HAPPENING 12–14 DEC 2025 | Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum is preparing for the return of its Green Christmas market, with three days of stalls and winter activities in Kralingen. Rotterdam residents and visitors are invited to explore the garden in the dark, join workshops and pick up seasonal gifts from local makers.
Green christmas market at Trompenburg
Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum will host the Green Christmas market (Groene Kerstmarkt) with more than 60 stalls from local entrepreneurs spread through the botanical garden. The event is scheduled for Friday 12 and Saturday 13 December from 10.00 to 20.00, and on Sunday 14 December from 10.00 to 17.00.
Regular admission prices apply during the market. Access remains free for holders of the Museumkaart, Rotterdampas and annual walking card, and during the event also for visitors with a Trompenburg friends card. In view of expected visitor numbers, advance e-tickets are recommended.
Stalls with illustration, ceramics and garden tools
Alongside returning names, a number of new stallholders are being introduced this year. Illustrator and ceramicist Noam Hen brings detailed drawings and small ceramic objects suitable for plant cuttings, while May & June presents garden tools and accessories that are used in their own gardening practice, such as seed trays, pruning shears and plant labels.
Other participants include Wollo Family, which produces clothing, accessories and toys from recycled woollen blankets, and KeukenBoeren, which offers fermentation sets with jars, spice mixes and instructions for making sauerkraut, kimchi, mustard or apple-based drinks at home. Their production focuses on social employment and ingredients that are grown locally or within Europe.
Ceramics for Nature provides hand-formed pieces such as squirrel houses, hedgehog water bowls and pots designed to support biodiversity in gardens. The Planthoarder Bus, a mobile plant shop, brings terrariums and a selection of houseplants for visitors who may not have access to an outdoor garden.
Together, the stalls reflect a focus on practical garden items, handmade products and seasonal gifts that connect with horticulture, reuse and nature. Shoppers are able to browse at their own pace between the different parts of the garden.
Workshops and activities for children
During the market a glow-in-the-dark Sip & Paint workshop is organised on both Friday 12 and Saturday 13 December from 18.30 to 20.00. Participants create a botanical artwork under blacklight using fluorescent paint, with two drinks included in the €22,50 ticket price. The session takes place under a covered area and is scheduled to go ahead even in less favourable weather conditions.
Families are also catered for with various children’s activities on the grounds. Younger children up to around seven years of age can ride a small carousel and play winter-themed games, while a curling lane is available for visitors who want to try an ice-inspired activity in the garden setting.
Older children are invited to take part in supervised tree climbing with Trompenburg’s arborist Andries, who guides them into one of the garden’s notable oaks. These climbing sessions are scheduled on Friday from 13.30 to 16.30 and on Saturday from 12.00 to 16.00, providing a structured way to experience the trees from a different perspective.
Guided walks by Trompenburg’s green guides are also planned in the evening hours. Visitors follow an illuminated route through the botanical garden, while the guide introduces selected trees and shrubs and highlights some of the conifers and holly species that will be available later in December as Christmas greenery. Walks take place on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 December, starting at 18.00, with a fee of €6,50 per person in addition to regular admission; children may join the walk free of charge.
Winter food, drink and seating areas
Food and drink are spread over several locations within the grounds. In the Perenhof, warm dishes and snacks are offered, including freshly prepared fries, a Japanese stand with dim sum and matcha, Turkish specialities and other simple winter options.
The Stube serves hot drinks such as mulled wine and hot chocolate, alongside pastries and seasonal items. At the Icelander Bar, marshmallows in different flavours are roasted over open flames, providing a place for visitors to warm up after walking through the garden. The combination of stalls, walks and eating areas is intended to make the market a full winter outing for people spending December in Rotterdam.
How to get to Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum
Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum is located at Honingerdijk 86 in the Rotterdam district of Kralingen, on the eastern side of the city near the Maasboulevard and within reach of Erasmus University. The garden sits just off the main road, in a quieter residential area with green spaces and water nearby. It can be reached by tram and bus from Rotterdam Centraal via stops along the Oud-Verlaat and Kralingen routes, and is also accessible by bicycle from the city centre in around fifteen minutes.
