Suggestions for Christmas Markets in the Netherlands in Dec.

Unfortunately Christmas markets aren’t a Dutch thing. It’s more a German tradition. The Christmas market in Valkenburg is the closest thing we have in the Netherlands to an authentic Christmas market. There are lots of cities in The Netherlands that will set up a few stalls on a square, but it’s nowhere near to what you can find in Germany.

We have been to the market in Maastricht and it is small and just OK. Maastricht on its own is very pretty and worth exploring.( We will return again in November to visit friends but not for the market
We have also been to the market in Aachen and that one was larger than Maastricht and was nice. The big one is in Nuremberg ..but so big !
Just be aware that the markets get very very crowded especially on weekends. And the items for sale, with the exception of a few booths, were just ' stuff'. In fact the items were what one would find at the markets in Chicago, Denver , etc
If you go with that in mind, and to just wander, have hot wine and a sausage, then all is good!
Just don't expect to see what one sees on the Hallmark Channel holiday movies!

We are thinking about taking the train to Leiden to their winter festival! Has anyone experienced this and recommend it? We are trying to decide if this part of our travel itinerary needs to be adjusted.
Thanks for all your suggestions :)
Lisa

“ We are thinking about taking the train to Leiden to their winter festival! Has anyone experienced this and recommend it? ”

I’m sorry, but you really seem to have the wrong idea about Christmas markets in the Netherlands. It isn’t a tradition here and although some cities to try to get some kind of Christmas market or winter festival going, it’s usually a very pale comparison to the real deal in Germany. The winter wonder weeks in Leiden are no exception. The stalls won’t open before December 14 and they sell cheap “made in China” stuff.

The one exception is Valkenburg. This city is very close to Germany and culturally it’s more German than Dutch. Even the local dialect spoken there is very similar to German. The Christmas markets there are great fun, especially the ones located in the caves.
Another successful winter festival is the Dickens festijn in the historical city of Deventer. Deventer is another city in the eastern part of our country towards Germany. The Dickens Festijn is held on December 14 and 15 and is very much worth a visit.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my country and I think we do a lot of things right. Copy/pasting German Christmas markets just isn’t one of those things. The most successful winter/Christmas events in the Netherlands are the ones with an original touch. Like for instance the Amsterdam Light Festival, Glow festival in Eindhoven, the Charles Dickens Festival in Deventer or the Christmas market in Valkenburg. The latter is original because it’s held in the caves that are unique to the area.

Amsterdam does have a very good New Years Eve celebration.

We visited the Christmas market in the Hague (den Haag) as a day trip from Amsterdam. We thought it was quite nice - certainly not big and glam. A very reasonable walk from the train station, though we did walk a lot faster on the way back once a cold rain started.

Thank you for everyone's suggestions and input. I understand the Christmas markets are a different shade of Christmas depending on where you go :). We are primarily taveling in the Netherlands and deciding if we should focus on local sights or venture further. I'm sure if expectations remain reasonable, we will have a fantastic time wherever we venture!

Hello!

I was in Amsterdam December of 2022 and also was seeking some Christmas Markets!

The Hague market was charming, full of music, perhaps 40? stands total with a plenty of gluwein and sausages/other savories. Within a park, the setting was charming and festive. If you are wanting to shop -- probably not "great" -- but a much more authentic feel (less commercial than other places) within the alle of trees surrounding you. Good scents in the air and families having a nice holiday outing. Walkable from train station and on tram line as well.

Haarlem on the other hand was rough. Made the mistake of going on the weekend and it was a solid, shoulder-to-should crowd from the train station up the main drag past the stands and towards the cathedral. I kind of got pushed from one end of town to the next by the crowd. I'm from Chicago and it was too crowded for me. I just picked a bad time. Haarlem itself is a beautiful place to spend the day -- perhaps just not on the weekend during the Christmas market. If you go, just get off the main drag into the side streets and enjoy the architecture -- again, a beautiful town.

My FAVORITE "festive" thing was in Amsterdam ... the ice rink in front of the Rijks in Museumplein ... the lights, the hot cocoa. All over town, beautiful holiday lights/displays/decor abounded. Such a festive feeling! If you enjoy lights, I recommend a canal cruise to see the Amsterdam Light Festival. I went with Those Dam Boat Guys (smaller boats, very personalized) -- it really put me in the holiday mood!

On a side note, Aachen's market is fantastic! Authentic feel. Lovely stands. Great traditional food. Everything is walkable from the train station. Again, everything is festive ... lights draped across the narrow alleys, the market, the city hall (gorgeous!) the cathedral (tour available), the Christmas market stands where you can sit or stand with gluwein and admire the lights, the bakeries with their windows decked out for the holidays. Magical. If you go to Aachen, I can recommend this restaurant for lunch as you enjoy your day: Karl's Wirsthaus for a warm/cozy ambiance and amazing mushroom broth soup!

I wish you a wonderful trip!

Thanks for sharing your experiences and recommendations! Aachen sounds like a must see and is close to Maastricht. Luckily, we have a Dutch friend meeting up with us for a short time...
So, far our itinerary has evolved into Amsterdam to Valkenberg to Aachen to Maastricht and then back to Amsterdam. We will be traveling by train for most of our stay.