12 Things to Do in Brussels in March

If you have made the decision to travel to Brussels in March, you have thought it through. In this month the temperatures are no longer so wintry and spring begins to be seen in some parts of the city.

If you are wondering what to see and do in Brussels, I have compiled the different activities and celebrations that you can find only this month of the year. I present you this guide so you can combine the spring nature of the city with its cultural and traditional side.

Every March 25, the waffle is the protagonist all over Brussels, as the day of the great typical Belgian 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 beyond the shape and the amount of holes in the design:

• The Brussels waffle: it is lighter, less sweet and has sugar sprinkled on top.
• The Liège waffle: it is made with a fluffier and sweeter dough. It has sugar nuggets scattered on its surface, something that gives it an unmistakable crunchy texture.

Where to find the best waffles

Here is a list of the best places to have a great waffle day:

• Debailleul is a chocolate and pastry shop on the Grand Place. They have 3 varieties of Brussels waffles, but I advise you to order the Dame Blanche with vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate.
• Maison Dandoy became famous for being a manufacturer of artisanal tea pastries but then it has been gaining popularity also for its waffles, which are not far behind in quality and taste. You can choose between two tea rooms: Rue Charles Buls 14 or Galerie du Roi 2.
• Café Wittamer was created by a family more than a century ago. You can enjoy the best sweets of Brussels in a perfectly decorated place. It is located at Place du Grand Sablon 13.
• Gaston is known for being very close to the port of Brussels, as you can enjoy your sweets while enjoying its terrace in front of the pond. Come to taste their products at Quai aux Briques 86.

Learn how to make them

If you are a fan of this delicacy and tasting them is not enough, I suggest you book a waffle workshop in Brussels to learn how to bake them and take the recipe as a souvenir.

There are cooking workshops where you will be provided with the utensils and ingredients to make the best waffles in pure Belgian style.

With the clear days of March, a good plan is to book tickets for the Atomium and climb to the top. The Atomium is a symbol of the country that, although you may have seen in typical images of Brussels, will surprise you when you see it in person.

It is a modernist structure about 100 meters high, originally created for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. But the inhabitants of the Belgian capital liked it so much that they decided to keep it. Today it houses a museum and through the spheres and metal tubes you can walk and see its exhibits.

In addition, you can climb to the top of this giant iron atom and have the best view of Brussels. If you are motivated by the plan you can find out how to get tickets to the Atomium in advance and avoid the long queues at the ticket office to access it.

I know that seeing Bruges is a must on a trip to Brussels whatever time of the year you go, but knowing the medieval city and the charm of its streets with the colorful spring flowers I assure you that it is spectacular. The temperatures in this month are no longer so cold and allow you to stroll quietly.

It is very easy to get to Bruges from Brussels, as it is only 1 hour away from the capital and is well connected. But you can also book an excursion to Bruges from Brussels which includes transportation and a guide, who will tell you the details of everything there is to see in the medieval city.

You can also choose to book an excursion to Bruges and Ghent from Brussels. This way you can see the highlights of both places in just one day.

Chocolate lovers have this week marked on their calendars. And, no wonder. Chocolate Week is usually organized in the second week of March (although sometimes in February) and is a unique way to explore the city of Antwerp, just 40 minutes from Brussels.

During the celebration, you can enjoy the best chocolate route while strolling through the main monuments of the city, making different stops in the best chocolate stores to taste their latest creations.

The entrance fee is around 10€, and contains 10 vouchers that you can redeem in the participating stores for different sweet products. In this article you can see how to get from Brussels to Antwerp, but you can also book an excursion to Antwerp from Brussels.

In Belgium, where chocolate is a central issue of the culture, you can not miss a festival dedicated to this delicacy. At the end of the month, in the city of Mons, just an hour from Brussels, you can attend this festival that is already ten years old. You will be able to experience:

• An interactive session by different chocolate makers from all over Belgium.
• A stroll along the popular Chic & Chocolate Gourmet Walk, a 500-meter path full of sweets and chocolates of all kinds.
• The large flea market where you can buy all kinds of products that are made from cocoa, not only edibles, as a wide variety of cosmetics, for example, are also manufactured.
• Tastings and gastronomic activities.

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

The Brussels International Animation Film Festival presents exclusively 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 different films are nominated for the Oscar awards for the best animated short film.

It has a very nice and international atmosphere, as the films come from all over the world. It is held annually and you can see carefully selected animated films of the highest level. The audience is very varied, ranging from children to film professionals.

If you are curious about contemporary art or if you are simply in the city in March, I present the Affordable Art Fair. This show takes place in different cities around the world and is always a complete success. But beware, there are years when it is held in February.

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

A special part of this fair is the sector dedicated to emerging artists, where they can exhibit their creations and sell them in a great auction. National and international artists gain recognition thanks to this event, where they can finally be seen by a large number of people.

With the arrival of March, the signs of the best time of the year - spring- also begin to show. At the end of the month is a good time to make a visit just 30 minutes from the city of Brussels, the famous Blue Forest.

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 huge blue blanket of 250 hectares, full of wild hyacinths that cover absolutely everything.

I recommend you to make this visit in the morning or in the evening, when the flowers have the strongest scent.

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

Enjoy the largest Japanese garden in Europe, and take a walk in the middle of nature. In 1920, construction began on two villages on the outskirts of Brussels, just 9 kilometers apart.

In this design process, it was decided to incorporate along the streets a large number of cherry trees, an emblematic sign of Japanese culture.

Since then, this quiet district of Brussels called Watermael Boitsfort, receives thousands of tourists who are attracted by the unique beauty of these trees in their flowering season.

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

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

This carnival is famous for the particular costumes and customs of all its attendees. The city's inhabitants dress up in ostrich feather hats, and engage in a battle of oranges. In addition, confetti is spread through the streets and parades can be enjoyed along the roads.

The closing of this 3-day event is popular for the grand fireworks ceremony that lights up the entire sky.

For two days in the month of March, the biggest drum, bass and dubstep party in the world takes place in Brussels. The Rampage festival unites thousands of drum fans in a luxury party since 2009.

In the beginning, Rampage was just a party that lasted around 12 hours, but due to the great success and turnout, it has changed its format and has become a full weekend festival.

Of course you can buy the ticket for just one night, but I assure you that the whole experience is worth it as well. Remember to book your ticket in advance so you don't miss out on this great event. But beware, it also tends to move to February some years.

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

In addition, the Van Buuren Museum is renowned for the immense garden that covers almost two hectares, divided into three very different parts.

The first is the Picturesque Garden, which represents the geometric ideas of Art Deco. The second is the Labyrinth, whose main attraction are the seven sculptures of the Belgian sculptor André Willequet, from 1968. The third**, the Garden of Hearts**, is the part of the park that adds a touch of romanticism.

• Where: 41 Avenue Léo Errera, 1180 Brussels.
• Opening: all year round, but March is a special time to spend your time outdoors and stroll through dreamy gardens.

In Brussels, temperatures in March hover around 10 °C during the day. It is a little warmer than February and rainfall is considerably lower. Spring is beginning to show and daylight can be enjoyed for longer.

The nights are still cold, but this makes it a perfect time to take advantage of the city and its daytime activities. Remember to bring enough warm clothes and a lot of desire to explore this amazing European city.