At around 13:00 on Wednesday, I am waiting to get on tram 92 at the Stéphanie stop. It is packed with children excited to go home after a half day of school. But I am nearly as excited, as it will be my first time on Brussels' Christmas tram.
As the tram approaches the stop, the little girl waiting next to me excitedly starts tugging at the sleeves of her mother's coat. "It's the Christmas tram! Do you think Santa will be on it?"
This particular Wednesday afternoon, Santa Claus is indeed a passenger on line 92. He greets everyone with candy canes and general festive cheer. "Have you been good this year?" he first asks the children – to which they reply with a loud cry of 'yes' – before asking me the same question.
Credit: The Brussels Times
Once I reassure him that I have indeed been well-behaved, worked hard and frequently called my mother over the past year, he tells one of his elves to give me a candy cane and promises me I will get "all the presents I want" before turning to another passenger.
"He takes his role very seriously," Santa's helper tells me. "We will be doing this all afternoon. On line 92, going back and forth between Lancaster and Schaerbeek station."
The tram itself is decked out in red, green and gold and adorned with lights along its windows and images of Christmas wreaths – immediately putting those about to board in a festive mood. Inside, the ticket validation machines are decorated with snowflakes, while Christmas decorations hang from the ceiling.
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Credit: The Brussels Times
Credit: The Brussels Times
"Have you already sent your letter to Santa to ask him for the presents you want this year?" I ask Timon (9), who is next in line to sit on Santa's lap. When he says no, Santa reassures him that he still has plenty of time, as "those things can also be done by text message nowadays."
But children are not the only ones happy to be on the tram. Teenagers are asking Father Christmas for selfies, while an elderly couple is thanking the STIB attendants on the tram for organising this. "Maybe you could do Easter as well?"
Ho ho ho ! Le Père Noël est venu tester son nouveau traîneau sur le réseau de la STIB ! Il a souhaité de bonnes fêtes à tous nos voyageurs ! 🎅🚋🎄 pic.twitter.com/sRJFFvXmZl
— STIB-MIVB (@STIBMIVB) December 18, 2024
When I ask the attendant if he likes having to ride the same tram line the entire day, he says he is very happy to do this job. "Yes, it is the same route all day, but it is a very different working day than usual. And it is really heartwarming to see the genuine joy on passengers' faces when they see Santa on board."
Speaking to passengers at other stops, it is clear that everyone likes the initiative. "We don't celebrate Christmas at all in my family, but this is definitely adding some extra cheer to my commute," says Asma (46). She boarded the tram at Robiano in Schaerbeek and needs to go all the way to Lancaster. "It can be quite a long commute, so this is really nice."
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Credit: The Brussels Times
Credit: The Brussels Times
While some passengers are indifferent ("as long as it gets me to where I need to be, I don't care what it looks like"), most enjoy a festive ride through Brussels – even those who just hop on for a few stops.
"I'm just using my lunch break to quickly buy some last-minute Christmas gifts," Jacob (34) tells me. "I missed the previous tram by about half a minute, but I am actually very happy about it now. This has put me right in the mood for the holidays. I can't wait."
If you think you have been good enough, you still have a chance to catch the Christmas tram on lines 9, 18, 19, 81, 82 and 92 until Friday 10 January.
