Belgium has a temperate maritime climate similar to the Netherlands and northern France: mild, damp, and rarely extreme. Brussels averages 3°C in January and 18°C in July, with rain possible any day of the year (about 200 rainy days annually). The Ardennes region in the south is cooler and wetter, with occasional snow from December through February. May through September offers the best weather for city visits to Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp, with July and August being the warmest at 20-23°C. December’s Christmas markets add atmosphere despite the damp cold, while spring brings blooming begonias and the famous Hallerbos bluebell forest in April.
