Christmas market Valkenburg: caves and food
Valkenburg is a small town way down in the utmost Southern part of The Netherlands, next to big brother Maastricht. Maastricht is one of the top cities of The Netherlands. When eating your way around Maastricht, it’s easy to make a visit to Christmas market Valkenburg. Valkenburg during Christmas time is magical, with its Christmas markets in caves, a festive parade and culinary walking routes.
Christmas market Valkenburg: caves
Valkenburg has several marl caves, which can be visited. In November and December there’s a Christmas market in the caves of Valkenburg.
Fluweelengrot
The Fluweelengrot (Velvet cave) are the corridors under the castle ruin. Each year the biggest indoor Christmas event in The Netherlands is held here. Some 125.000 visitors come to the cave each year for the Christmas market. The fairytale like surroundings are perfect for the Christmas stalls and nativity scene.
In 2020 there’s no Christmas market in the Fluweelengrot.
Gemeente grot
Another marl cave with Christmas decorations, settings and stalls. Enjoy the oldest, largest and most visited underground Christmas market in Europe.
The Christmas market in the Gemeente grot has been cancelled in 2020.
Mergelrijk
Famous for the 25 meters long Christmas story in miniature. Next to that there are life-sized marl sculptures on display and unique Christmas villages.
In 2020 it’s open from November 19th till January 3th 2021, from 10am-4pm. Closed on January 1st. Book your tickets online.
Winter Wonderland
New in 2020! The story of Christmas displayed in the underground marl passages of the Wilhelmina cave. But this isn’t the only thing to do at Winter Wonderland. Take a ride on the cable-lift, and admire the largest illuminated Christmas tree in the province of Limburg. Make a slide on a toboggan run and/or play golf at the adventure mini golf course.
Opening times in 2020 are from November 21st till January 3th 2021. Monday to Friday from 11am-5pm, on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm. Closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Book your tickets online.
Christmas Fairytales Parade
When it’s dark a parade of festively dressed up people make a route through the streets of Valkenburg. It was fun to see the Christmas parade Valkenburg. The parade is on Wednesday and Saturday evening around 7 pm.
This year all the parades have been cancelled.
Route D’Amuse
A culinary walking route through Valkenburg with the highlights of the town, like the castle ruin. En route you stop at 7 restaurants for 7 ‘amuse bouche’ with an accompanying drink. We had a lot of fun following this route, sampling the food and visiting sights and Christmas markets along the way.
Since the restaurants are closed right now, it’s not clear if there can be a Route D’Amuse.
Other Christmas things
Kerststad Valkenburg (Christmastown Valkenburg) has more to offer then the Christmas markets, culinary walks and Christmas parade. There are 5 winter walks through Valkenburg. The downtown streets are decorated with thousands of lights and decorations. If this doesn’t bring you in a festive mood, I don’t know what will.
Where to stay
Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant Valkenburg, Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant De Burghoeve or Landal Kasteeldomein De Cauberg are perfect as a base to explore Valkenburg. These Christmas markets are perfect to include on road trips.
Christmas market Valkenburg is a must visit event for November and December
It will immediately bring you in a festive mood. For a totally different Christmas experience, see a Christmas in Jordan. The Christmas markets in Hamburg are also a perfect Christmas outing.
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48 Comments
Josy A
This is soooo cool! I had no idea you could get Christmas markets in caves! What a quirky and fun place to visit! Did you manage to visit the castle above Fluweelengrot as well? It all sounds like something from a fairytale!
Cosette
Yes, we visited the castle above Fluweelengrot as well, twice, on that visit and on another visit with family.
Sharyn
What a great idea for Christmas markets to make them unique. They look great fun to walk around.
Nilima
Such a unique market! Love all the festivities around Christmas ❤️
Cosette
Yes, the festivities around Christmas are fantastic, it brings you in the festive spirit.
Kiara Gallop
Love the idea of a Christmas market in a cave! Such a shame so many are not allowed to open this year 🙁
Was the castle at Fluweelengrot open? I don’t think I would have been able to resist a little peek around the ruins 🙂
Cosette
The castle above the Fluweelengrot was opened when we visited (not in 2020) and we did visit that also.
Cosette
Yes, it was really fun to walk around them. Outside November/December you have tours through the caves and they explain how they came into being (mining) and they show you the murals below. It’s fun to see the murals and the Christmas displays.
Jamie
I’ve missed getting to Christmas Markets this year so I’m happy I can travel vicariously through this article! I’ve spent a lot of time in the Netherlands but have never been near Valeknburg before, and I may have to make a trip in the future to see this charming area.
Cosette
Yes, definitely visit this area when in The Netherlands. Maastricht and the drielandenpunt are also worth your time when your visiting Valkenburg.
Katherine
I love the cave nativity scenes, and while it’s sad that they aren’t happening this year, I’m glad that some events can are safe to go ahead this year. We all need some cheering up!
Cosette
Yes, we certainly do need some cheering up. I think most of these can’t go through, because the caves can’t be aired that well and can get really crowded fast.
Lisa Shehan
christmas market in a cave?! so cool! hopeful to visit this some day.. 🙂
Cosette
Hope you get to visit the Christmas market Valkenburg in the caves some day. They’re worth your time.
Emma
Wow, what a unique setting for a market. Christmas markets in caves sounds like such a fun experience. I’m a big fan of the European Christmas markets and always looking to put more on my list so this one has my attention
Cosette
Definitely place them on your list and they’re not that far from Belgium and German Christmas markets.
Katie Diederichs
Wow, what a unique Christmas Market! After a while, many of them start to seem kind of similar, but this one is definitely different!
Cosette
Yes, they do look similar after a while, although I still like them despite that. The ones in valkenburg where definitely unique.
Cristina
This seems to be a lovely Christmas Market to visit. I am saving it for the future, thank you for sharing 🙂
Cosette
Great that I could add one to your travel list.
Katie
Great Post! This looks like a great, unique experience! Thanks for sharing!
Cosette
Yes, a really unique experience.
Jameela
Wow this looks like it was a beautiful Christmas market. Too bad it couldn’t be open this year or if it could’ve been a drive through experience. But I understand safety first. But looks like it was a pretty cool experience.
Cosette
Drive tru isn’t possible, since the caves aren’t accesible by car. Hopefully it will be possible again next year.
Jenny
That is so cool the Christmas markets are in caves! Looks like a great place to have have Christmas.
Cosette
Yes, certainly a great place to have Christmas.
Taylor
This looks so magical! I definitely need to make there when I’m back in Europe. 🙂
Cosette
Yes, it’s really magical.
Jeff Albom
These displays and parades look like a lot of fun. I hope more of them will continue next year. I like the idea of the hors d’œuvres with a dink. It sounds like a nice custom.
Cosette
Yes, hopefully in 2021 we can have the Christmas markets, displays and parades again. The hors d’oevres with a drink was really fun to do.
Cindy Ladage
This would be such a unique way to celebrate the Christmas season!
Cosette
Yes, it was definitely a special way to celebrate the Christmas season.
Rob + Ann @TravelLatte
This is such a cool post! What interesting and unique celebrations. Very different Christmas Markets than we see in the U.S. and parts of Europe. We love that totally local tradition, and hope to attend some of them one day! Thanks for sharing!
Cosette
Hope you can visit the Christmas market Valkenburg some day. Yes, it’s so cool that there are so many unique celebrations all over, keeps giving us a reason for traveling 😉
Terri
I would love to explore these Christmas caves. I have never heard of such a place before. Great pics!
Sharyn
There are so many wonderful Christmas markets in Europe – this is so cool with a cave.
kmf
I would love to visit Valkenburg during the holidays. Their Christmas markets in caves is so unique!
MicheleinPlaya
The Christmas markets in Europe have been on my bucket list for a long time. Valkenburg was not really on my radar until now. What a unique experience!!
Jenn P. | By Land and Sea
How interesting! I never knew anything like this existed. Looks pretty cool!
Laura
Wow, it looks so beautiful, I would love to visit! Nowhere does Christmas markets better than Europe
Liz
Sounds like a must see market to add to my European Christmas market bucket list. Am so curious what the original purpose of the caves were…was the mail excavated to,build the castle and then caves used to transport good? I’ll have to look that up!
Lucy
I love the Christmas markets, especially in the caves, very unique. It’s good to see that they are similar to the ones we have here in Italy but I would still want to visit Valkenburg someday and taste their local delicacy. Great article.
Sheryl
Wow, what an interesting place to hold a market! A friend of mine had her wedding reception in a cave and it was very magical. I love that the nativity scene has that magical vibe as well with all of the fairy lights against the cave walls. It definitely sounds like a lovely town to visit during the festive season!
Becky
Very cool! I love Christmas Markets and have never heard of one in a cave. So unique!
Her Asian Adventures
Woww! This is such a unique market! Definitely adding it to my bucket list! Can´t believe i´m from Europe and have never seen the Christmas markets! Goint to start planning for next year!
Maddie Deer
I hadn’t heard of Valkenburg before! It’s so cool that there is a Christmas Market in caves. It sounds like it would be a unique experience when visiting!
Jenelle
So cool to be able to go and see a nativity scene in a cave, so unique! I’ve never heard of Valkenburg before but now it’s definitely on my list!
Angela Lowe
Loved your blog, especially ially since I am traveling Europe right now looking at Christmas markets as I go.