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The Best Christmas Markets in the Netherlands

Deventer's annual Christmas market

If your idea of Christmas markets are Hallmark events with Santa Claus, Rudolf and his elves trying to get you to buy useless crap, think again.

Christmas markets in the Netherlands are magical (excuse my cheesiness) events, filled with enough activities, fattening food and funny and authentic Dutch stalls to keep any college-aged student entertained.  Here are some of the best ones (hint: don’t go to Amsterdam!) that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

Maastricht

Late November – Late December

Maastricht is a sweet little town all year round, but near the Christmas holidays it turns into a holiday wonderland that only Scrooge could find unpleasant.  As one of the better-known Christmas markets in the Netherlands, Maastricht has a lot to offer, with its Christmas ‘Winterland’ containing a skating rink, a Palace of Mirrors, a giant Ferris wheel and its Venetian Grand Carousel.  Think these activities are just for kids?  Don’t deceive yourself – a lot of fun can be had doing activities that remind you of your childhood (especially when alcohol is involved!).

When you get tired of Winterland, be sure to take a look around at all the Christmas stalls, where you can pick up strange Dutch souvenirs and Christmas ornaments for cheap.  And of course there are plenty of food stands offering olibolen, poffertjes and hot chocolate to keep you warm and full.

Deventer

December 18-19

Like Charles Dickens?  Then be sure to check out Deventer for their annual Charles Dickens festival, a Christmas market like nothing you’ve ever seen.  The town comes alive with more than 350 characters from the English writer’s famous books, and you will see plenty of rich ladies, poor tramps in rags as well as all the favorites like the ghost of Marley, Oliver Twist, Mr. Pickwick, and Scrooge himself.

Christmas trees and over 200 stalls line the streets of Deventer during this weekend, and you won’t want to pass up on the city’s famous ‘Deventer Koek’ gingerbread as you’re strolling through the festivities.  Each year more than 100,000 people from all over Europe visit Deventer for this famous festival, so don’t miss out.

Valkenburg

November 21 – December 21

The town of Valkenburg is built around an enchanting ruined castle, and holds its ‘Fluweelengrot’ Christmas market each year in beautifully lit old quarry tunnels and caves running underneath the town.

Every year the Valkenburg Christmas market has a theme of the season, and this year’s theme, Christmas Around the World, means you will get to see unusual Christmas traditions and eat food inspired by various countries around the world.  Of course, there are plenty of Dutch inspired things as well, and you can browse stall after stall of authentic Dutch handcrafted products and gifts.

Hint: Valkenburg is just east of Maastricht, so if you’re motivated enough you could make a day trip or a weekend getaway out of both markets.

Arnhem

December 13 – 24

Aside from the shopping, known as some of the best in the Netherlands, Arnhem offers a worthwhile Christmas market and is only an hour train ride from Amsterdam.

During the two weeks of Arnhem’s Christmas market, the city lights up with holiday spirit and has plenty of activities to offer the student wanderer.  Watch a Dutch championship of ice carving, go to a play at the winter night theatre (beware: it will probably be in Dutch!) or browse the stalls for treats or memorabilia.