Buy cherry-flavoured Kriek or super-strength Duvel beers in the Old Town, diamonds
from Diamondland and Flemish designs from the Fashion District.
Shopping Streets
Pick up diamonds from Diamondland or mouth-watering chocolates at Del Rey, both
located on Appelmansstraat. Splash out on Belgian labels in the smart
boutiques of the Fashion District, not forgetting Ann Demeulemeester on
Verlastraat. Join the local bargain hunters bagging second-hand labels in
Gemeentestraat's Pardaf. The city's main shopping
street, Meir, is where you'll find Belgian and international
high-street chain stores.
Gourmet delicacies lure foodies to the Saturday Exotic Market on Theaterplein,
while the clothes and bric-a-brac on sale at its Sunday Vogelenmarkt (bird
market) draw large crowds. The birds and pets for sale here are a curiosity for many
visitors. Browse antiques, furnishings and knick-knacks at the Vrijidagmarkt
(Fri), Sint-Jansvliet (Sun) and the Lijnwaadmarkt (Sat, Easter to
October), in the shadow of the cathedral.
Standard shopping hours are Monday-Saturday 9am-6.30pm. Markets generally open
9am-5pm, but the Vogelenmarkt and Vrijidagmarkt stop trading at 1pm. Shops are
closed on public holidays.
