Since there are many types of chocolates, you can choose depending on whom you want to give as souvenirs. Leonidas is a local old chocolate shop where you can buy good chocolate for a reasonable price. You can also visit other chocolate brand shops such as Pierre Marcolini, GODIVA, Mary, Galler, and so on. Cafe Tasse has a lot of types of chocolates with different flavors so you can choose the flavor you prefer.
When you think about souvenirs from Belgium, you would think of beers. We'd recommend buying some beer glasses as well. Beer glasses are the pride of beer brewers, often with old designs of brewery's history. You can also find some second-hand beer glasses from flea markets, and some shops etc.
Wall tapestry is known in France but you can also find good ones in Belgium, especially like in Bruges and Brussels. There are some types of tapestry such as cushion cover.
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Speculoos is a very Belgian souvenir. It goes well with coffee or tea with milk. You can either get Lotus at a supermarket or some good ones from Maison Dandoy in Galerie de Roi. Speculoos' shapes vary by shops so it’s good and fun for a souvenir.
Of course, you cannot bring the hot waffle but you can get some specific types of waffles in Belgium. Jules Destrooper is a very popular Belgian cookie maker started in 1886. The almond flavor and its crunchy texture are unforgettable.
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Although this is not very well known for tourists, Cuberdon is a Belgian special sweet candy with gooey Arabic gum in it. The most traditional and basic one is raspberry flavor with purple color. You can buy at supermarkets, from food truck in Ghent, or sometimes you will find cuberdons at restaurants.
While Japan is an empire of manga, Belgium is the kingdom of comic strips! The most representative ones are Blake and Mortimer, Largo Winch, Lucky Luke, Spike and Suzy, Brüsel, The Smurfs, Tintin, Thorgal, and etc. Even if you cannot read French nor Dutch, Belgian comics are so lovely and they would be unique presents to your friends or children.
Since Belgium is a country of comic strips, there are many postcards that you can easily find from any souvenir shops. Other things such as trump cards would be also good for gifts.
Words and photographs by Leona Fujii