What To Buy In Brussels, Belgium

1. Chocolate in Brussels

Brussels is the Belgian capital city. It is famous for its waffles, beer, fries, and chocolate. Brussels may be famous for its junk food, but there’s more to its national cuisine. Brussels is most famous for its chocolate. Belgian chocolates are rated the best in the world. There are different varieties to choose from. Here, chocolate-making is taken very seriously. The various types of chocolate include pralines, truffles, and gianduja. The Brussels chocolate tour gives travellers the opportunity to learn how to choose quality chocolates and why Brussels is famous for it. At the end of the tour, there’s a small chocolate workshop. The best chocolates are made with 100% cocoa butter and sold in the many souvenir shops.

Belvas

Address: Chemin du Fundus 7, 7822 Ghislenghien, Belgium

Website: Belvas

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

2. Beer

Cantillon brewery is a small Belgian tradition family brewery which was founded in 1900 and exclusively brews Gueuze, Kriek, Faro and Lambic beers. The brewery also houses the Gueuze Museum. The business is open to the public guided by tours. Folk brewing sessions also take place twice a year. The brasserie also takes pride in the local brewery. They use simple technology in preservation in order to maintain the original aroma of the beers. The beers are brewed in a small brewery honouring the traditional ways of beer brewing–free from additives, unpasteurized, unfiltered, and using only high-quality raw materials. Brussels is their number one market.

Brasserie Cantillon

Address: Rue Gheude 56, 1070 Anderlecht, Belgium

Website: Brasserie Cantillon

Opening hours: Mon & Tues, Thurs - Sat: 5am - 5pm (close on Wed & Sun)

3. Speculoos biscuit

The Speculoos is a typically Belgian biscuit which is made from butter, flour, and brown sugar which gives it the deep brown colour. It has been attributed to several origins, but the word “speculoos” could also stem from the old Latin word “speculator” meaning “bishop.” This would explain why the biscuit is offered to well-behaved children as a reward on the festival day of Saint Nicolas. The speculoos is best taken with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee but can also be taken with desserts. In Brussels, you may find speculoos at Maison Dandoy where it’s still made the traditional way with handcrafted wooden moulds. As crunchy and cheeky as they are, they have the power to make your day and set your mood. When planning your trip to Brussels, visit the Dandoy’s for tasty speculoos.

Maison Dandoy

Address: Rue au Beurre 31, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Website: Maison Dandoy

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9:30am - 10:30pm (closed on Sun)

4. Snow globe (no matter the season)

A snow globe is an object that simultaneously evokes holiday cheer and eye roll-worthy kitsch. It is irresistible because of the promise of brief, easy entertainment with added visual delight of the whimsical miniatures found inside. In Brussels, traditional snow globes have widely remained the same and quite popular. Tourists visiting Brussels shop a lot of snow globes as souvenirs. No matter how cheesy they are, snow globes have remained Brussels’ classic souvenirs. Visit Brussels and find yourself craving for the short burst of joy that comes from picking up a snow globe with a smiling, dancing elf inside.

The Brussels Corner

Address: Rue de la Madeleine 5A, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Website: The Brussels Corner

Opening hours: 10am - 7pm (daily)

5. Lacework

Lace from Brussels can be found in any form desired. Tourists usually go for the little accessories: pouches, umbrellas, and handkerchiefs. Laces continue to be made by a needle and are produced by the traditional method workers. Today, Belgium is home to the best lace accessories in the world. Brussels is renowned for its iconic lacework. Tourists visiting Brussels purchase a lot of lace accessories for their families or friends back home. Lacework has made Brussels a popular tourist destination. Most souvenir shops around Brussels sell a lot of lace accessories.

'T Apostelientje

Address: Balstraat 11, 8000 Brugge, Belgium

Website: ’T Apostelientje

Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 10am - 12pm, 1:15pm - 5pm; Sun: 10am - 1pm

6. Cigars

We know it’s not allowed anymore to smoke in bars and restaurants in most Western countries, Belgium included. But people still earnestly step outside to enjoy a fat, juicy after-dinner Nicarao cigar. The Nicarao brand is purely manufactured in a South American country but the blend is a Belgian invention. The Nicarao cigar is praised for being one of the best non-Cuban cigar brands in the world. Nicarao has been making progress for itself with its favourable prices and great leaf quality. Just steps away from Brussels central station, there’s a well-established house for smokers with a wide range of pipes, cigar cutters, and lighters.

La Casa del Habano Brussels - Louise

Address: Rue Faider 1C, 1060 Saint-Gilles, Belgium

Website: La Casa del Habano Brussels - Louise

Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 10am - 6:30pm; Thu: 10am - 12am; Fri: 10am - 7:30pm; Sat: 11am - 6:30pm (closed on Sun)

7. Christmas balls

Mouth-blown, hand-painted glass Christmas balls make a wonderful present or gift for someone special. Each ball is painted separately, making it unique with slight variations to each item. It’s an excellent gift for collectors. De Witt Pelican is the Christmas shop in Brussels where visitors shop for the Christmas balls at Christmastime. In most homes, it’s a tradition to buy new Christmas ornaments every year to decorate the house. Many tourists have been travelling to Brussel to shop for the Christmas balls because they are more beautiful and handcrafted. Various souvenir shops sell them.

The Gift Box - International Duty Free

Address: Brussels Airport Terminal A (11), 1930 Zaventem, Belgium

Website: The Gift Box - International Duty Free

Opening hours: 6:30am - 9pm (daily)

8. Eggwhite skin soap

For a long time now, Belgian women have been using egg white and chamomile bar soaps. They are produced from pure egg white and skillfully mixed with the soothing properties of the oil of pressed lecithin and chamomile. This soap has an added effect of calming and conditioning for your skin. It also hydrates your skin to be more soft and shiny. The oil from chamomile is a natural softening agent. Smooth the soap on your face and neck and relax for a few minutes. You can almost feel the dirt and impurities being drawn naturally. Then have a rinse and a fresh glow appears on the skin.

CHANEL Brussels Store

Address: Boulevard de Waterloo 64, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Website: CHANEL Brussels Store

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 6:30pm (closed on Sun)

9. Avec Plaizier

This is a small shop stocked from top to bottom with amazing postcards. Most of them are inexpensive. The place is very original with retro and exclusive vintage items. The place also sells beautiful posters, diaries, and tiny gifts. The staff is friendly and very helpful. Guests visiting Brussels can go in to shop and come out with bags full of posters and books to bring home. This place is quirky, affordable, and almost impossible to walk out of without buying anything. From unique, retro postcards to movie posters, this store has it all.

Avec Plaizier

Address: Rue des Eperonniers 50, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Website: Avec Plaizier

Opening hours: 11am - 6pm (daily)

10. Coffee and pralines

Inspired by the old Belgian tradition of coupling chocolate and coffee, our maître chocolatiers created six pralines using single-origin cocoa from the world’s best coffee and cocoa destinations: Colombia and Brazil. It is a collection crafted as a perfect union between chocolate and coffee. A unique coffee ritual of three pralines per coffee, starting with the most delicate, ending with the most intense flavour was created. These pralines were invented to change your coffee break into a delightful taste experience.

Café-Tasse Store

Address: Grasmarkt 15, 1000 Brussel, Belgium

Website: Café-Tasse Store

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10:30am - 6:30pm; Sat: 11am - 7pm; Sun: 12:30am - 6:30pm

Discover all the gems in Brussels

Whenever you are in Brussels. you have to bring a souvenir back home. Above are some of the best things you can buy while you are in Brussels. Bring them home and make your vacation unforgettable.