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 aren’t quite as cold as they were in winter, and signs of spring are starting 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 can enjoy exclusively this month. Here’s a guide to help you combine the city’s springtime charm with its cultural and traditional side.

Every March 25, the waffle takes center stage throughout Brussels, as the day celebrating Belgium’s iconic dish is observed worldwide. This is a great excuse to eat more waffles than usual.

In Belgium, there are two main types of waffles, with differences that go 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 unmistakably crunchy texture.

Where to find the best waffles

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

• Debailleul is a chocolate shop and pastry shop on the Grand Place. They have three varieties of Brussels waffles, but I recommend ordering the Dame Blanche with vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate.
• Maison Dandoy became famous as a maker of artisanal tea pastries but has since gained popularity for its waffles as well, which are just as exceptional in quality and flavor. 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 best pastries in Brussels in a perfectly charming setting. It’s located at Place du Grand Sablon 13.
• Gaston is known for being very close to the port of Brussels, as you can enjoy your pastries while relaxing on its terrace in front of the pond. Stop by 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 plan is to book tickets for the Atomium and head up to the top. The Atomium is a symbol of the country that, even if you’ve seen it in typical images of Brussels, will surprise you when you see it in person.

It’s a modernist structure about 100 meters tall, originally created for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. But the residents 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 its exhibits.

Plus, you can climb to the top of this giant iron atom and enjoy the best panoramic view of Brussels. If this sounds like a good plan, find out how to get tickets to the Atomium in advance and avoid the long lines at the ticket office.

I know that visiting Bruges is a must on any trip to Brussels, no matter when you go, but I assure you that exploring the medieval city and the charm of its streets lined with colorful spring flowers is truly spectacular. By this month, the temperatures are no longer so cold, allowing you to stroll around comfortably.

It’s very easy to get to Bruges from Brussels, as it’s only an hour away from the capital and has excellent transport links. But you can also book a day trip to Bruges from Brussels that includes transportation 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’ll see the best of both places in just one day.

Chocolate lovers have this week marked on their calendars. And for 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 tour as you stroll past the city’s main landmarks, stopping 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, though you can also book a tour to Antwerp from Brussels.

In Belgium, where chocolate is a central part of 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-meter path filled with treats and chocolates of all kinds.
• The large market where you can buy all kinds of products made with cocoa—not just food, since 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 features 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 Academy Awards 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’ll be able to watch carefully selected, top-quality animated films. The audience is very diverse, ranging from children to film professionals.

If you’re curious about contemporary art or if you’re simply in town during the month of March, I’d like to introduce you to the Affordable Art Fair. This event takes place in different cities around the world and is always a huge success. But be aware, 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’re in the mood to learn something new.

A special part 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, signs of the best time of year— spring—begin to appear. The end of the month is a great 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 through nature. In 1920, construction began on two villages on the outskirts of Brussels, just 9 kilometers 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 quiet Brussels district called Watermael-Boitsfort has welcomed thousands of tourists drawn to the unique beauty these trees exude during their blooming season.

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

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

This carnival is famous for the unique costumes and customs of all its attendees. The city’s residents don ostrich-feather hats and engage in an orange-throwing battle. Additionally, 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 grand fireworks display that lights up the entire sky.

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

In its early days, Rampage was just a party that lasted about 12 hours, but due to its huge success and turnout, it has changed its format and become a full weekend festival.

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

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 filled his home with the finest works of art, unusual furniture, carpets, and stained-glass windows.

Additionally, the Van Buuren Museum is renowned for its immense garden, which covers nearly two hectares and is 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 Belgian sculptor André Willequet, dating from 1968. The third,the Garden of Hearts, is the section of the park that adds a touch of romance.

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

In Brussels, temperatures in March hover around 10 °C during the day. It’s a bit warmer than February, and rainfall drops significantly. Spring begins to show itself, and you can enjoy daylight for longer.

Nights are still cold, but this makes it the perfect time to enjoy the city and its daytime activities. Remember to pack a warm coat and bring plenty of enthusiasm to explore this incredible European city.