Must-see shopping in Belgium
Ostend
This excellent bookstore carrying titles in Dutch, French and English has been an Ostend institution since 1926.
Brussels
Passage du Nord’s array of quality boutiques makes this vaulted glass arcade a good spot to escape the rain.
Brussels
No prizes for guessing the star of this comic shop, which stocks albums galore and cute merchandise.
Antwerp
Mekanik is probably the best place in Antwerp to seek out comic books for non-Dutch speakers.
Bruges
Belgium's best-known designer, who has an emphasis on colourful scarves, shoes and watches.
The Ardennes
Bouillon's best beer shop, with a wide selection including self-brewed local options.
Brussels
Place Jourdan hosts a small Sunday-morning market selling food and clothes.
Liège
Vaudrée is one of the best-stocked beer shops in Liège (they also sell online through www.beer-lovers.be).
Brussels
This modern shopping mall has all the usual chain-store suspects, but it’s a good bet for electronic gear from FNAC, which also sells events tickets. In…
Namur
This specialist perfume-maker fills an old stone house with floral aromas and classical music. While it's mostly a shop, there are tours of the cavern…
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…
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…
Antwerp
Operating since the 16th century, the city’s oldest ‘antique’ market sells everything by auction (in fast Dutch) on the eponymous square.
Brussels
Long-established chocolate-maker with the ancient Greek logo. It does a range of Asterix-inspired chocs and money bags of gold chocolate coins.
Ghent
Ghent’s best travel bookshop now has two branches. This is the main and more central; the other is at Kortrijksesteenweg 1036.
