12 Things to Do in Brussels in March

If you’ve decided to visit Brussels in March, you’ve made a wise choice. By this time of year, the temperatures are no longer so wintry and signs of spring are beginning to appear in some parts of the city.

If you’re wondering what to see and do in Brussels, I’ve put together a list of the various activities and celebrations you’ll find exclusively this month. Here’s a guide to help you combine the city’s springtime charm with its more cultural and traditional side.

Every 25 March, the waffle takes centre stage across Brussels, as this is the day when Belgium’s iconic dish is celebrated worldwide. This is a good reason to eat more waffles than usual.

In Belgium, there are two main types of waffles, with differences going beyond just the shape and number of holes in the design:

• The Brussels waffle: it is lighter, less sweet and sprinkled with sugar on top.
• The Liège waffle: made with a fluffier, sweeter batter. It has sugar crystals scattered across its surface, giving it an unmistakable crunchy texture.

Where to find the best waffles

Here’s a list of the best places to enjoy a wonderful waffle day:

• Debailleul is a chocolate shop and patisserie on the Grand Place. They have three varieties of Brussels waffles, but I recommend you order the Dame Blanche with vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate.
• Maison Dandoy first became famous for making artisanal tea biscuits but has since gained popularity for its waffles too, which are just as good in terms of quality and flavour. You can choose between two tea rooms: the one at 14 Rue Charles Buls or the one at 2 Galerie du Roi.
• Café Wittamer was founded by a family over a century ago. You can enjoy the finest Brussels pastries in a perfectly atmospheric setting. It’s at 13 Place du Grand Sablon.
• Gaston is known for being very close to the port of Brussels, as you can enjoy your pastries whilst relaxing on its terrace overlooking the pond. Pop along to sample its products at Quai aux Briques 86.

Learn how to make them

If you’re a fan of this treat and simply tasting them isn’t enough, I suggest booking a waffle workshop in Brussels to learn how to bake them and take the recipe home as a souvenir.

There are cooking workshops where they’ll provide you with the utensils and ingredients to make the best waffles in true Belgian style.

On clear days in March, a great idea is to book tickets for the Atomium and head right to the top. The Atomium is a symbol of the country which, even if you’ve seen it in typical images of Brussels, will surprise you when you see it in person.

It is a modernist structure around 100 metres high, originally created for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. But the people of the Belgian capital liked it so much that they decided to keep it. Today it houses a museum, and you can walk through the spheres and metal tubes to view the exhibitions.

What’s more, you can climb to the very top of this giant iron atom and enjoy the best panoramic view of Brussels. If this sounds like your sort of thing, find out how to get tickets for the Atomium in advance and avoid the long queues at the ticket office.

I know that visiting Bruges is a must on any trip to Brussels, whatever the time of year, but I can assure you that exploring the medieval city and the charm of its streets adorned with colourful spring flowers is truly spectacular. The temperatures are no longer so cold this month, allowing you to stroll around at your leisure.

It’s very easy to get to Bruges from Brussels, as it’s just an hour’s journey from the capital and has excellent transport links. But you can also book a day trip to Bruges from Brussels that includes transport and a guide, who will tell you all about the highlights of the medieval city.

You can also choose to book a day trip to Bruges and Ghent from Brussels. This way, you can see the best of both places in just one day.

Chocolate lovers have this week marked in their calendars. And with good reason. Chocolate Week is usually held during the second week of March (though sometimes it takes place in February) and offers a unique way to explore the city of Antwerp, just 40 minutes from Brussels.

During the event, you can enjoy the ultimate chocolate trail whilst strolling past the city’s main landmarks, stopping off at the best chocolate shops to sample their latest creations.

The ticket costs around €10 and includes 10 vouchers that you can redeem at participating shops for various sweet treats. In this article, you can find out how to get from Brussels to Antwerp, although you can also book a day trip to Antwerp from Brussels.

In Belgium, where chocolate is central to the culture, a festival dedicated to this delicacy is a must. At the end of the month, in the city of Mons, just an hour from Brussels, you can attend this festival, which has been running for over a decade. You’ll be able to experience:

• An interactive session led by various chocolate makers from across Belgium.
• A stroll along the popular Chic & Chocolate Gourmet Walk, a 500-metre route filled with sweets and chocolates of all kinds.
• The large market where you can buy all sorts of products made from cocoa, not just foodstuffs, as a wide variety of cosmetics are also produced, for example.
• Tastings and culinary activities.

And, of course, throughout the city and at any time of year, you can book a chocolate workshop in Brussels.

The Brussels International Animation Film Festival exclusively screens animated films and is the only festival of its kind in Belgium. In fact, Anima is one of the most important festivals in Europe, as various films are nominated for the Oscars for Best Animated Short Film.

It has a very pleasant and international atmosphere, as the films come from all over the world. It takes place annually and you can watch carefully selected animated films of the highest standard. The audience is very diverse, ranging from children to film professionals.

If you’re curious about contemporary art or simply happen to be in town in March, I’d like to introduce you to the Affordable Art Fair. This event takes place in various cities around the world and is always a huge success. But be warned, there are years when it’s held in February.

You’ll enjoy exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and photographs in a pleasant and stimulating atmosphere. There are also interesting workshops if you fancy learning something new.

A special feature of this fair is the section dedicated to emerging artists, where they can exhibit their creations and sell them at a major auction. National and international artists gain recognition thanks to this event, where their work can finally be seen by a large audience.

With the arrival of March, the first signs of the best time of year begin to appear: spring. The end of the month is a good time to visit the famous Blue Forest, just 30 minutes from the city of Brussels.

For several weeks, the Halle Forest attracts tourists and locals from all over Belgium to enjoy a small miracle. This unique spectacle consists of a vast 250-hectare blue carpet, completely covered in wild hyacinths.

I recommend visiting in the morning or evening, when the flowers have the strongest scent.

• Where: Vlasmarkt Reef 4, 1500 Halle, 20 km from Brussels.

Enjoy Europe’s largest Japanese garden and take a stroll amidst nature. In 1920, construction began on two villages on the outskirts of Brussels, just 9 kilometres away.

During the design process, it was decided to plant a significant number of cherry trees along the streets, an iconic symbol of Japanese culture.

Since then, this peaceful district of Brussels, known as Watermael-Boitsfort, has welcomed thousands of tourists drawn by the unique beauty these trees exude during their flowering season.

• Where: Avenue Georges Benoidt 22, 1170 Watermael-Boitsfort

The Binche Carnival is the most famous in all of Belgium and is held in early March or the second half of February. This celebration began in the 14th century, when Mary of Hungary organised a series of banquets, parties and fireworks over seven days to commemorate the visit of her brother Charles V to the city.

This carnival is famous for the distinctive costumes and customs of all its participants. The town’s residents don ostrich-feather hats and engage in an orange-throwing battle. Furthermore, confetti is scattered throughout the streets and parades can be enjoyed along the routes.

The closing of this three-day event is renowned for the spectacular fireworks display that lights up the entire sky.

For two days in March, Brussels hosts the world’s biggest drum and bass and dubstep festival. Since 2009, the Rampage festival has brought together thousands of drum and bass fans for a spectacular party.

In its early days, Rampage was just a party lasting around 12 hours, but due to its huge success and popularity, it has changed its format and become a full weekend festival.

Of course, you can buy a ticket for just one night, but I can assure you that the full experience is well worth it. Remember to book your ticket in advance so you don’t miss out on this great event. But be warned, in some years it’s also held in February.

This museum is actually a typical Art Deco-style house. It is famous for having been built for the wealthy businessman David Van Buuren, who took it upon himself to fill his home with the finest works of art, unusual furniture, carpets and stained-glass windows.

Furthermore, the Van Buuren Museum is renowned for its immense garden covering almost two hectares, divided into three very distinct sections.

The first is the Picturesque Garden, which embodies the geometric ideals of Art Deco. The second is the Labyrinth, whose main attraction is the seven sculptures by the Belgian sculptor André Willequet, dating from 1968. The third,the Garden of Hearts, is the part of the park that lends it a touch of romance.

• Where: 41 Avenue Léo Errera, 1180 Brussels.
• Opening times: all year round, but March is a special time to spend time outdoors and explore these dreamlike gardens.

In Brussels, temperatures in March hover around 10 °C during the day. It is slightly warmer than February and rainfall drops considerably. Spring begins to make itself felt and you can enjoy daylight for longer.

The nights are still cold, but this makes it the perfect time to make the most of the city and its daytime activities. Remember to pack a warm enough coat and plenty of enthusiasm to explore this incredible European city.