While most shops and services were open the first two days of the week, they will close for Christmas Day on Wednesday. Those who celebrated may still be recovering from food comas but most businesses will reopen on Thursday (Boxing Day).
As with other public holidays in the country, public and administration services will not operate on 25 December, and neither will banks. Postal services will also be closed, meaning there will be no delivery of letters, packages or newspapers.
Belgium's national railway service SNCB, bus services De Lijn and TEC and Brussels public transport company STIB will continue to operate during the bank holiday, but at a reduced Sunday service schedule.
As for groceries, the vast majority of supermarkets across the country – Aldi, Cora, Lidl, Makro and Okay – are closed for Christmas. However, some Carrefour and Delhaize local supermarkets will remain open, as will some Intermarché and Spar shops, albeit with adjusted hours.
Plaisirs d'Hiver', the Christmas Market in the Brussels city centre in 2022. Credit: Belga/ Nicolas Maeterlinck
Many shopping malls and retail shops across the country, such as City 2 and Docks Bruxsel, will remain closed, as will most other stores, such as the chains on Rue Neuve in Brussels' city centre. Independent clothing stores may remain open but this may vary according to location.
Boxing Day is a bank holiday in the United Kingdom but is not celebrated in Belgium. This means that on Thursday, most supermarkets, shops and other services will operate according to their usual opening hours.
Most pharmacies will remain closed, but for urgent needs and medication, people can contact the pharmacist on duty in their municipality. The nearest on-duty pharmacy can be found here.
The Winter Wonders market in the centre of Brussels will remain open the entire week between Christmas and New Year – including on Christmas Day.
Police services remain accessible at all times, even on public holidays, though district offices are closed, meaning they are not available for administrative matters. Those needing urgent police assistance should call the emergency number 112.
