Christmas Markets in and around Rotterdam

If the dim daylight, the early dark and the general wetness of the season threaten your mood, Christmas markets in and around Rotterdam will definitely lift your spirits. The bright lights, homemade goods and Christmassy smells will tease you into enjoying the time leading up to Christmas.

Christmas markets have always been a vibrant part of the festive season in Rotterdam and its surroundings, offering a diverse and joyful experience. Let's explore some of the most enchanting Christmas markets you can visit in the area. 

From Friday 12 December to Sunday 14 December 2025, the courtyard of the iconic Groothandelsgebouw, right next to Rotterdam Central, transforms into a vibrant market filled with festive stalls. This special Christmas edition of The Maker Market promises unique gifts from talented artisans and creative entrepreneurs, alongside locally brewed beers and live music to set the holiday mood. Although registration has not yet opened, last year’s market offered more than fifty stalls with handmade gifts, printed art, jewellery, clothing and local food. Keep this section in your article and update the dates when the organiser announces them. The Christmas edition at the Groot Handelsgebouw runs Fri 12 Dec 17:00–22:00, Sat 13 Dec 12:00–17:00 and Sun 14 Dec 12:00–17:00.

Traditional Scandinavian Christmas Markets

Deliplein Winterplein | 6-21 DEC 2025

Residents and entrepreneurs of Katendrecht are embracing the Christmas spirit with the launch of the ‘Deliplein Winterplein. It’s a 16‑day community festival transforming Katendrecht’s Deliplein into a winter wonderland with free daily activities like light installations, children’s workshops, musical performances and winter mealsThe opening weekend usually includes light displays, popcorn popping, marshmallow roasting, and oliebollen. With a packed weekly programme, visitors can enjoy tree shopping, flea markets, pub quizzes, card tournaments, and dancing in the party tent, alongside workshops and clinics.

Waluw Vintage Market XXL‑Xmas Edition | 14 DEC 2025

The Christmas edition of the Waluw Vintage Market is one of the key holiday outings, expanding into multiple halls and turning De Doelen into a vintage department store. The event takes place on Sunday 14 December 2025, from 10:00–16:00.

Day‑trip markets near Rotterdam

WinterFeest Barendrecht | 13 DEC 2025 | 11:00–17:00

A festive celebration in Barendrecht with numerous activities for children. The event typically hosts over 80 stalls across the Schaatsbaan, Dorpsstraat, Doormanplein and Kerkplein, plus a stage with performances and many children’s activities (crafts, rides, karaoke).

Christmas Fairs in Schiedam | 13 DEC 2025

Dickens Festijn, Kaarsjesavond and Kerstmarkt all take place on the same day, with specific times. According to the Schiedam tourism site, all the major events occur on 13 Dec 2025: the Dickens Festijn (11:00–18:00) recreates a 19th‑century street scene with crafts, old trades, street theatre, choirs and kids’ activities; Kaarsjesavond (Candles evening) runs 16:45–19:30 with the mayor lighting the tree at 18:45; and the Kerstmarkt (Christmas market) on Hoogstraat is open 10:00–18:00 with more than 100 stalls. A Makers market in the Havenkerk runs 12:00–17:00.

Warme Wintermarkt Gouda | 14 DEC 2025

Held at the creative hub GOUDasfalt, this market offers unique gifts, winter treats, and a gift exchange wall​​. The GOUDasfalt site confirms the market is 14 Dec 2025, 11:00–17:00 and describes it as a cosy market with local, handmade and vintage goods, winter treats, glühwein, live (Christmas) music and fire pits. Visitors are urged to walk or cycle due to limited parking.

Royal Christmas Fair The Hague | 4–23 DEC 2025

One of the Netherlands’ largest markets returns to Lange Voorhout. The Den Haag tourism board confirms that the Royal Christmas Fair runs from 4 December to 23 December 2025 with free admission and daily opening hours of 12:00–21:00. Dozens of Christmas houses line the avenue, lit by thousands of LED lights; visitors can warm up at fire pits with mulled wine, watch choirs and storytellers and meet Santa.

Gouda by Candlelight (Gouda) | 12 DEC 2025

Gouda’s historic centre glows during Gouda bij Kaarslicht, one of the country’s oldest light festivals. The official tourism site lists the event as taking place annually on 12 December. Around 1,500 candles illuminate the Renaissance town hall and thousands more light up windows across the city. The highlight is the lighting of the giant Christmas tree – a gift from Gouda’s Norwegian sister city Kongsberg – usually between 19:00 and 20:00.

Delft Verlicht & Lichtjesavond – 9 DEC 2025 – 4 JAN 2026

Delft’s winter festival starts with Lichtjesavond on Tuesday 9 December 2025, when the Markt square and canals are bathed in lights, choirs sing and the city’s Christmas tree is lit. The programme includes a Christmas market on 17 Dec 2025, the Rotary Santa Run (13 Dec) and the Royal Beats Delft concerts.

Dordtse Decemberdagen & Decembermarket | 13–31 DEC 2025

Dordrecht’s enormous multi‑day market has evolved into a winter festival with various components. A recent blog on the city’s tourism site states that the Dordtse Decemberdagen run from 13 to 31 December 2025, combining light art, guided walks and music. The Decembermarkt is a cosy weekend market on Saturday 13 December (10:00–22:00) and Sunday 14 December (12:00–20:00). New this year is a Winter Garden (Wintertuin) near the Grote Kerk from 26–30 December, open daily from 14:00–22:00.

Nostalgic Christmas Market (Leiden) | 13–14 & 17–21 DEC 2025

Leiden’s market is part of the Winter Wonder Weeks and takes place on the Hooglandse Kerkgracht. A 2025 guide to Dutch markets lists the Nostalgische Kerstmarkt on multiple days: Saturday 13 December (12:00–21:00), Sunday 14 December (13:00–21:00), Wednesday 17 through Friday 19 December (daily 12:00–21:00), Saturday 20 December (12:00–21:00) and Sunday 21 December (13:00–18:00). Visitors can also skate on the floating ice rink on the Nieuwe Rijn from 6 December 2025 to 5 January 2026.

WinterFar Zwijndrecht | 11-13 DEC

Winterfair Zwijndrecht 2025 runs 11–13 Dec, with the Christmas market on 13 Dec 10:00–18:00. It notes that there is a heated après‑ski tent, live performances and dozens of stalls selling decorations, gifts and food.

Winter Market Poortugaal | 29 NOV 2025

This festive event will feature an indoor Christmas market at the Brinkhoeve, with an indoor market, amaryllis sale and various children’s activities. 

Kerstmarkt Spijkenisse | 20 DEC 2025

Spijkenisse will host a German-themed Christmas market on Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00. The previous edition took place in the Zijlstraat near the Dorpskerk, styled as an Anton Pieck-inspired lane. Visitors can expect more than fifty stalls (some with wooden fronts). There's likely to be a stage with live performances throughout the day, tasty treats like mulled wine and hot chocolate, illuminated tractors, a merry-go-round, and festive appearances by Santa, a reindeer, and a snowman.  

Winter & Christmas Market Rhoon | 13-14 DEC 2025

Still to be announced:

It is still unclear if these events are happening in 2025:

Rotterdamse Oogstmarkt Kerst Editie

Charloise Winterfair

Join the cosy Charloisse Winterfair on Saturday, 14 December, from 11:30 to 19:00 at the field on Charloisse Kerksingel. The whole market is covered with tents, so you can stay warm and dry even if the weather isn’t ideal, surrounded by festive lights and decorations. Expect a variety of stalls, live music, Christmas bingo, and even a special visit from Santa himself!

German Christmas market

The traditional Christmas market at the German Evangelical Church at ‘s-Gravendijkwal 65 in Rotterdam is back again this year. On Saturday, 23 November, from 10:00 to 16:00, you can enjoy a variety of treats, including homemade cakes, Lebkuchen, Bratwurst, Glühwein, soup, and much more. Christmas gifts, decorations, handicrafts, and festive prizes in the lottery await you.
 

Christmas Market culture in Rotterdam

Generally speaking, Rotterdammers are not actually famous for their Christmas markets. It’s more the little communities within the communities that have brought them from their home countries and are not willing to give up their Christmas-market-tradition just because they have relocated. So, the ones in Rotterdam are often connected to churches. But if that makes you itch; nobody will say the slightest if you are an atheist and still turn up.

There are also the ones in Rotterdam's surrounding areas. These are held at castles, country houses and the like, but not without a bit of a hiccup: they often tend to charge hefty entrance fees and are mainly aimed at ladies above 50. There’s one close to Rotterdam that comes close to Christmas markets as known in other countries and is ideal for friends and families, but you’ll have to get out of the city.