Christmas Markets in the Netherlands
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells all the way! Looking for Christmas inspiration and a bit of winter holiday spirit? Check the 2021 agenda of Christmas markets now!
Generally, Christmas markets 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. Hope you enjoy them!
Here you can find our Chistmas gifts ideas. Happy holiday season!
Top Chistmas markets in & around Amsterdam
Dickens Festival
Where: Deventer
When:19 – 20 December 2020
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 welcomed! However be prepared to wait for +/- 60 minutes in queue for the entrance of the festival.
More information: http://www.dickensfestijn.nl/english
The Netherlands Christmas town Valkenburg
Where: Valkenburg
When: 13 November 2020 – 3 January 2021
Chistmas town Valkenburg is unique event involving 7 festive activities during the 2020 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!
Christmas Market in Haarlem
Where: Haarlem
When: in 2021 there will be no Christmas market in Haarlem
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.haarlemmarketing.nl
Museumplein Christmas Market
Where: Museumplein, Amsterdam
When: dates for 2020 are not confirmed yet
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 is transformed into the Amsterdam Christmas village with an ice skating rink. Ice*Amsterdam is usually open from November until beginning of February. Dates and times for 2020/2021 need to be confirmed.
Come here for traditional Dutch street food, hot drinks and a truely Dutch Christmas 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 25 November until 23 December 2019.
Here you can find more information about Christmas markets in Germany, Belgium, France and England. Take a look!
Photos: Christmas market 2021 in Dusseldorf, credit Svetlana Horbach
2. If you cannot wait for Christmas, book a ticket to Disneyland Paris! The Christmas Season in Disneyland Paris is from 9 November 2019 to 6 January 2020.
