Christmas Markets in the Netherlands

holland-explorer | 13th September 2023 | Christmas, Events | No Comments

Looking for Christmas inspiration and holiday spirit? Visit one of the Christmas markets 2023 in the Netherlands and other places in Europe!

Christmas markets, big and small, are organized in most of the cities in the Netherlands. And while it’s not possible to cover them all, we offer you our top picks.

Top Chistmas markets in & around Amsterdam

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Christmas markets in and around Amsterdam in 2023 >>

Dickens Festival

Where: Deventer
When: 16 – 17 December 2023

During the annual Dickens Festival more than 950 characters from the famous books of Dickens – Oliver Twist, Marley and Mr. Pickwick, Scrooge – will revive in the streets of Deventer. Christmas trees and thousands of little lights, carol singers going, Christmas market with traditional Dutch food, drinks, and souvenirs – all combined, it makes Dickens Festival an unforgettable experience.

All the shops in Deventer will be open (however, pretty busy as well) on this Saturday and Sunday.

Entrance to the Dickens Festival is free. Everyone is welcome! However be prepared to wait for +/- 60 minutes in line at the entrance.

More information: http://www.dickensfestijn.nl/english

Book a hotel in Deventer >>
Buy train tickets to Deventer >>

The Netherlands Christmas town Valkenburg

Where: Valkenburg
When: 17 November 2023 – 7 January 2024

Chistmas town Valkenburg is unique event involving 7 festive activities during the 2023 Christmas season. You can visit Santa’s village, enjoy a magical Christmas light parade, or visit the biggest and oldest underground Christmas market in Europe. Check the Netherlands Christmas town Valkenburg agenda and come to experience traditional Dutch Christmas!

Book a hotel near Valkenburg Christmas market >>
Buy train tickets to Valkenburg >>

Christmas Market in Haarlem

Where: Haarlem
When: 8 – 10 December 2023

The beautiful city of Haarlem is just 15 minutes away from the center of Amsterdam. Take a train and come to Haarlem’s main square, Grote Markt, to experience all the joy of a traditional, non-touristic Christmas market in the Netherlands. More information: https://www.visithaarlem.com/en/christmas-market-next-edition/

The best part of the Haarlem Christmas market (to my taste, but I hope you agree) is ‘t Straatje van Emma at Schagchelstraat. Here you can Christmas atmosphere of the 19th century. Cosy street, lots of people dressed up in beautiful costumes. And during our visit on a Saturday afternoon it was surprisingly not that crowded!

Museumplein Christmas Market

Where: Museumplein, Amsterdam
When: dates for 2023 are coming soon.

During the Christmas season Amsterdam’s Museumplein (Museum Square) in the center of the city becomes the place for winter joy and entertainments for adults and kid.

Every year in December the square in front of the Rijksmuseum is transformed into the Amsterdam Christmas village with an ice skating rink. In 2023/2024 the Ice*Amsterdam rink is open from mid November to February 2024.

The Christmas market is open from December 14, 2022 to December 26, 2022.

Photo: Skating rink Ice*Amsterdam, open from mid November to February 2024

Come here for traditional Dutch street food, hot drinks and Christmas spirit!

Christmas and New Year in Amsterdam: museums opening hours

Amsterdam Winter Paradise

Where: RAI Amsterdam Convention Center
When: December 15, 2022 – January 1, 2023. Dates for the 2023/2024 season will follow soon!

The Amsterdam Winter Paradise is something between a Christmas market and a festive fair. And while white Christmas is unlikely in the Netherlands, here you can definitely get a truly winter spirit!

And a few more Christmas ideas:

1. We probably shouldn’t say in on a website about the Netherlands, but the most ambient and festive Christmas market in Europe that we’ve seen was in Münster, Germany. It’s only 3 hours away from Amsterdam by train. A one-way ticket costs from € 20. The Christmas market in Münster is open from 27 November until 23 December 2023.

Here you can find more information about Christmas markets in Germany, Belgium, France and England. Train tickets will be available online starting from 11 October 2023. You can book tickets 180 days prior to the departure date.

Photos above: Christmas market in Dusseldorf, Germany, credit Svetlana Horbach

Photo: Christmas market in Neuss, Germany, credit Svetlana Horbach

Read more: 14 magical Christmas market destinations in Europe

2. If you cannot wait for Christmas, book a ticket to Disneyland Paris! The Christmas Season in Disneyland Paris is from 11 November 2023 to 7 January 2024. Explore its magic atmosphere with your family!