Winter in Antwerp

Winter in Antwerp turns the historic centre into the largest Christmas market in Flanders, with more than 1.5 million visitors last year. Wooden chalets line the Grote Markt in front of the town hall, the Suikerrui down to the river, the Groenplaats by the cathedral and the Handschoenmarkt, and there is a second part on the Operaplein, near the Meir and Antwerpen-Centraal.

Alongside the market there is an ice rink with a winter bar, the JOE X-mas House, thousands of lights, Christmas trees and the traditional nativity scene. The year ends with fireworks on New Year's Eve.

The market is open from noon to 22:00 from Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays; the Operaplein closes an hour earlier. The first day, 4 December, starts at 14:00. On 24 and 31 December it closes at 18:00, on 1 January it is closed, and the last day, 3 January, ends at 17:00.