July 28, 2026

Alderman Gisbrecht Huts Welcomes the Return of Tienen Winter Magic Festival

November 14, 2025
61758

Tienen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Tienen’s Winter Magic 2025 opens Nov 28, 2025, to Dec 31, 2025, with a Christmas market, ice rink, carousels, and workshops. Alderman Gisbrecht Huts leads the event, including Sinterklaas’ arrival and festive entertainment.

As VRT News reported, Tienen is hosting the Winter Magic festival. The event will include a Christmas market and an ice rink in the city centre. This year, the festival will start a week earlier than usual. The festival officially opens with the arrival of the Christmas tree on the Grote Markt. 

Alderman for Events Gisbrecht Huts (IN-VA) said the change responds to increasing public interest.

“People want to skate and enjoy the festive atmosphere before the holidays. Starting earlier allows everyone to take part,”

he said.

What’s new at Tienen’s Winter Magic festival this year?

Sinterklaas will arrive on the Grote Markt this Saturday, Nov 15, 2025, to start the end-of-year celebrations. Huts said there is no overlap between Sinterklaas and Santa Claus. Each event has its own space and time. Winter Magic will offer ice skating, shopping, and entertainment for families. 

The Christmas market in Tienen will open with a slightly new layout this year.

“We’ve received feedback from stallholders and visitors. For example, we’ve decided to place the Christmas chalets closer together in U-shapes in two locations around the cosy Wintermagie attractions. This will create a more cosy and welcoming atmosphere.”

The official start of Winter Magic is set for Saturday, November 29, 2025. The opening will feature a fire performance by L’homme Canon. Before that, the indoor ice rink and heated winter bar will open on Friday, November 28, 2025, with disco skating. There will also be live performances and free workshops for children. The full program will be available soon on the city’s official website.

Winter Magic in Tienen started in 2015 as a small festive event on the Grote Markt. The first edition featured a Christmas market and a temporary ice rink. Over the years, the festival grew and added attractions like carousels, a small train for children, live performances, workshops, and holiday decorations. 

By 2018, Winter Magic had become one of the region’s main winter events, drawing visitors from across Flemish Brabant and nearby areas. Santa Claus visits and other entertainment continue until early January. 

Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

Comments

17 responses to “Alderman Gisbrecht Huts Welcomes the Return of Tienen Winter Magic Festival”

  1. cinder coffee Avatar
    cinder coffee

    Tienen’s Winter Magic Festival is back—because who wouldn’t want to skate in the freezing cold while dodging Christmas shoppers like it’s an Olympic sport? 🎄⛸️ Hope they’ve got enough mulled wine to keep the spirits (and fingers) warm this year! 🍷😏

    Reply
  2. eye devil Avatar
    eye devil

    Oh great, another winter festival in Tienen – just what we need, more ice and mulled wine to help us forget the lovely Belgian weather! 🎉 Can’t wait for the “cosy” U-shaped chalets, because nothing says festive quite like a bit of strategic chalet placement! 🥴

    Reply
  3. swampmasher Avatar
    swampmasher

    Tienen’s Winter Magic Festival is back, just in time for us to pretend we like ice skating while sipping overpriced mulled wine. Who knew festive cheer could be so expertly timed with the holiday shopping panic? 🎄🛍️

    Reply
  4. Kawaii Red Avatar
    Kawaii Red

    Another winter wonderland in Tienen? How original! 🎄 I can hardly wait to see the ice rink packed with folks pretending they’re pros while Sinterklaas tries to figure out where he parked his donkey. 😂

    Reply
  5. RZRWRE Avatar
    RZRWRE

    Oh, because who doesn’t want to ice skate while dodging the festive chaos of a Christmas market a whole week earlier? Just what we needed—more time to sip glühwein and pretend our credit cards aren’t screaming! 😅🎄

    Reply
  6. nueva nova Avatar
    nueva nova

    Oh great, more ice skating and festive cheer in Tienen – just what the world needs! I suppose we can all enjoy pretending winter magic is a substitute for actual warmth and human connection, right? ❄️🙄

    Reply
  7. Sw00sh Avatar
    Sw00sh

    Tienen’s Winter Magic Festival, eh? Nothing says “we’re ready for the holidays” like ice skating in November—truly a pioneer in the race to put up Christmas lights before Halloween is even over. 🎄⛸️

    Reply
  8. Disco Thunder Avatar
    Disco Thunder

    Nothing says “European winter wonderland” quite like cramming a Christmas market and an ice rink into the town square, eh? 🎄⛸️ Just what Tienen needed—more ways to slip on ice while sipping mulled wine! 🍷😂

    Reply
  9. Cowboy Booter Avatar
    Cowboy Booter

    Oh, how original! Starting the Winter Magic festival a week earlier – I suppose that’s what we call innovation in Tienen these days! 🎄⛸️

    Reply
  10. friday fox Avatar
    friday fox

    Oh joy, nothing says ‘I love winter’ quite like a rush to the ice rink while dodging Sinterklaas and Santa’s overlapping schedules. 🎅🏻⛸️ Because who wouldn’t want to celebrate the season by squeezing into a crowded market with a side of festive confusion? 😂

    Reply
  11. chameleon Avatar
    chameleon

    Oh, fantastic! Nothing says “festive spirit” like a guy in a suit welcoming a parade of Christmas chalets – let’s just hope Sinterklaas doesn’t get jealous of Santa’s fame! 🎅🎄

    Reply
  12. Delicious Wing Avatar
    Delicious Wing

    Oh joy, another festival where we can skate our way through overpriced hot cocoa and pretend to love the “magic” of Tienen—because nothing says winter cheer like a U-shaped layout of Christmas chalets. 🎄⛸️

    Reply
  13. Dez North Avatar
    Dez North

    Looks like Tienen’s Winter Magic Festival is doing its best impression of a Christmas shopping mall on steroids. 🎠 Just what we need – more ice rinks and carousels to freeze our wallets! 😏

    Reply
  14. lilac lizard Avatar
    lilac lizard

    Tienen’s Winter Magic Festival starting earlier than a German Christmas market? What a revolutionary idea! 🎄⛸️ I suppose the ice rink will be a real ‘slippery slope’ to holiday cheer—let’s just hope the locals don’t slip on their own enthusiasm! 😏

    Reply
  15. Crazy Eights Avatar
    Crazy Eights

    Tienen’s Winter Magic Festival is back, folks! Because what we really needed was to ice skate in the middle of a Belgian winter, right? 🎅⛸️

    Reply
  16. Sun Lemon Avatar
    Sun Lemon

    Looks like Tienen’s Winter Magic is so magical, it starts earlier each year just to squeeze more joy out of the festive chaos. 🎄 Who knew a U-shaped Christmas market would be the highlight of our winter? 😂

    Reply
  17. Napoleonic Haze Avatar
    Napoleonic Haze

    Oh, the Winter Magic Festival in Tienen is back? Just what we need—a bit more ice to slip on while dodging the festive chaos. 🎄⛸️ If only they could make the carousels spin faster than the bureaucratic wheels!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Can Europe Combat Fires of This Magnitude?

July 28, 2026
54442

Can Europe Combat Fires of This Magnitude?

Wildfires sweeping across France and Spain have displaced over 300,000 people and pushed national firefighting services to their limits. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart examine the EU’s aid through its Civil Protection Mechanism and rescEU emergency reserve, noting that even dozens more firefighting planes would fall short without significant investment in prevention strategies.
Meanwhile,

Read More

Transportation Safety Board Calls on Congress to Enact Aviation Safety Legislation

July 28, 2026
47239

Transportation Safety Board Calls on Congress to Enact Aviation Safety Legislation

Washington, D.C., July 27 Eurotoday Newspaper — Transportation safety board officials have called on Congress to approve aviation safety legislation designed to strengthen federal oversight and improve implementation of safety recommendations. The appeal comes as lawmakers continue reviewing aviation policy and funding priorities while the aviation industry adapts to growing passenger demand and

Read More

Polanski’s Greens Prepare for the ‘Burnham Bounce’

July 28, 2026
50100

Polanski’s Greens Prepare for the ‘Burnham Bounce’

In Gorton and Denton, where the Greens overturned Labour’s 2024 majority of 13,415 at a by-election in February, campaigners claimed that opposing “cruel” immigration policies attracted votes.
Kerry McCarthy, the Labour MP for Bristol East, a Green target for the next election, stated that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms — including changes to indefinite leave to r

Read More

Haiti Electoral Council Announces December Date for Postponed Presidential Election

July 28, 2026
34306

Haiti Electoral Council Announces December Date for Postponed Presidential Election

Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 27 Eurotoday Newspaper — Haiti electoral council has officially scheduled the country’s long-delayed presidential election for December, marking a significant milestone in efforts to restore democratic leadership after years of political instability. The announcement provides the first clear electoral timetable since Haiti entered a prolonged political transition foll

Read More

Burnham Embraces Zelenskyy in Debut on Global Stage

July 27, 2026
27400

Burnham Embraces Zelenskyy in Debut on Global Stage

“We will build this and address the various issues that President Zelenskyy has, many of which we’ve explored today,” Burnham stated.
The meeting coincided with Britain’s announcement to share intellectual property to assist Kyiv’s war effort.
The new prime minister revealed that the U.K. will provide its “Stone Cloak” electronic warfare system — devices mounted on drones to aid in eva

Read More

UN Human Rights Council: Venezuela’s ICC Withdrawal Hinders Accountability

July 27, 2026
15459

UN Human Rights Council: Venezuela’s ICC Withdrawal Hinders Accountability

Geneva, July 27 Eurotoday Newspaper — UN human rights council investigators have warned that Venezuela’s decision to withdraw from theInternational Criminal Court (ICC) could weaken international efforts to ensure accountability for alleged human rights violations. The UN-backed Independent International Fact-Finding Mission said the move may reduce access to international justice for victims wh

Read More

Italian Police Raid Offices of Bulgari and Chanel

July 27, 2026
12673

Italian Police Raid Offices of Bulgari and Chanel

Last week, Italian police raided the offices of several luxury brands, such as Bulgari and Chanel, due to suspicions of using subcontractors to employ Chinese workers under exploitative conditions, according to a prosecutor.
Raided companies also include Brunello Cucinelli, Etro, Goyard Italia, Jacob Cohen Company, Moncler, and Stefano Ricci, as confirmed by Milan prosecutor Paolo Storari to AFP

Read More

Romania Condemns Russia for Weekend Drone Violations

July 27, 2026
80635

Romania Condemns Russia for Weekend Drone Violations

Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu reported that the aircraft were “Shahed-type drones” deployed by Russia. They likely entered Romanian airspace during Russian strikes on Ukraine’s ports in the Odesa region near Romania’s southeastern border. President Nicușor Dan labeled these repeated intrusions as “inadmissible and intolerable,” stating that they breached Romania

Read More

Keiko Fujimori’s Cabinet Takes Shape with Key Ministerial Appointments in Peru

July 27, 2026
50777

Keiko Fujimori’s Cabinet Takes Shape with Key Ministerial Appointments in Peru

Lima, July 27 Eurotoday Newspaper — Keiko Fujimori cabinet appointments have begun taking shape after Peru’s president-elect announced the first senior ministers who will join her incoming administration. The appointments, made ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration, include Luis Galarreta as Prime Minister, Elmer Cuba as Economy Minister and Carlos Espa as Foreign Minister. The selections provide an e

Read More

Brussels Provides Clarity on State Aid for Social Investment

July 27, 2026
65160

Brussels Provides Clarity on State Aid for Social Investment

New Commission guidance frames subsidy control as a tool for housing, care, skills and clean public services
The European Commission has clarified how EU State aid rules can support social and public-interest investments, ensuring that subsidy control doesn’t hinder housing, care, training, or clean infrastructure if support is targeted and transparent.
The guidance, announced in Brussels

Read More