In November and December, over 200,000 Belgians will be making a coach trip to one or more Christmas markets. The figure comes from the Federation of Belgian Bus and Coach Operators, the FBAA. 200 coach companies will ensure everybody gets to their destinations safely. Nowadays there are Christmas markets all over Europe. Day trips remain the most popular option, but trips including one or more overnight stays and even Christmas cruises are becoming increasingly popular.
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Over 200,000 Belgians are looking forward to a Christmas market trip or cruise
Colin Clapson
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‘It will a busy November and December for the Belgian coach travel sector,’ says Pieter Van Baestelaere, the FBAA CEO. ‘Starting this week, thousands of Belgians will be boarding a coach to enjoy a magical Christmas experience close to home.’ In total, the industry federation anticipates 4,200 trips will be made this year.
Christmas markets close to home are indeed proving most popular. Most Belgians opt for a day trip, and Germany in particular is a popular destination. Cologne, Aachen and Oberhausen remain popular. People from Brussels and Wallonia increasingly prefer Christmas markets in northern France. They go to soak up the Christmas atmosphere in Rheims, Strasbourg and even Colmar. But the Christmas markets of the Netherlands, in Maastricht or Amsterdam, and destinations at home like Bruges and Ghent also remain popular.
Young and old together on the coach
According to the FBAA, Christmas markets bring young and old together. They also notice this at coach company De Zigeuner in Diepenbeek. ‘Last weekend saw our first trip to Oberhausen this year. Young and old all board the coach together,’ says CEO Rik Vanheusden. ‘Children, their parents, and often too their grandparents. Everyone goes along. Often there are ladies groups, but some men go along for fun!’
According to Mr Vanheusden, coach trips to Christmas markets have been a strong concept for decades. ‘For more than 30 years, these trips have been really popular. Sometimes numbers do drop, of course. Think of the period right after the attacks on Christmas markets or during the pandemic. Weather also plays a role. When it snows and temperatures drop further, trips become even more popular.’
Trips with an overnight stay and Christmas cruises
Besides day trips, many Belgians are also increasingly opting for an overnight stay. Often such trips even include visits to different Christmas markets in the same region. For example, visitors head for the Christmas markets of France’s Alsace or the many German Christmas markets. ‘I myself am leaving soon for Kent in the UK. We will be doing several Christmas markets there!’ an excited Mr Vanheusden said.
Large cities like Paris, London and Amsterdam are particularly popular. Christmas cruises,too, are all the vogue. These involve river cruises in a Christmas atmosphere sailing down the Rivers Rhine or Loire and stopping at various Christmas markets and cultural sites along the way!