Markets & Flea Markets, Brussels

This fantastic market is held at Place Chatelain, just off Rue de Bailli, on Wednesdays from 2pm. It could be described as a local 'Farmer's Market' due to the array of wonderful fruit and veg, cured meats, artisan cheeses, olives, seafood etc on sale at the various stalls - for others it's an 'after-work' drinking venue!!! If you don't want to buy any speciality food-stuffs it's well worth a visit as an alternative to a bar, as from 5pm onwards there is such a fantastic atmosphere as people start to arrive straight from work. There are a couple of stalls selling wine by the glass/bottle, another selling champagne and oysters, another selling wine and seafood (try the crevette croquettes!) plus lots of tempting goodies to snack on such as cheese platters, charcuterie platters, Chinese Dim-Sum, roasted chicken etc. The norm is to buy a bottle of wine from one stall (they provide glasses), crusty bread from another, cured meats and cheese from another and so on; find a corner (or even chairs and table if you get there early enough) and socialize. The market has to stop selling at 8pm, but people stay on until about 9pm before moving on to the great restaurants and atmospheric little bars that surround the square...

In the centre of the Marolles quarter you can find the Brussels Flea Market ( marche aux puces) .
This is where the real Brussels dialect, a strange mixture of Flemish and Belgian French, can still be heard at times; though like much of the rest of Brussels, it has become very international...

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This small market seemed to be fairly impromptu, and had a few booths with various local and organic produce. There was also a stand selling sausages and sandwiches. I'm not sure that this market is here every week (I was in Belgium on a Friday), but this is likely a good and cheap way to fill up before hitting the town. It is located on Spanjeplein just below the Don Quixote statue.

1.
You can go to the south market near the south station. It is a BIG market where you can buy food. There is also a little place where you can buy plants and flowers.

It is very very cheap there.

The market is very known. People from all over Belgium come here on Sunday. The atmosphere is really amazing!!!

2.
Go to the fleamarket (Vossenplein). It is also situated in the neighborhood of the South Station. You can buy antique stuff here. It is very nice to walk around here. If you want to buy smth cheap, come late (between 12 and 13 o' clock) or when the market opens.

The "Marolles" is one of the oldest and most authentic districts of Brussels. This is the place to go if you want to meet some locals.
Every day from 7-13 o'clock, there is a flea market on the Vossenplein. You can find a lot of cheap products over here.
Even if you're not into buying anything, it's a great place to wander around. It is one of my favourite places of Brussels!

My wife and I visited a flea market (I forget where) in an immigrant section one day, and an "antiques market" (flea market, really) the next. We got our best shopping deals there. I brought back an old beer glass for $2.00. I bought a Cocoa Bean carrying case (I think that's what the vendor said it was) for about $15.00. My wife bought lots of cheap shoes as well. More than the shopping, the local flavor was interesting. We saw a parade of sorts among different ethnic groups (Brazilian, Ecuadorian, etc.) and ran into the Ambassador from the Congo, while there.

The weekend Antiques Market (Saturday I think). This is located under tents, between the Boulevard de Waterloo and the Grand Place. Check with your hotel for the exact location and directions. This is a nice way to spend a few hours looking at history, even if you don't buy anything.

Anderlecht Market. This market is more 'local' than the more famous Midi market at South Station but equally big. Because it is more local you find fewer expats and tourists and instead it feels like you've gone to North Africa (but in rain). This also leads to less pick pocketing than at Midi since people know that fewer tourists come here. You will see heaps of water melons, bananas etc. cheaper than anywhere in town (especially just before closing time) but also huge vats of pickled olives, loads of household goods and other stuff. Stay clear of the aisles with live hens, rabbits etc. if you're an animal lover like myself. Take the metro to Clemenceau and follow the stream of people. Open Saturdays and Sundays until around 14.00 Ask before you take photos!