Christmas markets in the caves
Stalls set up inside the caves dug into the local marl (chalky limestone), out of the wind and weather.
Source: Official site: kerststadvalkenburg.nl · Wikipedia. Some wording is drawn from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Valkenburg · Netherlands
Valkenburg Christmas Town
Kerststad Valkenburg
13 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 Official
Official websiteDates and hours may change. Check them on the market's official site.
Key facts
| City | Valkenburg |
|---|---|
| Country | Netherlands |
| Location | Valkenburg aan de Geul |
| Dates | 13 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 Official |
| Official website | Official website |
| Map pin | 50.86094, 5.81371. Approximate location from the sources used for this page. |
About the market
Kerststad Valkenburg (Christmas Town Valkenburg) turns the whole small town into a Christmas event, both above and below ground. Its best-known feature is the Christmas markets held inside Valkenburg's caves, with stalls, lights, the Christmas story told at large and small scale, and miniature villages several metres long. The 2026 edition runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Some activities need tickets bought online in advance, and the organisers encourage visitors to come by train.
According to the organisers, in 2025 it was named best Christmas parade in Europe and best Christmas market in the Netherlands, and it placed seventh in the European Best Christmas Market competition.
Sources: Official site: kerststadvalkenburg.nl.
Traditions and specialities
What is particular here
Professor Dr. Falckenstein
The event's storybook character, presented as Santa's helper who collects children's Christmas wishes.
About Valkenburg
Valkenburg aan de Geul is a municipality in South Limburg, in the far southeast of the Netherlands, named after its main town and the little river Geul. Its history centres on Valkenburg Castle, seat of the counts of Valkenburg. William III's troops destroyed the castle in 1672 and it was never rebuilt; its ruin is now a main sight.
The town is known for its marl houses, its hilly countryside, and the castles and manors along the Geul, unusual for the flat Netherlands.
Sources: Wikipedia. Some wording is drawn from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Photos
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AIA Labs publishes this page as an independent guide. It is not the market's own website.