Set within the historic cave complexes, Valkenburg’s winter events are unique. Known as Christmas Town Valkenburg, it attracts visitors with its underground setting and festive lights.
Read on for the confirmed 2024 dates, opening times, ticket information, and what to expect above and underground.
Valkenburg Christmas Market 2024
Dates – Confirmed
Valkenburg Christmas Market dates: 15th November to 5th January 2025 (confirmed).
Update: Dates were announced in February. Sign up for our newsletter for future updates.
Source: Dates are obtained directly from the event organiser’s website, available here.
Plan Your Visit
Location and Times
Locations:
Municipal Cave (Gemeentegrot)
Velvet Cave (Fluweelengrot)
Christmas in MergelRijk
Winter Wonderland at Wilhelmina Cave.
Opening times:
Monday to Friday: 11am to 7pm.
Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 7pm.
Christmas Eve: 10am to 6pm.
Christmas Day: Closed.
Boxing Day: 11am to 6pm.
30th December: 10am to 6pm.
Christmas Parade: 16th November to 28th December 2024 (confirmed).
Location: Free in the city centre.
Wednesday: 7pm.
Saturday: 7:30pm.
Christmas Day: No parade.
Travel and Accommodation
Public transport: Stop at Valkenburg Station and walk 5 to 10 minutes. Plan your local journey here or your international travel here.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion. If you must drive, follow the signs to Kerststad Valknburg.
Where to stay: Hotel Botterweck is a highly-rated hotel in the town centre.
Tickets
Admission: Tickets are required and you book a specific time slot.
Tickets: Available from September. Must be booked online, in advance. Book here.
Tickets for MergelRijk and Winter Wonderland can be booked at the location ticket office.
Prices:
Municipal Cave: Adults: €9. Children: €5.
Velvet Cave: Adults: €9. Children: €5.
MergelRijk: Adults: €17.50. Children: €15.50.
Children under 5 are free.
Recommended time to visit: Allocate 1 to 1.5 hours to visit each cave.
Culinary walking route: 15th November to 5th January. More information and tickets.
Amenities and Attractions
Christmas Shadow Lights Route: Free in the city centre.
Street theatre: Free in the city centre.
Santa: Yes, at Santa’s Village (above ground). 16th November to 30th December 2024 (unconfirmed). Free in the city centre.
Ice skating: No.
Attractions: Toboggan runs and nativity scenes.
Reason to visit: Unique underground experience and decorated tunnels, Christmas Parade, Santa’s Village, Lights Route, street theatre.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian: Yes, plenty of options.
Vegan: Yes, plenty of options.
Gluten free: Limited. Ask individual vendors, but beware of cross-contamination.
Specialities: Stroopwafels, oliebollen, poffertjes, smoked sausage, speculaas cookies.
Accessibility
Accessible: The Municipal Cave and Velvet Cave are accessible. MergelRijk and Winter Wonderland are not accessible for wheelchairs, walkers or prams.
Pet-friendly: No, dogs are not allowed underground but can visit above ground.
Convenient Hotels
This is a small town so it’s easy to get around if you stay in the town centre. Hotel Botterweck is well located and gets excellent reviews.
If that’s unavailable, read this guide to hotels in Valkenburg for more ideas on where to stay.
Location Map
Wrapped up your Christmas visit? We’d love to hear about your experience. Share your story and tag photos with #UltimateChristmasMarkets on social media.
Christmas in Valkenburg
Christmas Town Valkenburg features unique markets in the caves, with cosy stalls and pretty lights. Activities are listed by date, offering options like parades, toboggan runs, and nativity scenes.
If short on time, visit the Municipal Cave or the Velvet Cave and don’t forget to book tickets online in advance.
Local Specialties
- Kerststol: Traditional Dutch bread containing dried fruits, nuts, and marzipan filling. The bread is usually dusted with powdered sugar and has a decorative shape, often resembling a log.
- Oliebollen: A customary treat for New Year’s Eve, they’re essentially Dutch doughnuts.
- Speculaas Cookies: These are spiced shortcrust biscuits, often decorated with images from traditional stories.
- Limburgse Vlaai: A traditional tart from Limburg province, where Valkenburg is located.
- Poffertjes: Small, fluffy pancakes that are a staple at the markets.
- Patatje Oorlog: Literally translating to ‘war fries’, this dish consists of Dutch-style fries served with a combination of mayonnaise, peanut satay sauce, and chopped raw onions.
- Bratwurst: The famous German sausage.
- Roasted Chestnuts: A classic winter street snack.
- Glühwein: Not to be missed!
Sustainability Tips
- Use Renewable Energy: When booking your hotel, choose a place that uses renewable energy sources. For instance, Thermae 2000, a well-known spa near Valkenburg, uses geothermal energy for its facilities.
- Reduce Food Waste: Try only to order or purchase what you can finish. Dutch cuisine is delicious but can be quite filling, so be mindful of portion sizes.
- Ethical Consumption: Seek out stalls or local businesses that sell ethically sourced products using sustainable materials.
- Sustainable Diets: Order locally sourced food and vegetarian or vegan options when possible.
- Transport: Valkenburg is a compact city, and many of its attractions are within walking distance of each other. Choose walking or cycling over using a car. If you need to travel further, the city has excellent train links
Comment below if you want to leave a Xmas review, have any questions or would like to report any inaccuracies.
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Recommendations are independently chosen based on personal travel experiences and extensive research. While we make every effort to provide accurate information, the dates and details listed here should not be relied upon. Please consult the official website before booking your trip or planning a visit.
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