Flanders Today’s holiday gift guide: The 20 gifts to put on your list
Welcome to our annual Gift Guide, your essential companion to finding the best gifts of the season for family and friends
Top 20 for 2016
1 Goki wooden trucks
These wooden trucks wouldn’t look out of place in your granddad’s toy box. Their simple design and bright colours will engage your children’s imagination for hours on end. And like the hand-me-down toys of yesteryear, they’re made to last a lifetime. (€27-€70)
Buy it at: Volte Face
Opened two years ago, Volte Face is a nostalgic treasure trove for young and old. Wooden toys take centre stage, but in addition to the ubiquitous cars and trucks, you’ll also find timeless items like board games, doll's houses, pogo sticks and balance bikes. Ververstraat 17, Brussels
2 Ruby Brown slippers
Comfort is the new sexy. That’s the motto of Ruby Brown, the stylish slippers in neutral colours perfect for lovers of comfy chic homeware, female or male. Warm knits, contrasting textures and earthy tones are what make these handmade slippers such a treat. (€30-€40)
Buy it at: Sissy Boy
Food, drink, fashion and personal grooming are the cornerstones of Sissy Boy, a shop where you can browse, relax and indulge. Dozens of gift ideas for men, women and kids are simply waiting to be discovered. Nationalestraat 36 , Antwerp, sissy-boy.com
3 The Alle bag
The Alle bag is a sophisticated, yet minimalistic tote bag with a unique twist. Though it looks like leather, it is actually 100% vegan. The material is made from virgin fibre that’s been cultivated, so you’re not contributing to deforestation. (€95)
Buy it at: HOST
This new concept store puts a sustainable spin on urban fashion and interior design. It offers a selection of decorative and lifestyle items that focus on turning your home green. Bredestraat 43, Antwerp, host-concept.be
4 Italian shaving cream
Proraso comes in three varieties to suit the well-groomed man: refreshing eucalyptus and menthol, moisturizing sandalwood and shea butter or green tea and oatmeal for sensitive skin. The vintage-look packaging is a bonus. (€6.50)
Buy it at: Café Beauté
Besides offering a range of affordable beauty and skin-care treatments, this hip new salon-cum-eatery also carries exclusive beauty products for men and women. Maastrichterstraat 93, Hasselt, cafebeaute.be
5 Het stoofvleesboek
Stoofvlees is one of the ultimate Flemish dishes. This meat stew may look simple, but there are dozens of variations and traditions when it comes to making the perfect batch. This cookbook has them all, ranging from classic to wildly exotic. (€25)
Buy it at: Dille & Kamille
Natural materials combined with functional design are the essence of this less-is-more chain. In their serene, back-to-basics environment you’ll find everything for your home, body, garden and spirit. Across Flanders & Brussels, dille-kamille.be
6 Crossing Europe
Crossing Europe is a fascinating book by Dutch photographer Poike Stomps, who has a penchant for exploring human behaviour. Here, he aims his lens at people crossing streets, absorbed in their own worlds. Images that tell countless little stories, if you look closely. (€45)
Buy it at: Tipi
This lovely little bookshop is run by the Italian Andrea Copetti, a living encyclopaedia on photography. Tipi is a paradise for admirers of the genre, especially if you’re looking for hard-to-find books by independent publishers. Munthofstraat 186, Sint-Gillis (Brussels), tipi-bookshop.be
7 Miniature story tiles
Ceramic tiles are a 16th-century Dutch tradition originating from the region around Delft. These story tiles, which tell both old and new tales, are hand-painted and baked at high temperatures by Dutch craftsmen. (€25)
Buy it at: Mayenne Nelen
A newcomer to the rustic Oudburg street, Mayenne Nelen’s shop features self-made jewellery and an attractive collection of leather braces, handbags and wallets. Nelen also offers objects made by other up-and-coming Dutch and Belgian designers. Sluizeken 28, Ghent, mayenne-nelen.com
8 Dandoy biscuits
If you are not much of a baker yourself, here’s a great alternative: the iconic Christmas cookies by Maison Dandoy. All sweet treats are handmade in the family’s Brussels atelier, and they come in gorgeously designed gift boxes. (€4.50-€75)
Buy it at: Maison Dandoy
With locations all over the capital, it won’t be hard to find an outlet of this Brussels institution, founded in 1829. They are a pleasure to visit, mixing Grandma’s cosiness with a luxurious feel and a mouth-watering scent. Pro tip: You can even assemble and order a box online. Across Brussels, maisondandoy.com
9 Boxer shorts
A quick survey of the men in our office suggests that the boxer-brief hybrid has never been more popular. The McAlson family of East Flanders are specialists in their construction, and they have dozens of super-cute designs. (€35)
Buy it at: Knapp-Targa
This family-owned shop has been selling men’s and women’s clothing and accessories for 40 years in a cobblestoned street lined with shops. Loads of choices of sweaters and shirts on the preppy side, with labels like Ralph Lauren, Scotch&Soda and Burlington. Zuidzandstraat 20, Bruges
10 JM Barrie’s Peter Pan
This deluxe, illustrated edition has a whimsically old-fashioned look and feel, courtesy of the graphic design duo behind the Harry Potter films. What’s more, there are cleverly designed interactive elements inside the pages. Also available: Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. (€30)
Buy it at: Grim
This expertly curated independent bookstore just opened its doors last summer. It stocks Dutch- and English-language books for adults and children, as well as gifts and stationery. Maastrichterstraat 83, Hasselt, boekhandelgrim.be
11 Kloq
Arjan Ros, a second-generation clockmaker, combines functionality and design with his range of colourful hand-made clocks. Made of birch wood and hand painted in the Netherlands, they are the perfect nostalgic touch for any urban home. (€199)
Buy it at: Rewind
In addition to being durable, the products sold at this Antwerp store respect the environment and the people who make them. Rewind specialises in fashion, lifestyle, design and furniture, and has a second store, Play, aimed at kids. Riemstraat 27, Antwerp, rewinddesign.be
12 Vintage sunglasses
Playful cattiness can be nice. These legendary sunglasses flare out near the temples and are seductive as hell. Extremely popular in the 1950s and ’60s, but with a loyal following ever since, they’re ideal for women with square or diamond-shaped faces. (€20)
Buy it at: Sweet P
From the knotted navy shirt to the black corsets and cherry brooches, you know immediately what this place is all about. Pin-up and retro fashion and accessories for Betty Page fans. Vrijdagmarkt 11, Ghent, sweet-p.myshopify.com
13 Brussels XL colouring poster
With this giant colouring poster from Happy Mappy, developed by two fans of Brussels, your kids will finally be able to paint the walls without damaging the interior. The oversized map of Brussels lets the little ones colour in the blanks while discovering the city’s major landmarks. (€25)
Buy it at: LuLu Home Interior
Over its five years, LuLu has become a local favourite with its winning combination of Scandinavian design, a lovely cafe (that makes the most yummy Oreo lattes) and 830 square meters dedicated to all things interior. Edelknaapstraat 101, Elsene (Brussels), lulu-store.eu
14 Handmade handbag
Have you been saving up to give something truly special to your significant other? Well, here’s your chance. These handbags are handmade and consist of unconventional materials like rubber, cow hide and ostrich leather. A unique choice. (€400)
Buy it at: Paarl Boutique
In the words of the designer Pearl-Lisa De Buck, these are “handbags with a soul”. If you don’t find De Buck when you enter the shop, try the backroom. Chances are she’s either stitching or cutting leather in her workshop. Nieuwland 1, Ghent, paarl.be
15 Haba doll
Haba has been making eco-friendly toys for little explorers for more than 75 years. Its cloth dolls are a classic and come in a wide variety of quirky characters that will definitely charm their way into your little one’s heart. (€42.50)
Buy it at: In den olifant
This shop specialises in classic and quality toys and books, offering a wide range of wooden toys, beautiful stuffed animals, exotic tales and picture-perfect dolls that tantalise the imagination. Leopoldstraat 23, Antwerp, indenolifant.be
16 Adopt-a-rat
Give a gift that saves lives by adopting a landmine detection rat for your favourite activist. Choose from specially trained rats such as Nisay, a three-year-old based in Cambodia, the second most mine-affected country in the world. (€66/yr)
Buy it at: Apopo
Based in Antwerp, this organisation trains giant pouched rats to sniff out deadly weapons hidden in the fields of Africa and south-east Asia. They also sell certificates to fund “love bombs” and TB samples. apopo.org
17 Green beauty from REN
There’s nothing better than escaping cold, grey winter days than indulging in a spa. Filled with a luxurious selection from REN’s multi-award winning, all-natural Moroccan Rose Otto range, this stylish gift box is great for stress-free home-pampering. (€69)
Buy it at: La Feuille
As the first and only shop in Belgium dedicated to green cosmetics, La Feuille is a true pioneer. Nestled into a small street just off Brugmannplein, it offers a modern selection of beauty products for him and her with a focus on natural and organic. Berkendaelstraat 199, Elsene (Brussels)
18 Oyoy wooden blocks
For kids with style: a set of beautiful wooden blocks that can be played with or admired. Stack them to build a tower or string the bricks together, and it will become a mobile. The blocks come in a natural wooden box. (€40)
Buy it at: Ydee
Ask for help as soon as you see a shop-assistant, or you will get lost in the more than 300 square metres filled with fun gadgets. Ydee specialises in innovative and sustainable, but affordable, designs. Ydee, Oudburg 56, Ghent, ydee.be
19 Colonel gin
Inspired by the legend of a First World War colonel, three Kortrijk brothers have created their own blend of botanicals – dark cacao aromas mix with hints of lavender, rosemary and thyme. Serve it ice-cold with a twist of fresh basil. (€42)
Buy it at: Belgomarkt
This supermarket, dedicated to all things local, opened in Brussels last spring, the brainchild of three young entrepreneurs. The option to buy store-cupboard staples in bulk tackles the issue of excess packaging, and much of the produce is organic. Dublinstraat 19, Elsene (Brussels), belgomarkt.be
20 Cable-knit neck warmer
The Pastis neck warmer is made in Italy from a soft, fluffy wool-blend yarn, so it’s just the thing to keep your special someone feeling cosy this winter. Available in two neutrals (off-white and mastic), it adds a stylish touch to any outfit. (€89)
Buy it at: Scapa
Antwerp-based clothing and lifestyle brand Scapa is known for its classic, high-end sportswear for men, women and kids, as well as its home accessories line. Across Flanders & Brussels, scapa.be
This gift guide has been brought to you by Daan Bauwens, Rebecca Benoot, Lisa Bradshaw, Bartosz Brzezinski, Diana Goodwin, Sarah Schug and Sally Tipper
