Chocolate Tourism in Belgium

Chocolate is a national passion in Belgium, and this country of 10 million people counts over 2,000 chocolate shops!

BRUGES

Choco-Story: The Chocolate Museum

Address: 2 Wijnzakstraat, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
Type of experience: chocolate museum
Details: Choco-Story tells the story of the transformation of cocoa into chocolate, and of the consumption of chocolate from Aztec times through to the present day. There is also a library containing works on chocolate and cocoa.
External reviews: Chocolate Atlas | Ganache Chocolate | TripAdvisor

Roose's Chocolate World

Address: 1 Havenstraat, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
Type of experience: chocolate-making demonstration
Details: Roose's Chocolate World offers groups the chance to watch a brief demonstration of pralines being crafted in the demonstration area of their 500m² shop. There's also a video of the production process, and a chance to sample a praline. Demonstrations are limited to groups which have booked in advance.

BRUSSELS

Chocolaterie Duval

Address: 19 Rue Des Chardons, 1030 Brussels, Belgium
Type of experience: chocolate-making demonstration
Details: Chocolaterie Duval offers chocolate producing demonstrations covering every step of the production process, from tempering, preparation and cast filling to demoulding and packing. There's also an opportunity to taste the chocolates. Demonstrations last approximately 60 minutes, and are open to groups (25+) with advance bookings.

Hotel Le Plaza Brussels "Crazy Chocolate" package

Address: 118-126 Bd Adolphe Maxlaan, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Type of experience: chocolate hotel stay package
Details: Hotel stay package including chocolate pralines, a visit to the Cocoa and Chocolate Museum, chocolate amenities in the bathroom, and hot chocolate at the L'Esterel cafe.

Le Chocolat, L'Or Noir Des Bruxellois

Location: Galleries St. Hubert, Brussels (meeting point)
Type of experience: chocolate walking tour
Details: infrequent individual/family and group walking tours held several times a year. The two and a half hour tour includes a visit to the Godiva and Leonidas boutiques, the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate (see below) and other chocolate-related stops. Reservations are suggested for individual tours, and mandatory for group tours (the latter are available in English, French and Flemish).
Note: The tour translates as "Chocolate, the Black Gold of the People of Brussels" - the site is only available in French.

Le Chocolatier Manon Factory Tour

Location: Jette, Brussels
Address: 64 Rue Tilmont, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
Type of experience: chocolate factory tour
Background: Le Chocolatier Manon makes handmade, hand-molded chocolates that are hand-dipped at the Brussels factory. Its chocolates have won many awards at food shows around the world.
Details: Group tours from about 20 people and up, depending on the time of year. Chocolate making demonstration lasts about 90 minutes, and tour participants receive a ballotin of chocolate at the end of the visit. Exact visitor numbers must be confirmed at least 4 days prior to visiting.

Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate

Address: 9/11 Rue de la Tête d'Or, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Type of experience: chocolate museum
Background: The museum was established in 1998 by Mrs J. Draps, third in a line of family chocolate makers.
Details: Located in the Falcon House, the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate covers the origins of chocolate, the chocolate production process, chocolate sculptures and chocolate clothes. Praline making demonstrations are held several times a day during museum opening hours. The museum also includes porcelain exhibits relating to chocolate, such as cans and cups.
External reviews: Chocablog | TripAdvisor

Planète Chocolat

Address: 24 Rue du Lombard, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Type of experience: chocolate workshop visit
Details: Individuals can enjoy a demonstration of chocolate making (followed by a tasting session) on Saturdays from 4pm. Visits can be arranged for groups of 25+ at other times, and can be guided in English, French, Dutch and German - advanced bookings are essential.

ELSEWHERE IN BELGIUM

Chocolaterie Defroidmont

Location: Ardennes region
Address: 19A Briscol, 6997 Erezee, Belgium
Type of experience: chocolate factory visit
Details: The visit begins with a short film about the various stages of chocolate making, followed by a turning out demonstration and a tasting of pralines. Visitors can also observe the chocolate-maker working through a glass window. Guided group visits start periodically throughout the day.

Cyril Chocolat

Location: La-Roche-en-Ardenne
Address: 63 Samrée, 6982 Samrée, Belgium
Type of experience: chocolate factory visit
Details: The visit includes a short film about the cultivation of cocoa, a presentation of different types of chocolates (with tasting), and a demonstration of the preparation of pralines, chocolate bars or other items (depending on the season). The full experience lasts approximately 45 minutes, and is open to individuals and tour groups (from 15 people; reservations essential). There is also a tea-room, open to group visitors, and a gift shop.
Note: The website is only available in French, but there's an unofficial summary in English on Wallonie Tourism's website.

Musée de chocolat Jacques

Location: Eupen
Address: 16 Rue de l'industrie, B-4700 Eupen, Belgium
Type of experience: chocolate museum and factory visit
Details: The museum includes exhibits about the cultivation of cocoa, and a variety of historic moulds, wrappers, automatic chocolate vending machines, chocolate ads and other chocolate-related exhibits. There is also an opportunity to view the chocolate factory in operation from an elevated walkway. Unguided visits are available without reservation. Guided tours are available in English, Flemish, German and French, but must be booked in advance, and are subject to minimum visitor numbers.
Note: The website is only available in French and Flemish

Temple du Chocolat Côte d’Or

Type of experience: chocolate museum
Details: An interactive museum open exclusively to primary school class groups. The tour includes a toltec temple, a Spanish galleon, a chocolate factory from the turn of the 20th century, and a workshop in which the pupils can make their own chocolate bars. Tours are incredibly popular and seem to booked up for months in advance, so reservations are essential.
Note: The museum translates as "The Cote D'Or Temple of Chocolate" - the site is only available in French.

SPECIALIST TOURS

Chocolate Lovers Paradise Tours

Location: Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp etc.
Type of experience: multi-day chocolate tour
Details: Deluxe 7-day escorted tour of Belgium, taking in chocolate museums, chocolate factories and chocolateries in Bruges, Brussels and Antwerp. The tour also includes various other Belgian experiences, such as a visit to a Belgian brasserie, a canal-trip in Bruges and a visit to an Antwerp diamond factory.