Last updated: 24 September 2026
Looking for the best Christmas markets in the Netherlands in 2026? The Dutch do Christmas a little differently from what we were used to in South Africa: no braai on the beach, but plenty of glühwein, oliebollen, twinkling lights and markets in medieval squares, candlelit caves and even a 19th-century Dickens town. Here are the best Christmas markets in the Netherlands for 2026, plus the big German ones just over the border, with dates, entry fees and tips.
Short answer: for the biggest Christmas market experience, go to Valkenburg (markets inside caves), Maastricht, Dordrecht or the Dickens Festijn in Deventer. From Haarlem and Zandvoort, the easiest options are the Haarlem Christmas market (11 to 13 December) and the Royal Christmas Fair in Den Haag. For the classic German experience, Aachen, Cologne and Düsseldorf are a few hours away by train.
Jump to the Netherlands, near Haarlem and Zandvoort, Germany, the calendar, tips or the FAQ
The best Christmas markets in the Netherlands 2026
Kerststad Valkenburg – 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027
Where: Valkenburg, South Limburg
Entry: The town is free; the cave markets and some attractions are paid
Details: The most unusual Christmas market in the country. Valkenburg’s old marl caves, the Gemeentegrot and the Fluweelengrot, are turned into underground Christmas markets with stalls, lights and live music. Above ground there’s a Christmas village, Santa’s Village and a Christmas parade. It runs for weeks, so it’s one of the few markets you can still visit after Christmas.
Tip: Go on a weekday if you can, because the caves get very busy at weekends.
Magisch Maastricht – 27 November to 27 December 2026
Where: Vrijthof, Maastricht
Entry: Free
Details: Maastricht’s main square turns into a winter village with Christmas chalets, an ice rink, a big Ferris wheel and plenty of winter terraces. It draws close to a million visitors a year and has a very Burgundian, almost Belgian feel. Easy to combine with a trip to Aachen, which is only 30 minutes away.
Dordtse Decemberdagen – from mid-December 2026
Where: Historic centre of Dordrecht
Entry: Free
Details: Dordrecht calls its Christmas market the biggest in the Netherlands, with more than 200 stalls winding through about 2.5 km of old streets and quays. The December programme also includes an ice rink and a light art walk. The Decemberdagen start around 10 to 11 December 2026 and run into the new year, with the big market on the opening weekend. Check dordtsedecemberdagen.nl for the exact market days.
Dickens Festijn Deventer – 12 and 13 December 2026
Where: Bergkwartier, Deventer
Entry: €6 for the Dickens Festijn (children under 7 free); the Christmas markets in town are free
Details: For one weekend, Deventer’s old Bergkwartier turns into Victorian London, with more than 900 actors and extras playing characters from Charles Dickens’ books: Scrooge, chimney sweeps, carol singers and street urchins. It’s magical, but also one of the busiest events of the year, so expect queues to get in.
Tip: Buy your tickets online in advance and arrive early in the morning.
Website: dickensfestijn.nl
Royal Christmas Fair Den Haag – 3 to 23 December 2026
Where: Lange Voorhout, Den Haag
Entry: Free
Opening times: Daily, 12:00 to 21:00
Details: Den Haag’s most elegant avenue fills with dozens of Christmas chalets, thousands of lights, fire baskets and mulled wine, with choirs, storytellers and Santa visits. This is the 11th edition.
Website: royalchristmasfair.nl
Amsterdam – December 2026
Where: Across the city
Entry: Mostly free
Details: Amsterdam doesn’t have one big traditional Christmas market, but there’s plenty going on: the big Christmas tree on the Dam, smaller Christmas markets and fairs in different neighbourhoods, and the Amsterdam Light Festival from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, with light art along the canals. Check the Events Calendar for what’s on.
Leiden – 11 to 13 and 17 to 20 December 2026
Where: Historic centre of Leiden
Entry: Free
Details: Leiden’s Winter Wonder Weeks bring Christmas markets to the old centre, plus a floating ice rink and canal tours with mulled wine.
Groningen – 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027
Where: City centre, Groningen
Entry: Free
Details: Winterstad and WinterWelVaart fill Groningen with a winter programme, including illuminated historic ships along the canals.
Bourtange – 5 and 6, 12 and 13, 19 and 20 December 2026
Where: Fortified village of Bourtange, Groningen
Entry: Around €5
Details: A star-shaped 16th-century fortress village lit by thousands of lights, with nearly 100 stalls. Small, atmospheric and completely different from the big city markets.
Christmas markets near Haarlem and Zandvoort
Kerstmarkt Haarlem – 11 to 13 December 2026
Where: Grote Markt and the streets around it, Haarlem
Entry: Free
Details: One of the biggest and prettiest Christmas markets in North Holland, with hundreds of stalls spread over the historic centre, from the Grote Markt around the St. Bavokerk to the smaller streets nearby. Expect choirs, crafts, glühwein and very full streets on the Saturday. It’s only 10 minutes by train from Zandvoort.
Castle Christmas Fair Santpoort – 24 to 29 November 2026
Where: Landgoed Duin & Kruidberg, Santpoort-Noord
Entry: €17.75 for adults, €11.75 for children aged 7 to 14
Details: An indoor and outdoor Christmas fair at a grand country estate in the dunes, with gifts, decorations, food and live performances. Not cheap, but a lovely day out, and very close to Haarlem.
Also worth a look close to home: the regular markets in Haarlem and Amsterdam get very festive in December too.
German Christmas markets just over the border
If you want the full Glühwein-and-Lebkuchen experience, Germany does it best, and some of its most famous markets are only a few hours from the Randstad by train.
Aachen – 20 November to 23 December 2026
Where: Around the cathedral and town hall, Aachen
Entry: Free
Details: The 53rd edition of one of Germany’s best-known Christmas markets, famous for its Aachener Printen (spiced gingerbread). Aachen is only 30 minutes from Maastricht, so you can easily do both in a weekend.
Cologne – from mid-November to 23 December 2026
Where: Several markets across the city, including Roncalliplatz next to the cathedral
Entry: Free
Details: Cologne has several Christmas markets, and the one at the foot of the cathedral, around a giant Christmas tree, is the most famous. There are more than 100 free stage events, and the city is about 2.5 to 3 hours from Amsterdam by direct train.
Düsseldorf – 20 November to 30 December 2026
Where: Old Town and the Königsallee, Düsseldorf
Entry: Free
Details: Düsseldorf spreads its Christmas markets over the Old Town, the Rhine promenade and the Königsallee, with an ice rink, a Ferris wheel and a new Winter Village on the Kö in 2026. It’s about 2 hours from Amsterdam by direct train.
Christmas markets 2026: the calendar
| Dates | Market | Where | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Nov to 3 Jan | Kerststad Valkenburg | Valkenburg | Free (caves paid) |
| 20 Nov to 23 Dec | Aachener Weihnachtsmarkt | Aachen (DE) | Free |
| 20 Nov to 30 Dec | Christmas markets Düsseldorf | Düsseldorf (DE) | Free |
| Mid-Nov to 23 Dec | Cologne Christmas markets | Cologne (DE) | Free |
| 24 to 29 Nov | Castle Christmas Fair | Santpoort-Noord | €17.75 |
| 27 Nov to 27 Dec | Magisch Maastricht | Maastricht | Free |
| 27 Nov to 3 Jan | Winterstad | Groningen | Free |
| 3 to 23 Dec | Royal Christmas Fair | Den Haag | Free |
| 5 to 20 Dec (weekends) | Bourtange Christmas market | Bourtange | Around €5 |
| From mid-Dec | Dordtse Decemberdagen | Dordrecht | Free |
| 11 to 13 Dec | Kerstmarkt Haarlem | Haarlem | Free |
| 11 to 13 and 17 to 20 Dec | Winter Wonder Weeks | Leiden | Free |
| 12 and 13 Dec | Dickens Festijn | Deventer | €6 |
Dates can change, so always check the official website before you travel.
Tips for visiting Christmas markets
- Go early or on a weekday. The big markets are packed on Saturday afternoons, especially Haarlem, Deventer and Valkenburg.
- Take the train. Parking is a nightmare around the big markets. NS runs direct trains to most of them, and Germany’s ICE trains go straight from Amsterdam and Utrecht to Düsseldorf and Cologne.
- Keep your mug. In Germany you pay a deposit (Pfand) on your glühwein mug. Return it to get your money back, or keep it as a souvenir.
- Dress warmly. Standing still outside in a Dutch December is a lot colder than it sounds, especially when coming from a South African summer. See my guide to surviving your first Dutch winter.
- Bring a card and a bit of cash. Most stalls take card, but smaller ones and German markets still like cash.
FAQ: Christmas markets in the Netherlands
What is the biggest Christmas market in the Netherlands?
Dordrecht calls its market the biggest in the country, with more than 200 stalls over about 2.5 km. Valkenburg and Maastricht are also huge, and Valkenburg runs for the longest, from mid-November to early January.
When do Christmas markets start in the Netherlands in 2026?
The first big ones open in mid-November: Valkenburg on 13 November 2026, followed by Maastricht and Groningen on 27 November. Most city markets, like Haarlem and Deventer, are in the first half of December.
Are Dutch Christmas markets free?
Most are free to walk around. The exceptions are special events like the Dickens Festijn in Deventer (€6), the caves in Valkenburg and the Castle Christmas Fair in Santpoort.
Is there a Christmas market in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has smaller Christmas markets and winter events rather than one big traditional market. For a proper Christmas market, Haarlem, Den Haag and Leiden are all less than an hour away by train.
Which German Christmas market is closest to the Netherlands?
Aachen is the closest big one, about 30 minutes from Maastricht. Düsseldorf and Cologne are about 2 to 3 hours from Amsterdam by direct train.
More things to do: check the Events Calendar, and if you have little ones, read Sinterklaas explained for South Africans.
