Brussels, the capital of a country that is known for chocolate, does not fail to deliver a sweet treat at Christmas time. With the Big Ferris Wheel, Andrea’s merry-go-rounds, the ice rink in Place de la Monnaie and the Christmas market with 200+ wooden chalets, Brussels has so much to offer at Christmas. However, the real highlight is Grand Place during the day and night.
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What is Grand Place?
Grand Place is an important tourist destination and is the central square of the City of Brussels. It was registered on the World Heritage List of the UNESCO in 1998 due to its spectacular architecture and richly decorated buildings. The earliest written reference to the square dates back to the 12th century and it is famous because of its connection to the social, economic and political life of Brussels throughout the years.
Eating in Grand Place
There are also a number of restaurants of varying price in the area. Although, during the daytime, you must consider taking a trip to the famous Le Roy d’Espagne which has its address as Number 1 Grand Place and is the starting point to this cultural haven. Le Roy d’Espagne is a Belgian brasserie and is based in one of the old guild houses that was built by the Brewers League in the 16th century. The interior décor and furnishings are very medieval and include a carved wooden horse, an ornate wooden staircase and puppets hanging from the walls. Whilst Le Roy d’Espagne is usually quite busy and sometimes the service is slow, the food and drink is definitely worth the wait and the food is accompanied by a rather unusual but addictive celery salt (which is to definitely worth indulging in with some fries). The establishment is known for its diverse selection of beers, meat and cheese platters as well as its mouth-watering desserts. There is also free Wi-Fi available for customers to access.
Light and sound show
Grand Place is absolutely beautiful during the daytime and it is challenging to envisage how it could become even more exceptional during the night-time. Nevertheless, due to the light and sound show, it becomes simply magical and is worth returning to see. The light and sound show is tailor made by Act Lighting Design which is an international company that is known for its high quality creations and is led by Koert Vermeulen. Vermeulen leads the design, creation and implementation of the light installation that boasts 1600 rails and LED spotlights and the formulation of sound to accompany it. From Monday to Thursday, the light and sound show occurs from 5.00 pm to 10.00 pm every hour and from Friday to Sunday, it occurs from 5.00 pm to 10.30 pm every 30 minutes. The length of the show is 15 minutes.
With all the locals and tourists pushing and shoving each other during the daytime, you will notice that the moment the lights and sounds start, everyone will stop and stand-still due to how mesmerizing it is because it feels like the buildings are coming to life due to the stunning special effects. Guaranteed emotions and Christmas spirit is definitely on offer in the beautiful square of Grand Place and best of all, it is completely free to watch and experience.
The light and sound show is not simply a set of colorful lights and musical beats combined but rather your chance to feel like you’re part of a real-life enchanted fairy-tale for a few moments and it is suitable for the lone traveler, couples, groups and families. You will undoubtedly be captivated by the contrasting colors, the melody and the uplifting Christmas atmosphere that takes over Grand Place. The illumination of the architecture is breathtaking and inspiring.
Where can you watch the light and sound show from?
The light and sound show can also be watched from the various restaurants in Grand Place (provided that you get a window seat). Although, I would recommend experiencing the show by standing outside and in the middle of the square so that you can see all of the buildings lit up. Afterwards, I would recommend taking a short stroll (approximately 5-7 minutes from Grand Place) to Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert where you can sit in Mokafe and indulge in the delight of a Belgian waffle.
Brussels Tour Guide
Miriam Meda
I inspire and help you on your trips to Belgium with my project, Curiositas Mundus. My goal is to avoid you any surprises once you land in this beautiful and small country. Traveling with kids? No problem. Are you a high school teacher preparing for your next study trip? No worries. Families? Friends? Solo travel? VIP? Companies? Universities? Lost souls? Restless minds? Physical challenges or ... Read more
What more could you want?
If you want to make your very own festive Christmas postcard, it’s definitely possible with the backdrop of Grand Place in the daytime. If you want to truly feel the Christmas spirit and the essence of locals and tourists being warm and overwhelmed with positive emotion, then it’s definitely possible with the festive vibes of Grand Place in the nighttime. Your only cost will be the fries and waffle which is approximately 18 EUROS (20 USD); what more could you want?
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