Christmas markets in Belgium 2021

Christmas markets in Belgium 2021That You Should Explore

Planning to visit some amazing Christmas markets in Belgium 2021 but not sure which ones to go for? Fret not, we have got your back!

With such a huge variety of Christmas markets in Belgium, anyone will be spoiled for choice. While some of these markets are locally famous others are some of the most popular Christmas markets in Belgium and even Europe.

Now here’s an interesting fact:

Did you know that many Christmas markets in Belgium stay open for not just Christmas but New Year and the first week of January too?

Christmas markets in Belgium 2021

So, if you plan on staying till New Year Celebrations then you will certainly enjoy a whole lot more with your loved ones. Feeling excited and ready to apply for a Belgium visa? Before you do that, simply read our guide to know about some amazing Christmas markets in Belgium.

What are the Belgium Christmas Market Opening Dates 2021?

Here are the opening dates of some of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Belgium:

  • Bruges Christmas Market – From 26th November 2021 to January 2022
  • Brussels Christmas Market – From 26th November 2021 to 2nd January 2022
  • Hasselt Christmas Market – From 20th November to 9th January 2022
  • Leuven Christmas Market – From 8th December to 19th December 2021

3 Best Christmas market in Belgium That You Should Explore

Bruges Christmas Market

Bruges is perhaps one of the most beautiful and fairy-like towns in Belgium. That is the reason why many tourists flock to this charming destination with their loved ones.

Christmas markets in Belgium 2021

This is also one of the reasons why Bruges Christmas Market is thrown open to tourists in the last week of November (26th November 2021). This helps winter tourists get a sneak peek into what all is in store for Christmas.

Did you know? The Bruges Christmas Market is much smaller than other popular Christmas markets. However, the market is quite cosy and Christmassy.

Some of the exciting attractions of the Bruges Christmas Market are:

  • The ice-skating rink for sybarites
  • All kinds of local foods & beverages
  • Market stalls selling crafts
  • Beautiful decorations

Brussels Christmas Market

One of the biggest & busiest Christmas markets in Belgium is the Brussels Christmas market. Just look at the scale of this market:

200 market stalls which are spread between the Grand Palace town square to Fish Market, ice skating rink, exclusive Christmas stall, Music &Light shows and much more amazing attractions.

No wonder this Christmas market gets absolutely busy during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Here’s an advice for you – Try to avoid visiting the Brussels Christmas market during weekends as it can get really busy and crowded.

Hasselt Christmas Market

In recent years, the Hasselt Christmas Market has grown in popularity. If you visit this market now, it feels much more than a shopping hub.

This market is much more popular among locals and its cosy & compact setting in one city square makes the market an ideal place for tourists and travelers who prefer not so large crowds.

Christmas markets in Belgium 2021

You will also get to witness a variety of stands set up by different countries. So, if you want to visit a cosy Christmas village then Hasselt can be your best bet!

So, what are you waiting for? Just apply for a Belgium Visa UK and visit the iconic Christmas Markets in Belgium with your friends or family!

Pukkelpop 2021 – The Second Largest Music Festival of Belgium

Belgium is readying itself to one of the most popular multi-day music festivals called Pukkelpop 2021.

This festival has been running since 1990 and has hosted some of the most popular music artists of the current time. What is this amazing music festival all about? Where can I get the tickets? What is the Lineup? Read on to get all the answers about this renowned music festival!

What is Pukkelpop 2021?

Pukkelpop is one of the largest multi-genre music festivals of Europe that is held annually near Hasselt, Belgium. This event was founded by Humanistische Jongeren van Leopoldsburg (a youth organization) with the aim of having a musical festival that showcased progressive & contemporary music.

The huge music festival had humble beginnings in 1985 as a one-day event followed by the second edition in 1988. However, this festival has been conducted regularly since 1990 and has hosted several notable acts by artists like Sonic Youth, Rihanna, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Daft Punk, Iron Maiden, Eminem amongst others. Nowadays, the world-famous event draws crowds numbering around 180,000!

Pukkelpop-2021

Interesting Fact: The Dutch Word Pukkel literally means “Pimple” in English.

Dates & Line up 2021 of Pukkelpop Music Festival

Dates of the Music Festival

The exhilarating Pukkelpop Music Festival will be held from 19th to 21st August 2021. Various artists will perform live over the course of 3 days.

The Lineup of Pukkelpop 2021

A total of 167 artists specializing in genres like Rock (22), Electronic (69), Indie (33), HipHop (27), Pop (16) will be performing in the iconic event.

The headliners for the music event are as follows:

  • Anne-Marie
  • Marshmello
  • Balthazar
  • Liam Gallagher
  • Editors

Here are some other popular artists that will be performing in the Pukkelpop Music Festival 2021:

Alignment, Biesmans, Celini, De Ambassade, Eefje De Visser, Fever 333, Giant Rocks, Helena Hauff, IDLES, Jack Garratt, Lianne La Havas, Mabel, Nina Kraviz, Oliver Tree, Pa Salieu, Ramon Tapia, Sam Fender, The Cool Greenhouse, Underworld, Vukovi, Whispering Sons, Yung Mavu & Zwangere Guy.

Venue of Pukkelpop Music Festival 2021

The multi-day behemoth music festival will be held at Kempische Steenweg, Hasselt, 3500, Belgium.

The organizers of the Pukkelpop festival are undertaking corona measures to ensure that every visitor stays safe during the course of the music event. Head over to their official website to get more information about documents that you need to submit while attending the festival.

Pukkelpop-2021

Pukkelpop 2021 tickets

You can either avail a day-by-day ticket (105 Euros) or a Combi Ticket i.e., a pass for all three days (215 Euros). Food & Drinks Vouchers, Camping tickets a swell as Beer vouchers are sold separately.

Accommodations during Pukkelpop 2021

The organizers are providing a camping site called “Camping Chill” which is usually located close to the festival grounds. Check out the official website to get your camping tickets. If you don’t get the camping tickets then nearby accommodations include:

  • Holiday Inn Hasselt – 0.3 km
  • Radisson Blu Hotel – 0.5 km
  • Park Inn by Radisson Hasselt – 0.5 km

These accommodations offer all the essential amenities and are within walking distance from the music festival venue.

How to Reach Pukkelpop Music Festival 2021

If you have decided to travel to Belgium then reaching the festival venue is quite easy. You can either arrive by Plane or Train.

By Plane

After reaching the Brussels Airport, get on a train to Hasselt which takes about 1 hour to reach. From there take the bus to Kiewit Kerk and reach the festival venue.

By Train

Most European cities are well connected with the Hasselt Railway Station. After reaching the station, head over to the bus stop and board on a bus heading towards Kiewit Kerk. Simply follow your google maps or local instructions to reach the venue of the music festival.

Pukkelpop-2021

Got all the information about Pukkelpop 2021? Simply apply for a Belgium Visa and enjoy this amazing multi-genre music event with your friends or family!

Savor lip-smacking beers at the Bruges Beer Festival 2020

Belgium is famous for its lip-smacking beers. In fact, a few varieties of Beer are only found in Belgium due to its rich history & legacy of Beer Brewing. Belgium celebrates a wide range of festivals throughout the year & Beer Festivals are a major crowd-puller. The Capital City of Belgium, Bruges is readying itself to host the Grand Bruges Beer Festival 2020.

Beer was always an intrinsic component of social life & diet in Belgium for the past few centuries. This particular feature was recognised by UNESCO and Belgium was added to the list “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”. Approximately 600 beers from 91 famous breweries such as de Halve Maan, Bourgogne des Flandres, Dupont & many more will be up for tasting at the Bruges Beer Festival 2020.

You can savor a number of beers which include rare varieties as well. A tourist? Beer Lover? Love tasting exquisite Beers? Bruges Beer Festival is an ideal choice for a memorable vacation. Apply for Belgium Visa & take part in Bruges Beer Festival Belgium with friends or family.

Bruges Beer Festival 2020

Special Attractions of Bruges Beer Festival 2020

Constructive Debates on Beer in the Belgian Beer Festival, Bruges:

The Bruges Beer Festival isn’t just about drinking beer & having tasty food. You may engage in stimulating seminars and discussions that are devoted solely to beer-making & consumption. Specialists & Beer connoisseurs will be delivering talks in the event. If you are an epicure, your useful ideas can be exchanged in the discussions for future innovations in Beer.

Discover a Plethora of Beers in Bruges Beer Festival 2020 Belgium

Enjoy Trappist & Belgium beers among many other Belgium Beers. The Trappist beers must definitely be relished as half of those Beer variants are available in Belgium itself. Nearly all the Trappist beers of Belgium & Netherlands including the rare Westvleteren can be found during the Belgian Beer Festival.

Belgium Culinary Delights at Bruges Beer Festival 2020

Some of Bruges ‘ top chefs take part in the festival. They demonstrate their culinary skills by preparing unique dishes containing Beer. You can also savor delicious traditional Belgium cuisine while tasting some of the best Beers in the world.

A record number of Beers & Brewers at Bruges Beer Festival

With more breweries signing up for the Bruges Beer Festival 2020, you can easily expect no less than 600 beers. About 91 breweries will display their collection of Rich Beer variants. Besides that, each iteration of the festival brings new innovations of Beer. Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with a wide range of lip-smacking beers.

Bruges Beer Festival 2020 Dates & Venue

This is Bruges Beer Festival’s 13th Edition which will take place on February 1st & 2nd, 2020. This Belgian Beer Festival will now be hosted on the newly built ‘ t Zand area, with a huge area of 4,400 m2.

Entry is free, however, there are starter packs which are available for 15€. You will be given a festival guide, tasting glass & token to try beer. Extra tokens can be bought for 2€ each.

Bruges Beer Festival 2020

Apart from this Belgian Beer Festival, you can plan an itinerary and explore scenic locations of Belgium. So, what are you waiting for? Get a visa for Belgium & relish Bruges Beer Festival with loved ones.

5 Excuses to grab a Belgium Visa & Explore Belgium

Belgium is a beautiful country renowned for spell-binding architecture, medieval towns, Belgium chocolate and more. These reasons are good enough for you to grab a Belgium Visa and undertake a memorable journey to Belgium. However, there is more to Belgium than just chocolate & picturesque views.

Belgium is the headquarters of the European Union and NATO. In addition to that, the famous World Diamond Center is located in Antwerp, Belgium. You can visit Belgium’s capital by taking a short trip from Antwerp to Brussels and enjoy the world-famous Belgium Beer & Belgian Coffee.

Try out classic Belgian Waffles, fries, hamburgers & the popular spaghetti bolognese in restaurants or road-side cafes. Apply for Belgium visa and surprise your family with a getaway to Belgium.

5 Must-try Things in Belgium with a  Belgium Visa

Belgium is well-known for a plethora of things. However, there are 5 hand-picked things that you should try while visiting Belgium with a  Belgium Visa. They are:

Belgium Chocolate

The mouth-watering Belgium Chocolate is hard to miss and must rank first in the bucket list for your Belgium vacation. This delicious chocolate sprang into existence in the late 16th century. During that time, it was used to mostly make hot chocolate. But innovations in Belgium Chocolate made it one of the best chocolates on the planet. Belgium Chocolate owes its fame to strict laws and good quality practices.

This gave a stupendous rise to Belgium Chocolate’s legacy. Nowadays, you can find great Belgium chocolates in almost any bakery, café or restaurant in Belgium. Get a Visa for Belgium & explore a wide range of tasty Belgium Chocolates with friends or family.

Belgium Beer

The lip-smacking Belgium Beer is well-known throughout the world due to its brewing process, ingredients, brands and a plethora of flavors. Belgium is ideally located in what is called a ‘Beer Belt’ which extends from the Czech Republic to Ireland. Beer varieties like Abbey, Trappist, White, Lambic & Fruit are popular in Belgium.

Some must-try Belgium beers for your Belgium vacation are The Enigmatic Westvleteren 12, The Pannepot & Hoegaarden Grand Cru. So, avail a Belgium Visa and savor tasty beers for an unforgettable experience in Belgium.

Belgium visa

Belgian Coffee

The Belgian Coffee is known for its diversity, spell-binding taste, exquisite aroma and world-class quality. The port of Antwerp is actually the largest storage in the world for unroasted coffee. Naturally, Coffee is bound to be popular in this country.

But, the unique thing that Belgian Coffee roasters do is adopt traditional methods. They use low temperatures to roast coffee beans & make lip-smacking coffees. You should definitely visit a good restaurant or café to enjoy delicious Belgian coffee with a Belgium Visa.

Belgian-Coffee

Visit Antwerp

Antwerp is an enthralling city located near River Scheldt. This city boasts of Renaissance architecture, bustling Grote Markt, Shopping streets and much more. You can also explore Belgium’s rich heritage by visiting the museums or take your kids to one of the oldest zoo’s in the world.

A shopaholic? A sybarite? Or just want to unwind? Antwerp has something for everyone. You can also take a train or go by road from Antwerp to Brussels to explore the capital city of Brussels with loved ones.

Antwerp-Belgium

Diamond Center

The city of Antwerp is popularly known as the Diamond capital of the world since the 14th century. The reason for this accolade is the Diamond Center or Diamond District of Antwerp. Rough and polished diamonds are available here in a variety of stores. Almost all of the shops remain open every day except Saturday. You can even bargain on lavish diamond jewelry, a thing that is not done in other Belgium cities.

Belgium Visa

Thus, these are the 5 top-notch things to do on your next Belgium Vacation. However, you can discover other hidden gems of this exotic country. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a Belgium visa and visit Belgium for a memorable vacation with loved ones.

Christmas Beer Festival 2019 | A Paradise for Beer Lovers

The thrilling Beer Festival is back in Belgium this Christmas season to serve its vast fan-base with a plethora of lip-smacking beers.

Are you a beer geek? Love enjoying a tasty beer with your friends? or  A connoisseur? Then Christmas Beer Festival 2019 is the place to be. Belgium is renowned for having the world’s best quality beer. The fact that this country with a population of just 11 million has 230 breweries, attests to the craze and passion for this classic beverage.

Boasting of more than 200 beers that include 22 draught ones as well, this festival promises to be an exciting affair filled with fun and delicious beers. Apply for Belgium Visa to explore this international beer festival with your friends or loved ones in the beautiful village of Essen.

Christmas Beer Festival 2019

The Fascinating Essen Christmas Beer Festival

The Christmas Beer festival 2019 is also known as kerstbier festival. This mega event is held every year in Essen during Christmas to cater to every beer enthusiast. The most surprising fact is that this event has been taking place for 15 years. It draws tourists from more than 30 countries and around 2300 people took part in this fascinating festival in 2018. This speaks volumes about the enthralling event.

This year around 200 brewers will be participating in this alluring event where beer aficionados can titillate their taste buds from a vast selection of around 200 beers.

How to plan out for Christmas Beer Festival 2019?

The venue for Christamas beer festival 2019 is Heuvelhal,a sports complex located in Kapelstraat 7B-2910 of Essen in Belgium. A shuttle bus will be available between Essen Railway Station and the festival venue. The charges would be 1 euro per person.

Essen has a few nice places to stay for the festival that are at a walking distance from the venue. There is a large parking space behind the festival hall where you can camp as well. If all of these are reserved, you can try any of the hotels such as:

  • Roosendaal: Bastion Hotel, Best Western Hotel, Hotel Merks.
  • Huijbergen: HuizeTijdsat – Economical place
  • WouwsePlantage: Camping De Ottermeerhoeve

christmas beer festival 2019

So, What are you waiting for? Get a Visa for Belgium and embark on an enthralling Journey of carousing Classical Belgian Beers with your friends or family.

The astounding Christmas Beer Festival 2019 awaits your arrival!

Everything to know about Halloween day Belgium 2019!

The wait is over! Halloween day is approaching! It’s time to raise your Halloween spirit Witches, Zombies and Vampires. To make your Halloween day memorable one, Belgium offers you wide array of festivities to enjoy. The celebration of Halloween day Belgium will make you forget any other celebration.

The event is a big deal in the state and is widely celebrated with pumpkin carving ideas. The Halloween pumpkin are hollowed and made spooky with lighted candle inside. What are you waiting for? You are just a Belgium visa away to the grand celebration.

Insight into the History of Halloween’s Day

With an interesting history of its origin, it is celebrated as an annual holiday on October 31st. Party people are you ready? Let us take a deep dive into the tale of origin of Halloween day. The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain is the major reason for origin of this spooky festival. It is the day when people lit bonfires and wear Halloween costumes to fend off ghosts.

Halloween-day

In 8th century, Pope Gregory III specifies 1st November as the day to honour all saints. As a result, All Saints Day comes into picture. However, the evening before was then named as All Hallows Eve, which is now called as Halloween. And, with time, the Halloween day unfold to be a big celebration with countless fun activities. Prime yourself for the grand Halloween 2019.

Begin your day with carving Jack-O-Lanterns, decorating your houses with the most creative ideas and many more. When it comes to Halloween’s day Belgium 2019, costumes are what excite the most. Add the creepier look by pairing your scary costumes with the best Halloween makeup and Halloween mask.

Halloween-day

Get your costumes ready and have a ghoulishly good time in Belgium! As the clocks have gone back and dark nights are coming! Get your visa for Belgium ready soon!

Belgium Beer – A Heady Mix of Centuries Old Culture & Passion

Belgium, a small yet enthralling European country, is renowned for drawing a million of travel enthusiasts every year. People visit this beguiling European gem to adore the beauty of vintage mansions & castles, astounding architecture, alluring galleries & exquisite canals.

In addition to being home to the myriad of the spectacular crowd-pleasers, Belgium is often quoted to have one of the best cuisines in Europe. Belgium is famed for chocolates, waffles, French fries with mayonnaise & last, but not the least, Belgium Beer.

Belgium is globally acclaimed for producing a large number of world’s rarest, tastiest & the most interesting beers to the extraordinary standards. This country is an inescapable part of the carousing life-style.

If you are a casual beer drinker or a home-brewing or bottle-cellaring enthusiast, probably Belgium is the ideal destination for you. To relish the incomparable oomph of the Belgian beer brands, all you need is an Online Belgium Visa. Fill the Visa Application form to apply for a Visa for Belgium.

Fascinating History of Belgium Beer

Belgium holds the tradition of beer-brewing long before it became an independent country. This ancient brewing practice dates back to around 12th century, when local French & Flemish cloisters, under the permission of the Catholic Church, used to raise funds to brew & distribute beer. The availability of unhygienic drinking water paved a way to the intake of relatively low-alcoholic beer by the people.

belgium beer

The present traditional & artisanal beer-brewing methods evolved for over the seven centuries under the supervision of the abbey.

Then in the late 18th Century, some monks, fleeing the French Revolution, occupied the Trappist monasteries of Belgium that are today known for brewing some of the best Belgian beer. Monks would use local herbals such as fruits or hops to preserve the beer in the adverse climatic conditions. It is evident that Belgium Beer & its traditional brewing methods evolved from a domestic activity to an artisanal pursuit.

And finally, after 50 years after the French Revolution, the first Trappist brewery of Belgium began its operation on 10th December 1836. The beer was exclusively brewed for the monks & named as Westmalle.

Remarkably, the Belgium Beers are the heady mix of the centuries old brewing tradition & passionate brewers of the new generation.

Type of Belgium Beers

Belgium holds the greatest diversity of authentic & extraordinary beer styles on the planet. Over 1100 varieties of beer are brewed in about 230 Active Belgian Breweries that vary on the grounds of color, alcohol levels & brewing methods.

Two of the renowned Belgium Beers are Trappist Beers & Abbey Beers.

1). Trappist Beers – The Beers brewed in the Trappist Belgian monasteries are known as Trappist beers. Out of the 10 Trappist Abbeys in the World, six are situated in Belgium.

In year 1997, a collaboration of eight Trappist abbeys from Belgium, Netherlands & Germany formed the International Trappist Association & issued a logo to the Trappist Beers in order to ensure the authenticity of the beer to the customers.

Trappist Beers

Certain rules that qualify a beer to be a Trappist Beer are as follows-

  • The Brewery should be situated in a monastery.
  • The beer should be brewed under the control & strict supervision of Monks.
  • The profit earned from the sale of the Beer should be spent to support abbeys or used in other social services.

Some of the renowned Trappist Beers include- Achel, Chimay Bleu, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, Westvleteren.

2). Abbey Beers – Abbey Beers are referred to as basically any monastic or monastic-style beers that were officially introduced in year 1991. Since then, Abbey Beers have become the most award-winning beers because of its generous standards of Brewing. The main ingredients used in the brewing include definitive Belgian Yeast, a rich blend of caramel & chocolate, dried cherries, burnt sugar & figs.

Abbey Beers

Abbey Beers may be-

  • Produced by a non-Trappist monastery & has a historic connection with the abbey site that beer refers to.
  • Produced by a marketable brewery.

The Abbey Brewery created a legitimacy logo to ensure authenticity of the beer to the customers. The logo reads as “Erkend Belgisch Abdijber” (Belgian Abbey Beers) & applies to Belgium Beers only.

Some of the renowned Abbey Belgium Beers include La Rulles Triple, De Dolle Oeral, De Ranke Gludenberg & De Ryck Arend Dubbel.

Methods of Brewing of Belgium Beers

The various methods using for the brewing of Belgian Beers include-

1). Spontaneous Fermentation

2). Warm Fermentation

3). Mixed Fermentation

4). Cool Fermentation

Most popular Belgian beers

Here is a list of hand-picked Belgian Beers that you shouldn’t miss carousing on your tour to Belgium with a Visa for Belgium-

  • Duchesse De Bourgogne
  • Rodenbach Grand Cru
  • Orval Trappist Ale
  • Westmalle Tripel
  • Bernadus Wit

Get your Online Belgium Visa Appointment materialized by filling the Visa Application form & grab the opportunity to savor from the globally recognized Belgium Beers.