Christmas markets for kids 2026

DimiTalen · CC0opens Fri 4 December, 14:00

Winter in Antwerp

Antwerp, Belgium 4 December – 3 January

Flanders' biggest Christmas market runs from the Grote Markt to the Operaplein, with an ice rink on Groenplaats and New Year fireworks.

free entry LEZ

Arthurious · CC BY 4.0opens Fri 20 November, 11:00

Bruges Christmas Markets (Wintergloed)

Bruges, Belgium 20 November – 3 January

Two Christmas markets in the heart of Bruges, on the Markt and Simon Stevinplein, part of the Wintergloed festival, with an ice rink in King Albert I Park.

free entry

Edison McCullen · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Fri 27 November, 12:00

Winter Wonders (Plaisirs d'Hiver)

Brussels, Belgium 27 November – 3 January

Brussels' big Christmas market turns 25: 238 chalets along almost 2 km from the Grand-Place to De Brouckère, with a Ferris wheel and an ice rink.

free entry LEZ

DimiTalen · CC0opens Thu 3 December, 12:00

Gentse Winterfeesten (Ghent Winter Festival)

Ghent, Belgium 3 December – 3 January

Ghent's Christmas market spreads across several squares in the historic centre, with chalets, an ice rink and winter bars open late.

free entry LEZ

Bent Van Aeken · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Fri 13 November, 11:00

Winterland Hasselt

Hasselt, Belgium 13 November – 3 January

A 15,000 m² winter village on Kolonel Dusartplein: Christmas market, covered ice rink, Ferris wheel, Santa's House and après-ski bars.

free entry

chris friese · CC BY 2.0opens Fri 27 November, 11:00

Liège Christmas Village

Liège, Belgium 27 November – 30 December

Belgium's oldest Christmas market (38th edition): about 200 chalets between Place du Marché and Place Saint-Lambert, with pèket and a party mood.

free entry

Jean Housen · CC BY-SA 3.0opens Fri 20 November, 16:00

Durbuy Christmas Village and Market

Durbuy, Belgium 20 November – 3 January

In the lanes of the 'world's smallest town': chalets and an ice rink in Parc Roi Baudouin, first at weekends, then daily from 18 December.

free entry

Maëlick · CC BY-SA 2.0opens Sat 5 December, 11:00

Mons Cœur en Neige

Mons, Belgium 5 December – 3 January

The 22nd edition of Mons' Christmas festivities: a market on the Grand-Place, a food village on Marché aux Herbes and a covered rink on Place Léopold.

free entry

Calips · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Fri 27 November, 11:00

Namur Christmas Market

Namur, Belgium 27 November – 31 December

As part of Namur en Lumière, chalets fill Place d'Armes, Place de l'Ange and Place du Théâtre, with an ice rink, a Ferris wheel and a food village.

free entry

Jmh2o · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Fri 20 November, 11:30

Charleroi Christmas Village

Charleroi, Belgium 20 November – 27 December

Chalets and party nights on Place de la Digue, plus an ice rink and family fun on Place Verte, in Charleroi's lower town.

free entry

DimiTalen · CC0opens Fri 11 December, 14:00

Eupen Christmas Market

Eupen, Belgium 11 December – 13 December

The 54th edition of the Euregio's oldest Christmas market: more than 90 chalets in Eupen's upper town, for a single weekend.

free entry

Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Thu 26 November, 17:00

Malmedy Christmas City (Cité de Noël)

Malmedy, Belgium 26 November – 20 December

About twenty chalets, a big festive bar and a large ice rink on Place du Châtelet, Thursday to Sunday over four weekends.

free entry

Jorge Franganillo · CC BY 2.0opens Fri 20 November, 11:00

Aachen Christmas Market

Aachen, Germany 20 November – 23 December

Aachen's big Christmas market wraps around the cathedral and town hall, with the famous Printen gingerbread and stalls tucked into the old-town lanes.

free entry Umweltzone

Eusebius · CC BY 3.0opens Fri 20 November, 11:00

Amiens Christmas Market

Amiens, France 20 November – 30 December

Over 100 chalets along nearly two kilometres, from Place René-Goblet to the town hall – one of the longest markets in the north.

free entry

PersianDutchNetwork · CC BY-SA 3.0opens Thu 3 December, 12:00

Christmas Village Amsterdam (Museumplein)

Amsterdam, Netherlands 3 December – 27 December

The free Christmas market on Museumplein, between the Rijksmuseum and the Concertgebouw, 3–27 December.

free entry Milieuzone

Marc Ryckaert · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Fri 27 November, 12:00

Arras Christmas Market (Ville de Noël)

Arras, France 27 November – 27 December

One of northern France's biggest Christmas markets, on the Grand'Place and Place des Héros, with Ferris wheel, ice rink and carousel.

free entry

Gzen92 · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Mon 23 November, 11:00

Colmar Christmas Markets

Colmar, France 23 November – 29 December

Six Christmas markets in Colmar's old town, 23 November to 29 December 2026; gourmet market and Ferris wheel until 3 January.

free entry

Superbass · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Mon 23 November, 11:00

Heinzels Wintermärchen (Cologne Old Town)

Cologne, Germany 23 November – 10 January

Cologne's market of the Heinzelmännchen house elves spreads over Alter Markt and Heumarkt, with a large open-air ice rink running into January.

free entry Umweltzone

Martie Ressing, User :Ressing · Public domainopens Sat 12 December, 10:00

Dickens Festival Deventer

Deventer, Netherlands 12 December – 13 December

A weekend when 950+ Dickens characters fill the Bergkwartier; timed tickets, 12–13 December.

Arnoldius · CC BY-SA 3.0opens Thu 19 November, 11:00

Dortmund Christmas Town (Dortmunder Weihnachtsstadt)

Dortmund, Germany 19 November – 30 December

One of Europe's biggest markets, centred on a 45-metre giant tree on Hansaplatz. 19 November to 30 December 2026, free entry.

free entry Umweltzone

Kürschner · CC0opens Thu 19 November, 11:00

Düsseldorf Christmas Market

Düsseldorf, Germany 19 November – 30 December

Several themed markets link the old town, the Königsallee and the Rhine, with a Ferris wheel, an ice rink and opening until 30 December.

free entry Umweltzone

Rainer Halama · CC BY-SA 3.0opens Fri 13 November, 12:00

Essen International Christmas Market

Essen, Germany 13 November – 23 December

Large city-centre market stretching from the light-canopied Kennedyplatz to a medieval market on Flachsmarkt. 13 November to 23 December 2026.

free entry Umweltzone

Jorge Franganillo · CC BY 4.0opens Fri 20 November, 10:00

Koblenz Christmas Market

Koblenz, Germany 20 November – 3 January

Seven squares in Koblenz's old town from 20 November to 22 December 2026, then 'Winterzeit' on five squares until 3 January 2027.

free entry

GilPe · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Fri 20 November, 11:00

Winterlights – Luxembourg City Christmas Markets

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 20 November – 3 January

The Winterlights festival brings several Christmas markets to Luxembourg's Ville-Haute, from Place d'Armes to Place de la Constitution, until 3 January.

free entry

Kleon3 · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Fri 27 November, 12:00

Magisch Maastricht (Vrijthof)

Maastricht, Netherlands 27 November – 27 December

The big winter village on the Vrijthof: chalets, a Ferris wheel, a covered ice rink and bars that stay open late.

free entry

Paraiges · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Fri 20 November, 11:00

Metz Christmas Markets

Metz, France 20 November – 30 December

More than 130 chalets spread over several squares in central Metz, with a Ferris wheel, viewing tower and a new ice trail.

free entry

Jean-Pol GRANDMONT · CC BY-SA 3.0opens Fri 27 November, 11:00

Monschau Christmas Market

Monschau, Germany 27 November – 20 December

On the four Advent weekends, the half-timbered town of Monschau in the narrow Rur valley turns into a storybook Christmas setting.

free entry

Gimo61 · CC BY 3.0opens Mon 23 November, 11:00

Aegidii Christmas Market Münster

Münster, Germany 23 November – 23 December

Family-friendly market in the Aegidiimarkt courtyard, around a large wooden pyramid with a chime and a nativity scene. 23 November to 23 December 2026.

free entry Umweltzone

Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Mon 23 November, 11:00

Münster Town Hall Courtyard Christmas Market

Münster, Germany 23 November – 23 December

The largest and oldest of Münster's six markets, under a canopy of lights behind the historic town hall. 23 November to 23 December 2026.

free entry Umweltzone

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France · CC BY 2.0opens Sat 14 November, 11:00

La Magie de Noël at the Tuileries

Paris, France 14 November – 3 January

Christmas market and funfair in the Tuileries Garden by Place de la Concorde, 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, daily 11:00–23:45.

free entry Crit'Air

Bretwa · CC0open now · until 21:00

Paris La Défense Christmas Market

Puteaux (Paris La Défense), France 12 November – 31 December Today: 11:00–21:00

The largest Christmas market in the Paris region, at the foot of the Grande Arche, 12 November to 31 December 2026; Le Sommet area with ice rink until 3 January.

free entry Crit'Air

Lucas Tabary-Maujean · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Wed 25 November, 11:30

Reims Christmas Market

Reims, France 25 November – 27 December

About 150 chalets on the Hautes Promenades near Reims-Centre station, with a Ferris wheel and a light show on the cathedral.

free entry Crit'Air

Pitlane02 · CC BY-SA 3.0opens Fri 13 November, 11:00

Fluweelengrot Christmas Market (Valkenburg)

Valkenburg, Netherlands 13 November – 30 December

Underground Christmas market in the passages of the Fluweelengrot beneath Valkenburg castle ruins, with timed tickets.

indoor

Gimo61 · CC BY 3.0opens Fri 13 November, 11:00

Gemeentegrot Christmas Market (Valkenburg)

Valkenburg, Netherlands 13 November – 30 December

A Christmas market underground in the marl passages of the Gemeentegrot: sheltered from the weather, with timed tickets.

indoor

Kleon3 · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Fri 13 November, 12:00

WinterGlow – Christmas Town Valkenburg

Valkenburg, Netherlands 13 November – 3 January

New open-air Christmas market on the Walramplein, the heart of Christmas Town Valkenburg, with the illuminated parade on set evenings.

free entry

Bert Kaufmann from Roermond, Netherlands · CC BY 2.0hours not confirmed yet

Bosch Winters Paradepaardje (Den Bosch)

's-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch), Netherlands 5 December – 3 January

Nostalgic winter square below St John's Cathedral: covered ice rink, Ferris wheel, carousel and café; 5 Dec–3 Jan.

free entry

Alf van Beem · CC0opens Thu 17 December, 09:00

Amsterdam Winter Paradise (RAI)

Amsterdam, Netherlands 17 December – 2 January

Big indoor winter festival at the RAI: skating, rides and shows; timed tickets, 17 Dec–2 Jan.

indoor Milieuzone

Geolina163 · CC BY-SA 4.0opens Mon 16 November, 11:00

Nikolausdorf – St Nicholas Village (Rudolfplatz, Cologne)

Cologne, Germany 16 November – 23 December

In front of the medieval Hahnentorburg gate, a 'village' of huts where St Nicholas makes his rounds every day and local Kölsch bands play in the evening.

free entry Umweltzone