You’ve been to the coast before and you’ve probably also visited a Christmas market, but have you ever combined the two? There are plenty of reasons to make that happen this year. Winter in Ostend is the trip you didn’t know you needed yourself.
Christmas falls early in Ostend
Three Christmas markets and an ice rink
When the end-of-year period arrives, we all look forward to cosiness, Christmas lights, dishes like grandma used to make, and Christmas markets. But when the time finally comes for you to wallow in Christmas music and ugly Christmas jumpers shamelessly, you are so busy with preparations that visiting a Christmas market won’t happen this year either. In Ostend, they have found a solution to this. They are organising THREE Christmas markets, two of which start as early as Friday 29 November 2024 and continue until Sunday 5 January 2026.
Winter in the park - Leopoldpark
This Christmas market with 50 chalets is located in the heart of Leopold Park and was therefore aptly named ‘Winter in the Park’.
Unfortunately, since winters are not as cold as they used to be, you can no longer skate on the pond. Therefore, they opted for a floating one that makes it look like you are skating on the pond. A touch of nostalgia with a dose of modern ingenuity.
In the stalls, you can buy some nice Christmas gifts in advance and if you don’t feel like carrying everything around, you can drop the loot in your hotel room, as Leopold Hotel Ostend is just around the corner!
Christmas market at the Wapenplein
You can continue the end-of-year fun 500 metres further on, at the Wapenplein. There you will find the second Christmas market where children can personally pass on their wishes at Santa’s house. Afterwards, children can take a ride in a magical Christmas tree while parents observe over a hot drink.
’t Ostends Kerstpling – Vissersplein
On Visserplein, not far from the railway station, you will find the third Christmas market. Here, the emphasis is on music, and you can come and listen to various genres of live music. Here, too, you can find plenty of stalls to satisfy your hunger and thirst. This Christmas market will open its chalets for the first time on Thursday 19 December 2024 and end on Wednesday 1 January 2025.
Getting lost among Christmas trees
Christmas by the sea means you can easily combine the rustling of the sea with the rustling of pine trees. For real, because on the beach of Mariakerke in Ostend, from the 21st of December until the 5th of January, you will find a mysterious forest of 500 Christmas trees where young and old search for the exit together. As you walk among the pine trees, it’s not snow that crunches under your feet, but sand from the beach. Hold on tightly to your Santa hat because a strong sea breeze might just run off with it!
Christmas shopping in Ostend
Shopping in Ostend is great all year round. The shopping streets are close to the beach, making it easy to combine a refreshing walk on the promenade with Christmas shopping. A new outfit for Christmas dinner, a sparkling party outfit for a New Year’s Eve party or presents for under the Christmas tree. You’ll find it all here. Not much of a gift wrapper? In Ostend they will wrap your presents for you for free. Just take your purchases to the Gift Wrapping Bar where they use very special wrapping paper on the theme ‘winter in Ostend’.
While shopping, you can be surprised twice a day by a light show in the Adolf Buylstraat. There, from the 29th of November to the 5th of January, you will find a long light tunnel of no less than 180 metres. A very special experience during a special winter by the sea.
