On 11 November Dutch children go door to door with paper lanterns, singing for sweets in honour of Sint Maarten. Utrecht, whose patron saint is Maarten, goes much further with a big evening parade full of light, music and giant figures through the historic centre.
For the 2026 jubilee edition the public walks along too: the route of about four kilometres passes the Neude library, Vismarkt and Domkerk, and you can join at any point. Bring the kids, bring a lantern, and you will have the best Sint Maarten of any family on the street.
- When: Saturday 7 November 2026, 18:00 to 21:00
- Where: Various locations in Utrecht city centre; route map on the official site
- Tickets: Free
- Getting there: Utrecht Centraal is a short walk from the route; direct trains from Amsterdam Centraal take about 30 minutes
Good to know: The lights go out and the music stops at 21:00, so start walking by 19:00 if you want to do the full route.
Planning your year? See everything on the events calendar.
