Must-see shopping in Northwest Belgium

  • Chocolate Line

    Bruges

    Bruges has 50 chocolate shops, but just five where chocolates are handmade on the premises. Of those, the Chocolate Line is the brightest and best. Wildly…

  • De Striep

    Bruges

    Look for Thibaut Vandorselaer’s wonderful illustrated guides at this colourful comic shop. There’s also a comprehensive collection of comics and graphic…

  • Sint-Jacob's Prondelmarkt

    Ghent

    This extremely popular flea market is a must for lovers of retro (especially the '70s). During the Gentse Feesten the market runs for 10 days straight and…

  • Zucchero

    Bruges

    A fabulous sweets shop with eye-popping fuchsia decor. It sells umpteen varieties of fudge and candies, plus ice cream to go. Check out the candy sticks…

  • Diksmuids Boterhuis

    Bruges

    This gorgeous traditional grocery is now surrounded by mainstream boutiques but has been here since 1933. Decked out with red-and-white gingham flounces…

  • De Reyghere Reisboekhandel

    Bruges

    This fabulously well-stocked travel bookshop is an extension of De Reyghere Boekhandel next door; it's been in the same family for generations. Past…

  • 500px Photo ID: 90987617 - König Pilsener Jar, shooting  and drink before the game! :)

    Bacchus Cornelius

    Bruges

    There’s a cornucopia of 450 beers and rare gueuzes (lambic beer), as well as jenevers (gins) and liqueurs flavoured with elderflower, cranberries and…

  • L’Heroine

    Bruges

    The cool concrete exterior of L’Heroine stands out among the chains. Here you’ll find established Belgian designers Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester…

  • ’t Apostelientje

    Bruges

    Bruges overflows with lace vendors, but this sweet little ‘museum shop’ is well off the normal tourist trail. The delicate garments and gifts on sale are…

  • Vistrap

    Ostend

    Ostend's busy fish market is a briny bustling place and well worth a walk around its several wagon-stalls hawking smoked and cooked fish, pre-fried…

  • 2-Be

    Bruges

    Vast range of Belgian products from beers to biscuits in a snazzy, central location, but prices can be exorbitant. Their ‘beer wall’ is worth a look, as…

  • Vismarkt

    Bruges

    The stone slabs of the colonnaded 1821 fish market still accommodate fish stalls most mornings, along with trinket sellers later in the day. Several…

  • Madam Mim

    Bruges

    Quirky clothes handmade from vintage fabrics by shop owner Mim herself, as well as '60s crockery, cut glass, glorious hats and '70s kids’ clothes. You can…

  • Rombaux

    Bruges

    Here since 1920, this large, family-run music shop specialises in classical, jazz, Flemish, folk and world music, and is the kind of place where you can…

  • Mille-Fleurs

    Bruges

    A cornucopia of Flemish tapestries machine-made near Wetteren. Worth a browse if you want to take a piece of Belgium home with you. It also sells throws,…

  • Galler

    Bruges

    Chocoholics will be in heaven in this boutique chocolatier just off the Markt.

  • Boekhandel Corman

    Ostend

    This excellent bookstore carrying titles in Dutch, French and English has been an Ostend institution since 1926.

  • Olivier Strelli

    Bruges

    Belgium's best-known designer, who has an emphasis on colourful scarves, shoes and watches.

  • Dille & Kamille

    Bruges

    A great homewares store, with covetable kitchenware, crockery and fabrics grouped by colour. You’ll find gadgets you never knew you wanted alongside all…

  • Groot Vleeshuis

    Ghent

    This long medieval stone hall was built as a meat market and now acts as a promotion and tasting hall for regional agricultural produce. If you’re passing…

  • Atlas & Zanzibar

    Ghent

    Ghent’s best travel bookshop now has two branches. This is the main and more central; the other is at Kortrijksesteenweg 1036.

  • Tierenteyn-Verlent

    Ghent

    Mustard-makers since 1790, this museum-like shop also sells jams and spices.

  • Zilverpand

    Bruges

    Covered shopping area between Steenstraat and Noordzandstraat.

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