13 wicked ways to spend Halloween in Belgium

The clocks have gone back, the dark nights are drawing in and Halloween weekend is among us again. Here are our tips for how to have a ghoulishly good time on (and around) 31 October in Brussels and beyond.

1. Bruxelles Mon Horreur!
On Halloween night the spirits are out and about. This event will take you through the streets of Brussels on their trail, be they ancient and evil; jokers or malicious. You will discover gargoyles and vampires that are part of the Brussels landscape as well as some bloody history involving Vesalius. And of course, along the way you will partake of delicious and Halloween-appropriate dishes. Meet at the main gates to the Royal Park (across from the Royal Palace) at 16.00 on Saturday 31 October. The trail lasts three hours and costs €16.

2. Brux'Hell
Screw up your courage and brave the wilds of northwest Brussels for Brux'Hell at the Jette cultural centre. The third edition of this growing festival, organised by Mister Y, comprises a scary décor, an art show, a horror market, creepy events, concerts and a DJ set and costume competition. Starts 18.30 on 31 October.
Centre Armillaire, 145 boulevard de Smet de Naeyer, Jette

3. Halloween at the movies
The Cinematek is offering four haunted houses for Halloween. First we have the child-friendly Casper at 15.00 and the Spielberg-produced teen movie Monster House at 17.30. Then in the evening there are two adaptations of Henry James's Turn of the Screw: The Innocents at 19.30 and The Others at 21.30.

Meanwhile, Kinepolis cinemas across Belgium are putting on a Halloween Night on Friday 30 October with four spooky screenings in a row from 22.00 until dawn, with tickets at €35. First up is Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension in 3D. Shortly after midnight is Eli Roth's The Green Inferno, about a group of student activists who travel to the Amazon to save the rainforest and fall into the hands of a hostile
tribe. Next up is The Visit, in which a single mother finds that things in her family's life go very wrong after her two young children visit their grandparents at an old Pennsylvania homestead. Finally at 4.00 in the morning is Tales of Halloween, 10 short films woven together about an American suburb, where ghouls, imps, aliens and axe murderers appear for one night only to terrorise unsuspecting residents.

4. Amusement parks after dark
Walibi is claiming "the biggest Halloween event in Belgium" with a full week of horror-themed activities, eight haunted houses, seven late-night shows to enjoy the park in the dark when it is at its eeriest. Some 175 zombies, monsters, werewolves and vampires will be roaming the park to give you a scare. It all begins with Terror Night on 30 October. Pairi Daiza animal park at Brugelette, near Mons, will be lit up with hundreds of Chinese lanterns and fire-jugglers, eerie music and a chance to visit the reptile cage and come into direct (supervised) contact with snakes and other creepy creatures. It runs until 8 November and is the last chance to enjoy the park before its winter closure. Brupark at Heysel has two afternoons of Halloween activities on Saturday and Sunday from 15.00 to 20.00, with monsters roaming the park and creative workshops for children.

5. Historical horrors
The Historium in Bruges focuses on the Golden Age of the city, namely the middle ages, and for this special occasion they’ll delve a little deeper into the darker side of this glorious period. It was also a time when the plague wreaked havoc, witches were tried and burned on the Brug and there were gallows on nearly every street corner. The building will be decorated and filled with dozens of shocking displays that will shed a little candlelight on a gruesome era. There will also be a chance to get your face painted, snacks, quizzes, mysterious walks and the opportunity to visit the Torture Museum for those of you who can’t get enough Halloween horror.
31 October-8 November, Historium, Bruges

6. Halloween festival in Namur citadel
Aimed at children aged four to 12, this festival in its 13th year is located in the magical landscape that is the Namur citadel. In the rarely accessible Théâtre de Verdure, enjoy an unforgettable time as Professor Henry Parker's time machine explodes, disrupts the space-time continuum and throws various famous historical figures into a chaos of epochs. The professor must race against time to to avoid the permanent destruction of the corridors of time, all against a Halloween backdrop. Presale: adults €8, children €5. At the door: €10 and €7.50. Free under six.
31 October-3 November, 11.00-19.00, Esplanade de la Citadelle, Route Merveilleuse 64, Namur

7. Beachside beastliness
During the school holidays, Koksijde and Oostduinkerke have planned a week full of grisly goodness starting with the nocturnal Halloween mountain bike ride on 30 October. The next day you can enjoy pumpkin carving, costumes, music and a petrifying parade full of ghouls and ghosts on Grardplein in Sint-Idesbald, topped off with some frightful fireworks. The haunted houses Thriller and Freakcircus, created for the occasion, are also a must and will send shivers up your spine. There will be creative workshops for kids each day and werewolf-inspired walks.
30 October-8 November, Koksijde-Oostduinkerke

8. Murder on the dance floor
Radio Modern, known for its retro swing parties with live bands and 1950s rockers, has a special treat in store for us at Vooruit in Ghent. King B will be your host, guiding you through an evening of mad and mystifying music. Get your freak on during a Halloween-themed dance lesson and enjoy the demonic rock’n’roll by Italian devils Howlin’ Lou & His Whip Lovers. DJs King B and Blanche will bring down the house while the Modernettes will taunt you in their boudoir. So join the fun and put on your dancing shoes and a cut-throat costume because the most terrifying party animal wins a goodie bag from Ghent-based cocktail experts Jigger’s.
30 October, Vooruit, Ghent

9. Mystery in mind
On 31 October, which just happens to be the day that legendary illusionist Houdini died, the Night of Magic will fill Kursaal in Ostend with amazement, disbelief and frenzy. Illusionist Gili will be your host for this unique event, assisted by other mental tricksters such as Nicholas, Jan Bardi, Tom Bibo, Kobe Van Herwegen and Aaron Crow in an evening full of spirits, magic and otherworldly atmospheres. So if you’re in the mood to contact a loved one, get in touch with the paranormal or simply be amazed by the sixth sense, head to Ostend this Halloween.
31 October, Kursaal, Ostend

10. Tales of the unexpected
The open-air Middelheim sculpture museum is planning a mesmerising evening walk through their grounds. A mysterious being will guide you, telling you shocking and terrifying tales. Who knows what will be lurking behind the trees or statues? Things will definitely go bump in the night, so bring your torch. Aimed at youngsters and their parents, this walk is a must for little daredevils, so join in and dress up as your favourite scary monster.
31 October, Middelheimmuseum, Antwerp

11. Art attacks
The Museum of Fantastic Art in Brussels is organising its annual Halloween festival, the jewel in its crown. Adults can visit the permanent collection of fantastical art full of paintings, sculptures and ingenious installations while the kids solve riddles and go in search of lost skulls. There’s face painting, costumes, afternoon tea and an abundance of pumpkin soup, during a frightening afternoon of family fun. Nothing is what it seems in this charming yet terrifying museum.
27 October-4 November, Museum of Fantastic Art, Brussels

12. Fiendish theme nights
You don't have to look far to find a Halloween party in Brussels this weekend. Hard Rock Cafe on the Grand Place invites you to dig out your creepy costumes from as early as 19.00 on Saturday 31 October. La Nuit des Mauvaises returns to Chez Maman on 30 and 31 October from 23.00, not to mention Callens Club at the ITT Tower on Avenue Louise and the Halloween party at the Salsabar on Rue du Marché au Charbon from 23.00 on Saturday night, complete with Thriller dancing and a competition for best costumes.

13. Halloween networking
Here's an opportunity to dress up and network at the same time. The American Club of Brussels is organising a Halloween party at the Renaissance Hotel with an accent on young professionals facilitated by a collaboration with other international clubs in Brussels. And, of course, there will be a costume competition. It is on Friday 30 October from 18.30 to 21.00, €10 in advance, €15 on the door.
Renaissance Hotel, rue du Parnasse 19, Ixelles

Photos courtesy Middelheim Museum and Citadelle de Namur