The local supermarket is probably one of the first places you visit when you move to Belgium. Luckily, you won’t be disappointed as Belgian grocery stores are stacked with high-quality fresh produce, international foods and things you didn’t even know you needed!

But grocery shopping in a foreign country can also be overwhelming if you don’t know what’s waiting for you there. To help you navigate these mouth-watering waters, we’ll dive into the unspoken rules for doing groceries in Belgium, the most popular and cheapest supermarkets, ethnic and specialty stores, food markets and food delivery apps.

Things to know before doing groceries in Belgium

If it’s your first time in Europe, things might be a bit confusing. Especially, if you’ve just moved to Belgium from America, you’ll come across a bunch of peculiarities you’re not used to.

To prevent awkward situations in a Belgian supermarket, here’re a few things to remember:

1. Bring your own bag. Supermarkets and most grocery stores in Belgium charge around 50 cents for plastic bags. Get used to having your own grocery bag on you to prevent unnecessary waste of money and plastic.
2. Rent a shopping cart. Shopping carts in Belgium aren’t for grabs. Usually, you need to insert a €1 or a 50-cent coin into a slot on the handle to separate your cart from the rest. After you’re done, you can bring your shopping cart back, lock it and get your coin back.
3. Check the opening times. Many supermarkets and stores in Belgium are closed on Sundays or have different working hours on holidays.
4. Weigh your produce yourself. Place the bag with your produce on an electric scale and select the corresponding image on the screen. You’ll get a printed sticker with a barcode and price for the item.
5. Don’t expect to find eggs in refrigerated sections. Unlike in the US, eggs and milk are stacked on room temperature shelves in Belgium. Don’t worry, they’re completely safe!
6. Some supermarkets such as Albert Heijn and Colruyt don’t accept credit cards and even might treat your Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard as such. So we advise you to get a Belgian bank card to do your groceries with peace of mind.

Supermarkets in Belgium

Opening times in Belgian supermarkets

Are you used to 24h supermarkets? Then it will take you some time to adjust to doing things the Belgian way.

Most supermarkets in Belgium are open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Even in larger and popular Belgian cities, most stores and restaurants close their doors on Sundays.

Things are slowly changing though and more supermarkets in Brussels plan to open on Sundays and bank holidays. If you’re lucky, you might have such a supermarket in your neighbourhood. But it’s always a good idea to check in advance to prevent disappointment!

What are the biggest supermarkets in Belgium?

Some of the most popular supermarkets in Belgium are:

• Colruyt
• Delhaize
• Carrefour
• Cora
• Albert Heijn
• Aldi
• Lidl

Some of these chains also have a convenience store format such as Carrefour Express. However, the prices there might be even steeper.

Are groceries expensive in Belgium?

Yes, groceries in Belgium aren’t cheap. In general, you’d spend about 13.4% more on groceries in Belgium than you’d pay in Germany, 12.9% more than in the Netherlands and 9.1% more than in France. In fact, 1 out of 3 Belgians regularly travel to neighbouring countries like France to get a better price offering.

But that’s not to say there aren’t ways to reduce your expenses without crossing the border!

Cheapest supermarkets in Belgium

Discount supermarkets are underrated. If you have a Lidl close to your home, don’t miss out on their freshly-baked goods, superb-quality vegetables and fruit, and surprise yourself with something funky during thematic food weeks!

However, you might find that not all the products on your shopping list are available at Lidl. That’s why it’s actually fairly common to shop in multiple grocery stores in Belgium in one day to find the best deal!

Next to Lidl, the cheapest supermarkets in Belgium include Aldi and Colruyt. In fact, Colruyt regularly monitors the prices and promotions of their competitors to guarantee they have the lowest price tag in the area. Colruyt also tends to have a wider variety of products and sometimes you end up with a cheaper bill than at Lidl, especially if you buy in bulk.

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To save money on groceries, we recommend staying on top of weekly deals in your local supermarket.

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Typical Belgian food to buy in a supermarket

Want to do groceries like a local? We have a few ideas you can add to your shopping list!

Of course, Belgium is known for its fries. But locals don’t always go out spending their money in friteries. Many of them buy frozen fries at supermarkets that you can bake at home.

Another, less obvious thing to try is endives or lof. This leafy vegetable is typical in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. You can consume its creamy white leaves cooked, steamed, baked, stuffed or raw in a salad. One of the popular Belgian comfort foods to try is chicons au gratin which is basically endives wrapped in ham, covered with a mornay sauce and baked in the oven.

Where to buy Belgian beer

And how can you not savour the world-famous Belgian beer while you’re at it? Luckily, you don't have to make a hole in your wallet in touristy breweries like Delirium to get the good stuff. You can find a decent selection of local beers even in the nearby Colruyt!

And if you’re looking for something more alternative, you can visit so-called drankencentrales – specialty liquor stores such as Prik & Tik.

Ethnic stores in Belgium

Belgium is a cultural melting pot, which is why you’ll find a multitude of ethnic stores across the country. They’ve a wider range of international food items for relatively lower prices compared to Belgian grocery stores. It’s a good way to save money on certain items and have a taste of home away from home.

Of course, the biggest variety of ethnic supermarkets is found in Brussels. Some of the best ones include:

• Indian & Pakistani foods: Ideal Cash and Carry (Chaussée de Gand 33)
• Asian supermarket: Kam-Yuen (Rue de la Vierge Noir 2-4)
• Mexican and Latin American foods: Mexigo (47 Francois Dons)
• British hypermarket: Stonemanor (Steenhofstraat 28)
• Portuguese Shop: Luso Loja (Avenue Chazal 29)
• Polish supermarkets: Polskie Sklepy (multiple locations across Brussels and other Belgian cities)

Farmers’ markets in Belgium

Another good way to buy cheaper and fresher products is going to a farmer’s market. Every city has multiple markets selling locally-grown produce on their main squares. It’s probably the best deal for buying seasonal veggies and fruit and you’ll find a great selection of cheeses, meat, fish, baked goods and sometimes delicious and affordable street food too.

On top of that, markets are some sort of a hang-out spot for locals. Located in the heart of neighbourhoods, they’re the perfect places to casually shop on a Sunday afternoon, while catching up with friends.

Some of the most vibrant food markets in Brussels include:

• Parvis de Saint-Gilles (9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday)
• Flageymarkt (Place Flagey) in Ixelles (8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday)
• Place du Châtelain in Ixelles (2 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Wednesday)
• Marché de Boitsfort in Watermael-Boitsfort (8 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday)
• Place des Chasseurs Ardennais in Schaerbeek (2 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Friday)
• Indoor market Abattoir in Anderlecht (7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Friday to Saturday and 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday)

Specialty stores in Belgium

If you’re a proper foodie, you’re probably a frequent visitor of speciality stores. In Belgium, you’ll find a whole variety of those, including butchers’, cheese stores, delis, you name it! Especially in larger cities, you’ll find a whole bunch of those in each neighbourhood.

Of course, Belgium is also famed for its chocolate stores and waffles. Try artisan chocolate from Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini or Frederic Blondeel and waffles at one of the Brussels’ - based Maison Dandoy boutiques.

Organic stores in Belgium

Due to the high prices, organic products aren’t very popular in Belgium. But that doesn’t mean there is a lack of places to buy them. If you’re looking for eco-friendly products and biological foods, you should check out Färm or Ekoplaza. But you’ll surely find some smaller organic shops in your neighbourhood too.

Online grocery shopping in Belgium

We’ve all been in situations when, after a long day, doing groceries feels like a drag. Luckily, we have the luxury to get all the items on the shopping list or a delicious warm meal, without getting up from our couches.

Online groceries in Belgium

If you’d like to order groceries online in Belgium, you’ve got a couple of options:

• Gorilas: German on-demand grocery delivery service, promising to deliver your order within 10 minutes of placing it.
• Deliveroo: international food delivery service where you can order from Carrefour Express.
• Hopr: Belgian first online supermarket, only active in Hasselt, Zonhoven, Diepenbeek, Alken and Sint-Truiden.

Food boxes and meal kits in Belgium

Would you like to cook a fancy dinner without the stress of buying the right ingredients in the right amounts? Or maybe you’re done cycling home with bags overflowing with groceries? Meal-kit providers to the rescue!

Most of these services are subscription-based where you’ve to select how many meals you’d like to receive each week and for how many people you cook. Don’t expect this convenience to come cheap. On average, you’ll pay €50 for 3 meals for 2 people each week.

Some of the popular Belgian meal-kit providers are:

• Marley Spoon: subscription-based meal kit provider in Flanders and Brussels.
• HelloFresh: one of the most popular subscription-based meal kits in Europe, delivering across Belgium.
• Foodbag: best choice for those who want to try it out or plan to use the service sporadically as it doesn’t require a subscription.

Food delivery apps in Belgium

Sometimes, you just don’t have the energy or time to cook or go to the supermarket. In times like that, it’s only fair to treat yourself to a meal from your favourite restaurant in the comfort of your own home.

These food delivery apps in Belgium are your best friend:

• Takeaway.com
• Uber Eats
• Deliveroo

Takeaway generally has lower fees than other apps. But look out for daily offers on Uber Eats – sometimes you can get a good discount or 1+1 deal!

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