The 36th edition of Leuven's Christmas market is a success, attracting large numbers of visitors. In 2023, 600,000 people flocked to the Ladeuzeplein. This year’s figure is believed to be even higher. For the first time Leuven’s Christmas market also attracted loads of people from abroad, says organiser Marc Pinte: ‘Dutchmen and women, Swedes and even Americans. Many people had relatives come over especially for the Christmas market.’
The organisers still have to wait for the official figures from the city of Leuven, but it’s clear this year’s edition is a success. It’s believed visitor numbers this year will set a new record: ‘Last year and the year before around 600,000 people visited the Christmas market, I suspect even more people attended this year,’ says organiser Marc Pinte.
According to Pinte, an incredible number of foreign visitors enjoyed the Christmas market this year. ‘We heard people with Dutch accents, people speaking French, Swedish, American accents too. Of course, many people of different nationalities stay in Leuven, but many Americans told us they had their families come over especially to visit the Christmas market,’ says Pinte.
Christmas tower was a novelty
Many were the food and drink stalls that could be admired on the Ladeuzeplein and the Hooverplein. Here you can do your shopping too. Other attractions this year include a Ferris wheel and Santa's house with Santa on hand too. New this year was the large Christmas tower, standing almost 20 metres high, with tables on the first floor. According to Pinte, visitors were particularly enthusiastic about the tower: ‘Visitors loved taking their photos with the university library and the tower in the background,’ Pinte concludes.