Taking the train to the Christmas market

Visit the best Christmas markets in and just outside the Netherlands easily by train. Check out our tips below.

Christmas Town Valkenburg

From November 15, 2024 to January 5, 2025, Valkenburg will transform into a fairytale Christmas town. Famous are the Christmas markets in the Gemeentegrot and the Fluweelengrotte, where you can enjoy a special Christmas atmosphere underground.

Twice a week, the colorful Christmas Parade also passes through the village. Every Wednesday and Saturday evening, the parade with lights, floats and groups of dancers passes through the village.

New this year is the Twinkeltocht: a walking route along 15 impressive light objects.

TIP: Buy a Park & Train ticket in advance

Christmas Town Valkenburg is very popular, therefore it can be difficult to find a parking spot and there are regular traffic jams. Avoid parking stress and buy a Park & Train ticket in advance. You can then be sure of a parking spot in Heerlen and travel relaxed to the center of Valkenburg in 10 to 16 minutes. Buy my Park & Train ticket >

Cologne: 6 Christmas markets in 1

If you go to Cologne, then you are sure to be completely immersed in the Christmas atmosphere. On no fewer than 6 squares in the city you will find Christmas markets from November 18 to December 23, 2024.

You will find a Christmas market at the Cathedral, but also at the Neumarkt, the Alter Markt, the Stadtgarten, the Rudolfplatz and at the harbor, next to the chocolate museum. Easy commute between the different Christmas markets? The Christmas-Market-Express runs through the city, taking you from one Christmas market to the next.

Tip: Swipe to Cologne with glimble

You can easily travel to Cologne by train from the Netherlands. Swipe on in Limburg and off again only when you get to Cologne. No hassle with loose tickets or checking in and out, just relaxed travel to the Christmas market. Read more about swiping to Germany >

Aachen: Christmas market next to the cathedral

In Aachen you will find the Christmas market in the cozy streets around the Cathedral. The Christmas market starts here on November 22 and lasts until December 23, 2024.

The Dom and the streets around it are beautifully lit and provide an atmospheric backdrop for this Christmas market, which has about 130 stalls. A visit to the Christmas market in Aachen is, of course, not complete without an "Aachener Printen cake. You can buy this pop made from spiced cake at several stalls and it is a local delicacy.

Tip: Swipe to Aachen with glimble

You can easily travel to Aachen by train from the Netherlands. Swipe in in Limburg and only get off when you are in Aachen. No hassle with seperate tickets or checking in and out, just relaxed travel to the Christmas market. Read more about swiping to Germany >

Liege: the oldest Christmas market in Belgium

In Liège you will find the oldest Christmas market in Belgium and also the largest: an atmospheric Christmas market with more than 200 chalets with, of course, Liège waffles, but also many other products. This year you can visit from November 29 to December 30, 2024.

Highly recommended is a ride in the over 30-meter-high Ferris wheel, in which you have a great view of all the lights in the city. Prefer to be active? Then you can visit the cozy skating rink or the toboggan run.

Tip: Take the train from Maastricht

From Maastricht, a train goes to Liege every hour. In about half an hour you will be at the modern station Liege Guillemins. You buy your tickets easily in the glimble app. Plan my trip to Liege >