We've already spotted them in the shops: the first Christmas trees. To get you in the Christmas spirit just a little bit, we're sharing our Christmas tips with you – even though it's only October.
Christmas City Valkenburg
When thinking of Christmas in South Limburg, we must immediately think of the lovely Valkenburg aan de Geul. Does a more beautiful setting for celebrating Christmas exist in the Netherlands? No. Those in Valkenburg itself know this too. From mid-November to early January, this tourist hotspot is therefore renamed ‘Christmas City Valkenburg’. On Wednesdays and Saturdays during this period, you can admire a parade of lights: the Christmas Fairytales Parade. And in the Gemeentegrot (Municipal Cave) and Fluweelengrot (Velvet Cave), the popular Christmas market takes place. Above ground, in the town centre, you can also find charming chalets with various (food) items.
Magical Maastricht
Valkenburg is closely followed by Maastricht, which in recent years has emphatically overtaken the town on the Geul for the title of ‘Christmas City of South Limburg’. Christmas City Valkenburg and Magical Maastricht, as the Maastricht winter event is called, both attract around half a million visitors annually. Magical Maastricht focuses emphatically on the Vrijthof and takes place from 1 December to 1 January. The literal highlight of this winter event is the Ferris wheel. The 1000 square metre ice rink is one of the biggest crowd-pullers. Furthermore, there are eighty chalets, among other things, offering Christmas and winter-related items. Read in our blog where you cheap and free parking in Maastricht.
magischmaastrichtophetvrijthof.nl
Aachen Christmas Market
Okay: Aachen is of course not in South Limburg. But Aachen's Christmas market, or Weihnachtsmark Aachen, annually attracts many visitors from Limburg due to the short travel time. And as part of Euregional thinking, we felt that this Christmas market, which is considered one of the most beautiful in Germany, should not be missed. Aachen's Christmas market takes place near the cathedral and the town hall. Just like Magical Maastricht, this Christmas market also has a Ferris wheel. In addition to stalls selling Christmas items, there are many food stalls offering typical German fare, such as ‘printen’ (a type of gingerbread) and various 'kuchen' (cakes). Although often imitated, they are, of course, nowhere as delicious as in Germany itself.
Do you love winter events and Christmas markets? Or do you prefer to avoid them because of the crowds? Share your opinion with our followers!
