Neuhaus

Neuhaus is the Brussels chocolate house that opened its first boutique in the Galerie de la Reine in 1857 and, by its own account, invented the Belgian praline in 1912 and the ballotin gift box in 1915. Its Ostend boutique is on Wapenplein, the main square, so it is easy to fold into a walk through the centre.

Expect the classic Belgian chocolate counter: pralines to fill a ballotin of your choice, ready-made gift boxes and collections, bars and tablets, with seasonal lines such as advent calendars in the brand’s current range. The store page also lists click & collect for webshop orders, gift cards and Neuhaus chocolate mousse.

The boutique is open every day from 10:00 to 18:00, Sundays included. Neuhaus leans towards elegant packaging, so choose it when the box matters as much as the chocolate; for something made in Ostend, compare it with the independent chocolatiers a few streets away.