54 Best Shopping in Belgium

Tucked just off a lovely square in a 19th-century town house, Graanmarkt 13 offers a nicely edited selection of women's clothes, including pieces by local designers Bernadette and Sofie D'Hoore, plus unique ceramics, pottery, and jewelry. Its first floor has something of a shoe fetish, stocking the likes of Mansur Gavriel, K Jacques, and Aeyde; it's also worth a postshopping stop for lunch or dinner at its namesake restaurant downstairs.

In the early 20th century, there were some 47,000 lace makers in Belgium, and 70% of them worked in Bruges. The city has a proud history of lace making, and 't Apostelientje, which was established some three decades ago, sells intricate handmade pieces and beautiful antique lace gems, sometimes even framed.

Ann Demeulemeester belongs to that golden generation that set the city's couture apart from the rest. She sells her clothes in an elegant corner store across the street from the Royal Museum of fine Arts (KMSKA).

For advice on buying diamonds at the retail level (and details of the essential four Cs: carat, color, clarity, and cut) you can contact the Antwerp World Diamond Centre Association, which operates under the umbrella of the Antwerp Diamond High Council. Information on its members and a suggested route for exploring the area are included on the website.

Founded in 1884, Bakkerij Goossens is a popular old favorite with locals. Try their classic roggeverdommeke—a rye bread stuffed with raisins.

Also known as Jitsk, this chocolaterie on rue au Buerre, which is packed with chocolate shops, is home to arguably the best macarons—soft yet flavorsome—in the city, ranging in flavor from passion fruit to crème brûlée. 

A chocolatier to the royal family. The original owner, Mary Delluc, founded her shop in 1919 on rue Royale, where you'll still find a branch today along with others dotting the city. The pralines are the specialty here, and worth the indulgent prices when wrapped in their trademark elegant presentation boxes—a work of art in themselves.  

Famed for its charming "chocolate grapes" (marzipan- or praline-filled chocolate balls wired to look like a bunch of grapes), Spegelaere is something of an institution. Despite this, few tourists make it out to the shop, which lies in the edge of the historic center, so grab yourself a "chocolate cobblestone" and congratulate yourself on finding a gem.

This old-timer has been in the historic center since the late 1950s and remains Bruges's oldest artisanal chocolatier to make its chocolate on the premises. It's especially famed for its chocolate swans, filled with a mix of praline and gruut (herbs more common in brewing beer), and lacy traditional kletskoppen biscuits.

A window packed with artisanal marshmallow cakes and meringues tempts visitors into this boutique sweet and chocolate shop, which also conjures traditional Flemish biscuits and heavenly truffles. There are also a pair of branches on rue de Buerre, next to the Grand Place.

Named after a clutch of abandoned angel statuettes found by Isabelle Steel when she opened the shop in 1980, this remains a treasure trove of vintage and eccentric ephemera, including dolls, tin boxes, and religious items. Her daughter, Ganesha, runs the Fallen Angels Gallery next door, which is filled with posters of old Belgian advertisements and movie posters. 

There are a number of flea markets across the city, but the most regular is held in Les Bastion car park on Sunday (6–1) on the eastern edge of the city. Less common are Les Chiffonades textiles markets, which run the length of the quayside and typically take place on two dates in May and August (check online). Between May and September, you can also find a secondhand book fair on the Grand Place. 

The most colorful of all the city's markets is found on a Sunday morning as florists descend on Gedempte Dender (Kasteelstraat).

A daily flower market is held on the Kouter, although it's best to visit on Sunday morning (7 am--1 pm), when the full market kicks in and there's often a brass band playing (April–September).

One of the oldest shopping malls in Europe, this elegant neo-Renaissance gallery first opened in 1847, and its towering columns and iron-and-glass roof make it worth a visit any time.

For a fascinating glimpse of how shopping used to be, stop by Ganterie A. Boon, which stocks old-fashioned leather gloves that appeal to grandparents and young Antwerp fashionistas. The shop was opened in 1929 and still has the original fittings inside. The retro window display looks like it hasn't been updated since the 1950s.

Brussels used to be famous for its gloves, and the old tanneries on the rue des Tanneurs once produced the finest of leather. This glove maker has been operating in the city since 1890, and its shop in Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert has been run by three generations. A real institution. 

The origins of this yearly Good Friday flower market date back to 1825; now some 75 florists and nurseries descend on Rue Royale and the quays of Saint-Brice and Dumon each year. 

One of the iconic Antwerp Six that turned this city into the couture haven it became, Dries Van Noten collections for men and women can be found in the splendid Modepaleis, a five-story Belle Époque building that he bought in 1989.

This vast space dedicated to cutting-edge design in clothing, footwear, furniture, and accessories includes an art exhibition area in the basement. Its look is rarely the same and its provocative pieces cost a pretty penny.

Wild avant-garde fashions and timeless pieces—Dansaert's beloved store is appropriately named and rarely disappoints those willing to adopt a bold new look thanks to a choice of up-and-coming Belgian brands.

Jeu de Bulles is a cult gem, home to some rare first-edition comic books, toys, and original prints from Tintin, Blake and Mortimer, Lucky Luke, and other Belgian icons inspired by the early Spirou comics.

Kaas Vervloet is the best address for regional, award-winning cheeses and other culinary delicacies. Try the Achelse Blauwe.

Artisan jewelers Nicolaas and Natalie craft exquisite rings from their shop-workshop on Ezelstraat, which has become something of a haven for handmade goods in Bruges.

Boulevard de Waterloo's Kure is a firm fixture on the fashionista front, with a mix of French, Belgian, and Scandinavian designers all touting everyday wear with a dash of flair.

By far the most exciting shopping experience Liège has to offer is at La Batte, one of Europe’s biggest weekly street markets, and Belgium's oldest—stallholders have been gathering here for over 400 years. Traffic is diverted away from the quai de la Batte every Sunday from 8–2:30, when vendors and shoppers pour onto the quai for a day of serious browsing. 

If you are in search of a gift unique to the Walloon region, look no further—this small store's shelves are lined with regional food products such as pâtés, sausages, jams, honey, and liqueurs. There are also more than 300 Belgian beers in stock, plus stemware from each of the breweries.

A wonderful café and chocolate shop perfect for resting your feet between museums. Sit down with a hot chocolate and a cake, or sample one of its confections. It's a bit unusual by Belgian chocolatier standards, as the quirky creations here are not only low sugar but have no alcohol or additives. Fillings include everything from curry masala and olive ganache to more conventional offerings, while chocolate-making workshops are run every Saturday (11:30–1; booking essential).