Shopping in Belgium

From chocolates to fashion, grab a bargain or two on your break in Belgium. Go on, spoil yourself! 

Shop till you drop in Belgium 

If you’re in Belgium on a city break, you can’t beat a bit of window shopping – or actual shopping! Just strolling along a pretty street, nosing around the boutiques or scouring the rails for a bargain. Whether you’re in Brussels or Bruges, Antwerp or Ghent, bringing back a shopping bag (or two) from your trip is all part of the fun. Find out more about the best places to shop in Belgium, what to buy, opening hours and how much you can bring back tax-free.  

‘Winkelen tot je erbij neervalt’ (shop till you drop), as they say in Flanders.  

Where are the best cities to shop in Belgium? 

Shopping arcades don’t come more memorable than Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert Brussels – boutiques and elegant arcades

Brussels has a little bit of everything when it comes to shopping – big brands and department stores, classy boutiques, flea markets, luxury fashion, chocolatiers and so much more. While the streets around the Grand Place are full of souvenir and chocolate shops, explore a bit more and you’ll find high end designer stores, quirky boutiques, vintage and concept shops. Brussels, the birthplace of Tintin, is the capital of the comic strip, and fans will find comic strip bookshops all over the city. The jewel in the crown, hiding down an assuming street, is Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, an elegant galleried arcade that first opened its doors in 1847. It’s like stepping into the past. As well as shops, cafés and restaurants, there’s even a cinema here!  

Bruges – tasty treats round every corner  

 The chocolate shops in Bruges are hard to resist! 

People come to Bruges to admire its medieval buildings, to walk along streets that haven’t changed in hundreds of years, but also to shop. It’s hard not to get tempted into the chocolatiers that line so many of the streets around the Markt, the main square. Choose wisely though – many sell fairly standard Belgian chocolates. For something a little more unique, try The Chocolate Line, on Simon Stevinplein – a family business making ethically sourced chocolates of impeccable quality. The cobbled streets of Bruges are also notable for shops selling extensive ranges of Belgian beer, as well as lace – both trades with long histories in Bruges. The centre of Bruges is a mall-free zone, because of its UNESCO World Heritage status, but the usual big brands are to be found along Steenstraat and Zuidzandstraat.  

Antwerp – high fashion in the Low countries  

The palatial Stadsfeestzaal mall in Antwerp  (Image credit: Bobo Boom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

If Paris, London and Milan are the fashion capitals of Europe, hard on their high heels must come Antwerp – a city thrust into the fashion limelight by the emergence of a generation of innovative designers in the late 1980s, known as the ‘Antwerp Six’. Fashion stores dominate the main shopping districts of Antwerp, from the big brands to couture, centred around the Kammenstraat and Nationalestraat. The Meir is Antwerp’s answer to Oxford Street – a former waterway now completely pedestrianised. Browse in high end designer and flagship department stores, and the ornate Stadsfeestzaal mall, a temple to retail with a golden dome and marble floors. Shoppers on the hunt for antiques or vintage collectibles will head for Kloosterstraat, while the streets of the ‘Wilde Zee’ district are home to hip clothing and tasty food outlets.  

Ghent – Sunday morning market strolls 

Don’t miss the flower markets in Ghent on a Sunday morning

It’s a pleasure to shop in Ghent, not only because of the city’s picturesque cobbled streets and canals, but as it’s the largest pedestrianised shopping area in the whole of Belgium. Wander from the traditional heart of the old town in Korenmarkt, Veldstraat and Langemunt, to the SoGo area around Kouter square, with its high end brand stores and boutiques. Other shopping areas to explore in Ghent include Dok Noord, a former factory converted into a trendy retail quarter, and the Côté Culture, a diverse area full of interesting places to eat and drink. Shops are open all week in Ghent, but the first Sunday of the month is extra special – opening hours are much longer, from 10am to 6pm, and there are usually flower, book and bric-a-brac markets to be found in Kouter square and Bij Sint-Jacobs.  

Plan your shopping spree to Belgium

Make sure you keep to the tax-free limits

Driving to shopping destinations in Belgium 

The beauty of Belgium is that it is closer than you think, and all these cities are within 2 ½ hours drive of the LeShuttle terminal in Calais. They are all wonderful places for a short break too, steeped in history and with plenty of things to do.

Can I shop tax-free in Belgium?

Yes, don’t forget that UK residents are eligible to  shop tax-free in the European Union, which means you’ll be able to save money on VAT when purchasing items like clothing, cosmetics, food and drink, jewellery and electronics. The minimum amount to claim a tax-free refund is €125. 

What limits are there to what I can bring back home?  

There are some limits to what you can bring back to the UK – if you’re buying wine, spirits and tobacco you’re probably aware of the duty-free restrictions, but there is also a limit on the amount of general goods you can buy if you want them to be tax-free. The limit is £390 on goods other than alcohol and tobacco. If you go over this allowance you will have to pay the tax on the full amount, not just the value over the limit.  

How late do shops stay open in Belgium?  

In the tourist areas of Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, department stores, supermarkets and larger retailers are usually open until 8pm. Some smaller and independent shops will close at 6pm, although they are permitted to be open until 9pm.  

Book your shopping trip to Belgium with LeShuttle  

Travelling with LeShuttle means you can pack so much more into your car after your shopping trip to Belgium. Remember, it’s just a 35-minute crossing from Folkestone to Calais.