Weekendo
Gemeentegrot Christmas Market (Valkenburg)
A Christmas market underground in the marl passages of the Gemeentegrot: sheltered from the weather, with timed tickets.
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Vastelaovend in Zitterd – Sittard Groote Optoch
Markt, Sittard (centre-ville) · Sittard, NetherlandsSeason31 January – 8 February 2027
Todayclosed
Entryfree
Whereoutdoors
Free entry; during the parade a collection asks for the price of one drink.
About the event
Sittard's 'international' Groote Optoch has more than 3,000 participants and is known for topical satire, big floats and banter with the crowd. The organisers explicitly ban booming bass trucks and throwing sweets. It sets off on Sunday 7 February at 1.11 pm, with prize-giving around 6 pm on the Markt square; the 2027 route will be presented on 25 November 2026. A week earlier, on Sunday 31 January at 1.33 pm, the children's parade (Kènjeroptoch) doubles as the city prince's official entry and ends with a shower of oranges. On Monday evening at 8.11 pm, a charming small parade of lit-up wheelbarrows (Sjörkarre Optoch) runs from the Kerkplein along Limbrichterstraat to the Markt.
Season calendar
January 2027
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February 2027
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Dates and hours
Sun 31 Jan at 13:33: children's parade. Sun 7 Feb at 13:11: Groote Optoch, prize-giving around 18:00. Mon 8 Feb at 20:11: wheelbarrow parade. End times are not published; 31 Jan and 8 Feb are estimates (start + 3 h), 7 Feb runs to the prize-giving.
- Sun 31 January — 13:33–16:33. Children's parade (Kènjeroptoch) and prince's entry, then a shower of oranges
- Sun 7 February — 13:11–18:00. Main parade (Groote Optoch); prize-giving around 18:00 on the Markt
- Mon 8 February — 20:11–23:11. Lit-up wheelbarrow parade (Sjörkarre Optoch)
Combine with
Christmas markets nearby for the same trip.
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Vastelaovend in Zitterd – Sittard Groote Optoch33 places nearby