Sugar 'n' spice and all things nice at the New De Wolf Plus Christmas shop in Brussels
Enter the emerald, gold and turquoise forest glade
by Amy Bellew
Whether it’s a few glistening baubles or a complete home makeover New De Wolf Plus is an all-singing, all-dancing glitterball of a Christmas shop in the centre of Brussels.
The two-storey grotto is a treasure trove of festive delights where you reach upon a star for under one euro or carry home a life-size Santa, resplendent in a turquoise velvet and fur-trimmed suit, for 1,395 euros (£1,000).
If you are dreaming of a white Christmas, a glistening green forest fantasy home or fancy a five-foot candy-floss pink tree complete with sugar plum fairy atop, this is the place to let loose your inner lust for fairy dust.
Sweet-toothed customers can create a cake stand piled high with glazed enamel donuts and macarons without gaining those dreaded Christmas pounds. Wafts of cinnamon and spice candles add to the heady shopping atmosphere.
Owners Philip and Susanne De Wolf deck their halls with lavish displays but no matter how garish or glittery the decorations nothing seems to clash in this magical wonderland. Walking through the swathes of peacock feathers, gold-dipped fruit and frosted swags of holly is close to bonkers.
This festive fantasy started 25 years ago when Susanne and Philip began to sell a few decorations in their furniture shop. While the tables and chairs were a slow burn the Christmas baubles sold out and the bells rang out to change their business focus.
Now this glistening grotto welcomes thousands of visitors across Europe throughout the year.
There’s a relaxed vibe and Susanne says she loves nothing more than seeing children dash to the crazy candy store decorations, a corner bursting with gingerbread men, flying pigs and candy cane garlands.
At the other end of the scale, customers hire Susanne to dress their executive homes for the season and a beautifully finished black tree, dripping in silver and gold decorations was being prepared for prime position next to a black grand piano in a grand entrance hall.
Susanne said: “It’s a pleasure to help people who are too busy or unsure how to decorate their homes but these visits must stop by the end of November as I have to be in the shop – that’s our busiest time of the year.
“We work right through to December 24 and then we start making our new orders in January. We don’t really get a holiday until spring.
“This year we have a new range of rich turquoise and gold decorations which is proving popular. Much of its has already sold out. Locals here know to get here early as we can’t replenish our stocks.”
As well as traditional Nativity scenes, tables are laid in every colour combination to inspire customers to go over the top with their decorations. There’s plenty of animal magic, too, with polar bears, reindeers, squirrels and hedgehogs vying for position with brown bears and robins, even monkeys and, of course, Susanne and Philip’s dogs.
Look out for Houdini the French black and white bulldog as he stands guard at the entrance while Susanne, Philip and their helpful staff work furiously to wrap the decorations in bags that are as beautiful as the goods.
New De Wolf Plus at 91 Rue de Haute, Brussels opens from 10.30am to 6.30pm
www. newdewolf.be
Amy Bellew travelled on Eurostar from Ashford International to Brussels Midi and stayed at the Hilton Grand Place Hotel. New De Wolf Plus is about a 10-minute walk from either the hotel or station.
www.eurostar.com
www.visitflanders.co.uk
http://m.hilton.com/mt/www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/belgium/hilton-brussels-grand-place-BRUGRHI/index.html
Mistletoe kisses add to the fun
Houdini never seems to disappear from the entrance of New De Wolf Plus
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