The Best Markets in Bruges, Belgium
Traditional markets are a beloved part of the Flemish heritage, each one full of character and a mood of their own. The following options in Bruges run the gamut from a colonnaded fishmonger nook to a flea market that draws bargain hunters from across borders.
Het Zand Saturday Market and the Zandfeesten
The regular Saturday market on ’t Zand Square makes for a great stroll between stalls selling just about everything under the sun, but the real draw to the neighbourhood comes in the summer, thanks to the Zandfeesten. The ‘Zand festivities’ are best described as the High Mass of Flanders flea markets. Named after the spacious square just inside Bruges’ city core that forms the heart of the event, it only comes around three Sundays a year in the summertime. Visitors from far and wide enjoy rummaging through a cornucopia of grandma’s lampshades, little farmland paintings, kitschy vases and old board games.
Visitors will hear several languages throughout the crowd as avid brocanteurs travel from neighbouring countries to dig deep into the treasures during early morning prowls on the Zandfeesten yield. B&Bs in the neighbourhood fill up fast with day-trippers who have their heart set on snagging the morning’s hidden treasures. The massive market encompasses ’t Zand, the Beursplein Square and the Koning Albert I Park, making for a five-kilometre-long (3.1 miles) walk for those who traverse the entire thing. Meanwhile, fanfare bands take care of general merriment and add a folkloric touch.
Saturday market: from 8 AM to 1:30 PM on Het Zand
Zandfeesten: the first Sundays of July and August and the last Sunday of September on Het Zand, Beursplein, Koning Albert I Park
1. Vismarkt or Fish Market
Bar, Market
Rain or shine, the Vismarkt (‘Fish Market’) lives up to its name five days a week. Speciality vendors have been selling their fresh seafood from underneath the plaza’s rows of colonnades for close to two centuries, since 1821. Shooed away from their original spot on a corner of the main Markt Square by locals who could no longer stand the smell, this is where they settled. With modern technologies and ice-laden counters in place, the smells are gone, but the raw and prepared treasures from the nearby North Sea are sold in optimal conditions. The Magdalena Quarter where they’re situated has become synonymous with food suppliers that offer artisanal and quality produce, and on Friday evenings in the summer, the arcade becomes an open-air tapas bar with aperitifs, fish-based snacks and live concerts.
Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 8 AM to 1:30 PM
2. Dijver Folklore Market
Market, Belgian
From the second half of March until the first half of November, every Saturday, Sunday and holiday, and every Friday from June until September. From 10 AM to 6 PM.
3. Sunday Market on the Veemarkt
Market, Belgian
Sundays until noon
4. Wednesday Market on the Markt
Market, Belgian
Wednesdays from 8 AM to 1:30 PM
Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.
Our immersive trips, led by Local Insiders, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and an invitation to travel the world with like-minded explorers. Our Travel Experts are on hand to help you make perfect memories. All our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.?>
All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.