The week in activities: 18 December

The weekend before Christmas, Bilzen will be transformed into a 19th-century English town from the novels of Charles Dickens. Men in frock coats and top hats, women in Victorian finery, street performers and Christmas carollers stroll the streets, while merchants proffer seasonal treats to delight the senses.
21 December, 14.00-20.00, 22 December, 13.00-18.00, Bilzen centre, free
www.bilzen.be/dickensdagen-0

Limburg province’s open-air museum is closed for the winter but opens every year for five nights between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The theme this year is “Winter Carnival”, with old-fashioned rides and attractions, circus acts and a fire show. Many of the historic buildings will be open and costumed interpreters add historic ambiance.
26-30 December, 16.00-21.00, €4-€6
www.bokrijk.be

The International Festival of Ice Sculptures comes to Belgium, with 420 tonnes of ice transformed into characters and scenes from comic strips. Be sure to dress warmly, and don’t forget to slide down the ice slide and have a drink at the ice bar!
20 December-9 February, from 11.00 (closing times vary), €11-€15
brusselsicemagic.be

For the third year in a row, the Begijnhof Museum in Tongeren will host a unique holiday walking tour through the historic centre of Tongeren. Along the way, hear traditional and modern Christmas stories accented with live music. The walk ends at the museum with mulled wine, pea soup, stories and song.
21-23, 26 & 27 December, 19.30, €5-€10, registration required
www.begijnhofmuseumtongeren.be

Take a guided tour through Hasselt’s centre in the comfort of a tourist tram, stopping along the way for seasonal treats and libations. Christmas stories, music and carols add to the festive atmosphere.
19-23 & 27-30 December, 14.00 from car park behind Cultural Centre, Kunstlaan 5, €18, reservations required via 011 23 95 40
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