r/belgium • u/Comfortable-Ad-5755 • 2d ago

❓ Ask Belgium Halloween help

We are located in Flemish Brabant and are looking for a fun trick or treating activity (does not have to be close, we are willing to drive) that feels somewhat authentic. Please abstain from comments stating that it is not a Belgian tradition.. I am well aware that it is used for all kinds of commercial ends and most people dislike any type of American influence. We lived in the US and Halloween became our kids' favorite holiday, and it was a great way to meet nice people and to have a fun evening. I have tried organizing trick or treating in our area, with very little return from our neighbors. If anyone knows of any neighborhoods that go all out, please let me know. I am less interested in commercialized themed nights at theme parks, but those suggestions might be useful for others. Thanks in advance and Happy haunting!

0 Upvotes

38% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

7

u/DataTop3791 2d ago

Sorry if this is not possible, but is it maybe an idea to organise a Halloween Party yourself and invite your kids' friends? Have some snacks, some decorations, maybe have them make their own, some fun games, and movies? It might be a fun way to show the kids and their parents what Halloween is about.

I do love the whole vibe around Halloween and I hope you and your kids find something fun to do!

5

u/Groot_Benelux 2d ago

I know a neighborhood that organizes it but it's a rather small place. I can dm if you want.

Also consider the drie koningen or nieuwjaarke zoete traditions for children that it displaced as an alternative.

1

u/Comfortable-Ad-5755 2d ago

That would be much appreciated! We also tried to get 3 koningen off the ground here to have a similar experience but to no avail.. No one does that either in our area. Thanks for your response nonetheless.

4

u/TeacupHolding 2d ago

I found these Halloween events for kids in Vlaams Brabant (although the site is in Flemish, sorry). It's not all trick or treating and not all the 31st of October, but there seems to be some fun activities in there. This is in general also a good site if you're looking to find event with kids in general, and you can also change the filters to include the ages of your kids:

https://www.uitinvlaanderen.be/samenmetkinderen/agenda/alle/provincie-vlaams-brabant?searchTerm=halloween

5

u/Comfortable-Ad-5755 2d ago

This is wonderful thanks! We speak Dutch and French so it works!

1

u/TeacupHolding 2d ago

You're welcome! Our neighbours organised something with 6 houses where kids can come trick or treating, but we're on the other side of the country. So I think you'll find more fun stuff on Uit In Vlaanderen :)

Maybe also check out other locations on that site, like Brussels? There were some events I didn't expect, like a Halloween safari in the Vlaams Parlement https://www.uitinvlaanderen.be/agenda/e/zin-in-een-halloweensafari-in-het-vlaams-parlement/2ec0f0e8-2acd-488a-982a-9e1db40d81f9?searchTerm=halloween&targets=uitmetvlieg&page=2&place=1000-brussel

3

u/Jumpy-Feedback1688 West-Vlaanderen 2d ago

How would this work? You go around in random neighbourhoods and asking for candy as an adult?

Because if so: I'm in.

3

u/Comfortable-Ad-5755 2d ago

Haha, well it's for kids firstly.. and usually you go in your own neighborhood. Where we lived, pretty much every house had at the very least candy.. sometimes shots for the parents lol.. decorations and everyone does it to give the kids a great night. Our street had tons of kids so we would get permission to block the street and have a big party where the kids could safely join in spooky fun. It's a really great way to have a laugh and get to know your neighbors.

2

u/Jumpy-Feedback1688 West-Vlaanderen 2d ago

That's nice! When I grew up we had a 'spooky town' in Patersbos in Tielt. You could dress up, and walk through a Halloween themede park.

Mind you, this was in 2014 or something, don't know if this still exists.

1

u/Think-Geologist5570 1d ago

"Where we lived" was the USA. In Belgium, even our own Driekoningen is starting to disappear and it doesn't look as if Halloween is going to replace it.

0

u/Comfortable-Ad-5755 2d ago

I tried to flyer in our area asking people to leave a candle outside if they didn't mind kids ringing their doorbell to get a piece of candy but almost no one has participated in the past years.. it's not even really about the candy, it's more the excitement of being out in the dark and ringing strangers' doorbell and interacting with them. Also, I always sent out a thank you to the houses that participated but it hasn't really changed anything.

1

u/Traditional_Case2791 2d ago

I miss Halloween too! This is our first Halloween here and it’s a little bittersweet. In our neighborhood back in the US some houses made pumpkin muffins or had cider for the adults. So much fun and a nice way to be part of the community. Hope you find something fun!

3

u/RollingKatamari Flanders 2d ago

Is it possible the American expat crowd is organising something?

What if you organised a Halloween party and invited other expats and their kids? Little taste of home!

There's a Halloween funfair in Tour & Taxis, but when I look at the pictures, it kind of just looks like a Christmas market with some cobwebs lol, but your kids might like it!

When I was little, going door to door was tradition on Drie Koningen (Jan 6th) and while it's still done in some areas, it is dying out. I think parents just aren't comfortable with their kids going all over town ringing at strangers' doorbells! Parents now grew up with the infamous crime cases of kidnapped children...so honestly, I understand their reluctance!

2

u/TheVoiceOfEurope 2d ago

We are located in Flemish Brabant

You're going to have to be a bit more precise here. Because most Halloween activities are organised on a municipal level.

So in our village (1640 St Genesius Rode):

https://www.sint-genesius-rode.be/nl/activiteit/686/halloween-rhode-2026

A "spooky" walk through the park for the little ones, with bouncy castle etc. Food trucks and beverages for the moms and dads.

We also put all the houses that participate in halloween on a google map. Basically: if there is a carved pumpkin in front of the door, you can trick or treat (spooky risk included).

1

u/-OnThePritchardScale 2d ago

Hi OP! Trick or treating opportunities might be more difficult to find unless they are very local, but since you are in Flemish Brabant here are a few things you might enjoy: the Botanical Garden in Meise has a Halloween themed walk (https://www.plantentuinmeise.be/nl/agenda/griezeltocht-t36c). Stonemanor - The British Store in Everberg is nice to shop for Halloween treats and decorations (might make you feel more like shopping in the British Isles than the US though) and the Marolles neighborhood in Brussels organizes a Dia de los Muertos themed week with a parade. If you plan a trip to the sea side, I know Koksijde has quite a few Halloween activities for kids (https://www.visitkoksijde.be/nl/halloween).

Nieuwjaar zingen or Driekoningen have disappeared completely where I live, and even though it’s “not our tradition” and all that jazz, I actually like that Halloween starts to become a new tradition for children. It’s fun, it gets them out the door and they get to meet their neighbors. So good on you for trying to organize something even though it has had little effect for now. Happy Halloween!

1

u/kookiemonnster 2d ago

My neighborhood does organize this, we get a paper from one of the parents in our mailbox asking us to text if we are giving out candy so the kids can stop. It is a very cute experience for the kids.

1

u/MobileSituation2718 2d ago

On your towns Facebook page (or even a few towns around), there's nothing mentioning something for Halloween ? Also located in flemish brabant but more towards liege. If you dont live too far you can dm me and I'll give you the informations that I have

1

u/PlumExtension7331 1d ago

plenty of Halloween activities around, for example at Helecine Castle or Durbuy adventure. But if you want good old-fashioned trick or treating, I recommend a neighbourhood with lost of expats like Woluwe

3

u/Ignoranceisbliss_bis 2d ago

Honestly, I deliberately switch of my doorbell on halloween. I don’t want people ringing my doorbell for a holiday that’s not a holiday.

I understand it’s part of your tradition and you miss it. But most Belgians don’t care/don’t want te be involved. The school in my neighbourhood does organise a ‘scary party’ for the kids. Which is fun for the kids. But it also doesn’t drag the whole neighbourhood into it.

1

u/Comfortable-Ad-5755 2d ago

I understand your point of view too. That's why when I tried it in my area, I flyered the week before (in 3 languages so as not to piss anyone off) and asked people to light a candle by the door if they wanted to participate. I wouldn't want to be inconsiderate and disturb people. I also dropped off a thank you card to each house that participated.

0

u/MrPollyParrot /r/belgium royalty 2d ago

You've basically covered the outcome in your own question.

I have tried organizing trick or treating in our area, with very little return from our neighbors.

As you mention, you are someone with the experience, and couldn't get it off the ground... so there's little to no chance you'll find other people going for it; let alone a whole neighbourrhood...

3

u/Comfortable-Ad-5755 2d ago

I am still hopeful that there might be pockets of expats somewhere.. also, I think our area is generally less active (fairs, neighborhood activities) than other places in Belgium. There is also no community here to speak of, as the local population has been priced out of the area by wealthy Brusselaars. But that is a whole other conversation - I just want a fun night with my kids :).

1

u/MrPollyParrot /r/belgium royalty 2d ago

If you find them, all the better, especially for your kids. However, I think it's very unlikely.

An option could be mixing "local tradition" with "home tradition". Find an "Allerheiligentocht" (All hallows walk) as a day activity, and just have candy with a movie night.

2

u/Comfortable-Ad-5755 2d ago

That's a lovely idea

0

u/Independent_Bat4108 2d ago

Honestly, i think you'll have better luck trick or treating on 6 januari. Then it's driekoningen, which is close to halloween as a cultural reference. It's just not in our culture to celebrate halloween. Same with the 4th of july.

-5

u/Bob_the_gob_knobbler 2d ago

Doesn’t have to be close; perhaps fly over to the us then?

It’s quite odd that you’d travel to some random neighbourhood you’re not a part of anyway.

-6

u/GoldenEagle3009 2d ago

Ga gewoon naar een nocturne of spokentocht in de buurt? In plaats van die Amerikaanse zever te willen importeren...