Between the Christmas markets, the large ice rink right in the centre, the children’s festivals and the well-heated museums, Brussels is an ideal winter destination with children.
Here is a selection of ideas to organize your December weekends, the day of December 25 and your Christmas holidays with your family.
1. The magic of Christmas in the heart of Brussels
Plaisirs d’Hiver / Winter Wonders
📅 Dates : from 28 November 2025 to 1 January 2026 for the main course;
Place De Brouckère (ice rink, curling, chalets) is playing extra time until January 4, 2026.
Every winter, Plaisirs d’Hiver transforms the centre of Brussels into a large Christmas village:
- more than 200 chalets spread around the Bourse, Place Sainte-Catherine, Vismet and Place De Brouckère;
- Ferris wheel, rides, children’s attractions;
- sound and light show on the Grand-Place several times a night;
Brussels by Lights: 180 illuminated streets
In parallel with Plaisirs d’Hiver, the Brussels by Lights event illuminates more than 170 to 180 shopping streets in Brussels every year, from the city centre to Laeken and Neder-Over-Heembeek.
It’s ideal for:
- a walk in the late afternoon with a hot chocolate or a waffle;
- extend the outing after the Christmas market without necessarily consuming more;
- take nice photos with the family.
2. Ice rinks & winter villages
Ice rink on Place De Brouckère
The only large open-air ice rink in Brussels is set up every winter on Place De Brouckère, in the heart of the city. :
📅 Dates : November 28, 2025 to January 4, 2026;
- OPENING HOURS : every day from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.;
- large transparent roof above the piste, village of chalets and sheltered terraces all around;
- special toddler area with skates that attach to shoes;
- ice rink accessible to accompanied people with reduced mobility .
Right next to it:
- Three curling rinks to try out this ice sport with the family.
Tour & Taxis: T&T Winter Fair
On the Tour & Taxis site, the T&T Winter Fair offers a large covered and partially covered winter village, with:
- a creative Christmas market (about thirty designers);
- an ice rink open from December 11, 2025 to January 4, 2026 ;
- the ice show “Alice on Ice” ;
- the Cabaret Secret, an immersive show for the whole family;
- a special children’s program (Kids Winter Wonderland, see below).
This is a very good option if you are looking for a Christmas atmosphere sheltered from the rain.
3. Great children’s festivals during the Christmas holidays
Kids Winter Wonderland (Tour & Taxis)
Kids Winter Wonderland is a large indoor festival 100% family on the Tour & Taxis site:
📅 Dates : from December 20, 2025 to January 4, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
- LOCATION : Maison de la Poste & Sheds, rue Picard, a stone’s throw from Brussels-North station (free shuttle bus or 15 minutes walk).
On the program:
- more than 30 attractions and workshops for children from 2 to 14 years old;
- about 2,000 m² of bouncy castles spread over the halls and sheds;
- circus show twice a day (magic, acrobats, clowns);
- Oscar & Odette mini-musical, arcade, circus workshops, make-up, etc.
Tickets (approx . €23) include all activities on site.
👉 Ideal for a whole day in the warmth with children who need to let off steam, especially if the weather is very humid or freezing.
Christmas at the Theatre Festival
The Christmas at the Theatre Festival is the major “young audience” event in Brussels during the holidays:
📅 Dates : December 26-30, 2025 ;
- about forty theatre and dance shows for children and teenagers, spread over a dozen partner theatres (Théâtre National, Les Tanneurs, Le Rideau, etc.);
- Programming announced as accessible “from 0 to 110 years old”.
It’s a great way to add a live performance to your winter stay.
4. Museums perfect for cold days
Train World (Schaerbeek)
Train World is the Belgian railway museum, housed in the former Art Nouveau station in Schaerbeek.
We like:
- the very immersive scenography with real locomotives and vintage cars;
- family treasure hunts (“The Sultan’s Diamond”, etc.);
- the many interactive installations and projections, accessible even to the youngest
- the attention paid to accessibility (inclusive pathway, “low stimulus” days, etc.).
Perfect from 4–5 years old, and exciting for teenagers who are fans of trains.
Museum of Natural Sciences – the dinosaur gallery
The Museum of Natural Sciences is famous for its dinosaur gallery, the largest in Europe (more than 3,000 m²).
Children will encounter:
- the famous Bernissart Iguanodons,
- but also T-Rex, Triceratops, Diplodocus and about thirty other species.
The other areas (biodiversity, human evolution, Living Planet, etc.) complete the visit very well.
Comic Strip Museum
Housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau building, the Comic Art Museum is a safe bet with children=;
- generally open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm (open 7 days a week during the Christmas holidays, except 25/12 and 1/01);
- exhibitions on Tintin, the Smurfs, Spirou and Belgian and international comics.
Easily combined with a stroll through the city centre.
Brussels Planetarium
Very close to the Atomium, the Planetarium offers immersive 360° films for all ages.
- ticket office open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m .;
- closed on 24, 25, 31 December and 1 January ;
- several sessions a day during the Christmas holidays.
The screenings for young audiences are perfect for a quiet afternoon after a Christmas market.
5. Indoor playgrounds & trampoline parks
Planet Kids (near Brussels)
A few minutes from Brussels, Planet Kids is a large indoor and outdoor playground:
- Multi-storey structures, ball pools, bouncy castles
- Cuistax circuit and outdoor space as soon as it is dry.
Stardust Park (Forest)
Stardust Park is one of the largest indoor playgrounds in Brussels:
- about 4,000 m² of games, halfway between an indoor playground and an amusement park;
- for children from about 18 months to 12/13 years ;
- giant slides, climbing structures, bumper cars, toddler areas, regular entertainment.
Jump XL Brussels – trampoline park
For older children (from around 6 years old), the Jump XL Brussels trampoline park offers:
- more than 800 m² of trampolines and playgrounds;
- Free jumps, ninja zones, giant airbag, supervised sessions.
It’s the perfect activity for a sporty family outing in bad weather.
