25th November - 5th January
The Christmas market takes place on the Markt Square around the traditional open-air ice rink, with a smaller market located on Simon Stevinplein. Colourful lights illuminate festival stalls crammed with Christmas goodies, where shoppers can browse tables laden with elegantly packaged chocolates and locally made produce.
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25th November - 1st January
"Winter Wonderland", Brussels's extensive traditional Christmas market, takes place on the Place Sainte Catherine and the Bourse with around 150 exhibitors from all over Europe offering traditional arts and crafts, jewellery, and Belgian chocolates for sale alongside an artificial ice-rink and numerous street artists.
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Friday to Sunday throughout December
Calais' Christmas market extends around the Theatre Square and along the main shopping streets of the city centre. Some 100 stalls display arts and crafts and creative local specialities such as ostrich pâté and festive Rond de Saint Nicolas - delicious crunchy biscuits.
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9th December 2011 - 30th December 2011
Ghent welcomes the festive season with a charming Christmas market. Visitors can wander among the 50 wooden huts in search of decorations, candles, cards and gifts, serenaded by a choir.
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25th November - 2nd January
Less of a market and more of an enchanted winter wonderland, Le Touquet offers a traditional Christmas setting with fables, characters, lights, music and a truly festive atmosphere, with street stalls offering seasonal goods.
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24th November - 30th December
The biggest Christmas market in the north, Lille attracts nearly 1 million visitors to place Rihour and the surrounding streets, while the Grand Place is transformed by a majestic mix of illuminations, while the big wheel which turns majestically to the sound of Christmas carols.
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9th - 18th December
The Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein and Herbert Hooverplein will once again be the romantic backdrop for the annual Leuven Christmas market. There will be various food-tasting stalls in amongst floral decorations, candles, oil lamps, ironwork, books and more.
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16th - 18th December
Every December, for just 3 days, a Christmas Market is set up in the Grote Markt in the centre of Mechelen. With 80 stalls selling gifts alongside fairground attractions & choir concerts, visitors can stock up on decorations, gifts and other festive items.
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25th November - 31st December
Offering street entertainment, magicians, carol singers and 120 market stalls selling Christmas gifts, decorations and festive foods, Reims is transformed into a wonderful winter attraction.
This is one of the biggest and best markets in France and is very much worth the journey.
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Strasbourg
26th November - 31st December
Held in the city since 1750, Strasbourg’s market is one of the finest in Europe. Located around Place de la Cathédrale, The Christkindelsmärik comes alive with a fabulous festive atmosphere and specialities on sale such as “Bredele”(small Alsatian biscuits), finely crafted toys and mulled wine.
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26th November - 1st January
As usual the Christmas Market will take place on the Grote Markt in the centre of town.
The Swiss style chalets, together with a variety of restaurants, shops and the now popular ice rink, will bring the typical Christmas atmosphere to the market square of Ypres and will certainly put you in a festive mood. (Closed Mondays).
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Details of markets and festive activities have been provided by local tourist offices and are published by Great Escapes in good faith.
