Chocolate heaven in Flanders

Belgium produces 172,000 tons of chocolate per year in over 2,130 chocolate shops. The fact that the British are Europe’s biggest consumer of chocolate chomping our way through, on average, a whopping 10kg of chocolate a year, makes Belgium and in particular Flanders the first place to head for, in the quest for the perfect Easter egg.

Of course some shops are more exclusive than others and for the ultimate in chocolate design, take a trip to the land where chocolate eggs are more than just hollowed out chocolate casts. In Flanders, chocolate eggs come in all shapes and forms and with an exquisite taste to match, there can be no finer examples of the art of the chocolatier!

Delicious fillings will make your taste buds surrender and breathtaking chocolate art displays make our humble British eggs look like poor country cousins!

Here’s our guide for where to buy the most exclusive Flemish Easter eggs:

1. Pierre Marcollini
This exclusive chocolate shop sells the handiwork of the legendary Pierre Marcollini. A chocolate perfectionist, Marcollini also produces delicious seasonal ice-creams, deserts, biscuits and sorbets. Don’t miss his delicious éclairs. Visit his flagship store on the Rue du Grand Sablon for a truly unforgettable experience.

Grand Sablon 79, Brussels 1000
Marcollini.be

2. Cote D’or
Cote d’or has been sourcing its cocoa beans from West Africa since 1883. As one of the most recognised brands in Belgium, it has just opened its own shop in the centre of Brussels. Sample the rich variety of flavours on offer or if you are very disciplined, drop in just to soak up some of the tempting choco-atmosphere!

Place du Petit Sablon, Brussels 1000
Cotedor.co.uk

3. Wittamer
Originally established by Henri Wittamer in the Grand Sablon in 1910, this shop was originally opened as a thriving and well known bakery in the centre of Brussels. Three generations later, his grandson set up its famous chocolate shop in 1965 and it continues to thrive with much acclaim and success.

13 Place du Grand Sablon, Brussels 1000
Wittamer.be

4. Chocolate Line
The creator of Chocolate Line, Dominque Persoone has worked with Heston Blumenthal and shares an enthusiasm in innovative chocolate design. Testing the boundaries of taste, his shop has some interesting flavoured chocolates incorporating fruit, herbs and even vegetables!

Simon Sevinplein 10, Bruges 8000
Dominiquepersoone.be

5. Sukerbuyc
Translated in English as Sugar Belly, this is Bruges oldest chocolate shop. With its own tea-room opposite the main shop, a visit to “de Proeverie” (a place you can taste) to try its famous hot chocolate is a must made with pure melted chocolate. The shop has a workshop where you can see the chocolates being made from behind a glass screen.

Katelijnistraat 5, Bruges 8000
Sukerbuyc.be

6. Daskalides
Daskalides was started in 1931 by a Greek couple in Ghent. Over 70 years later it is one of Ghent’s most famous chocolatiers. Now a recognised brand name in Flanders, their shops are all over Flanders.

Henegouwenstraat 1, 9000 Ghent
Daskalides.com

7. Yuzu
For Nicolas Vanaise, chocolate is a lot more than milk, dark and white chocolate. It is an exotic ingredient that gets more and more character and can be combined to perfection with flavours from around the world such as Yuzu, an Eastern citrus fruit, but also with typical Flemish products such as beer, mustard and gingerbread.

Walpoortstraat 11a, 9000 Ghent

8. Van Hoorbeke
Located just behind the cathedral in Ghent is Luc Van Hoorbeke’s tasty chocolaterie. Specialising in freshly made pralines it’s hard to walk past without a peak at the tantalising creations on offer.

Sint-Baafsplein, 9000 Ghent

9. Burie
Well known for its trade-mark Diamond shaped chocolates, this famous Antwerp chocolatier displays a different new chocolate and marzipan sculpture in its window. Usually a work of art in itself, this Easter will be no exception to the level of creativity!
Korte Gasthuisstraat 3, B-2000 Antwerp
Chocolatier-burie.be

10. Goossens
To find out why Chocolaterie Goossens has become a household name in Belgium jump on a tram get off at Sint-Vincentius Hospital, The man behind the business, Rene Goossens studied chocolate making in Switzerland and France before founding his own business in 1955.

Isabellalei 6, 2018 Antwerp

For more information on Flanders, go to Visitflanders.co.uk.