The award-winning Christmas market inside a warren of caves under a ruined castle
THERE’S a cave in Europe that has its own Christmas Market – it has over 50 stalls, a 30m miniature village, and a Winter Wonderland.
Every year, the town of Valkenburg in the Netherlands is transformed into a picturesque Christmas village.
The award-winning Christmas market covers every corner of the town, with events at several locations, including several underground caves.
Known as Kerststad Valkenburg, the Christmas market was previously named the best in Europe in 2018.
The Dutch market received more than 12,000 votes from an army of fans, beating the likes of Prague and Cologne to the top spot.
This year, Kerststad Valkenburg has been named the best Christmas Market in the Netherlands by European Best Destinations.
On their website, they wrote: “Valkenburg is immersed in a magical atmosphere, with a paradise of twinkling lights and beautifully decorated Christmas trees – you see, smell, hear and taste Christmas in everything and there are numerous things to do!”
The Christmas market spans across the entire town, with one of its most unique features being its atmospheric caves.
While the caves were previously mined for their Marl, a type of rock used to make cement, they’ve become famous thanks to their picturesque Christmas markets.
One of those is the Velvet Cave Christmas Market, which is situated underneath Valkenburg’s ruined castle.
The Christmas market is home to more than 50 stalls that sell handmade gifts and other items.
Visitors to the cave can also delve into the town’s past by glimpsing charcoal drawings and other art along the walls of the cave.
Meanwhile, there’s also the Municipal Cave (also known as Gemeentegrot), which is said to be the largest underground Christmas market in Europe.
Every part of the cave is decorated with colourful fairy lights, and there are also plenty of market stalls selling gifts, drinks, and other delicacies.
As well as the Christmas markets, Valkenburg has other festive attractions too, including a winter amusement park.
The first part of the amusement park, which is also known as the Winter Wonderland, is also laid out in one of the town’s underground caves.
Inside the marl corridors at Wilhelminagrot, visitors will be able to follow the scenes of a Christmas Nativity.
At the end of the nativity, visitors will then ride a cable car to Wilhelmina Tower, where they can see the largest illuminated Christmas tree in Limburg.
As well as being able to take in plenty of views of the Christmas town, there are other festive activities by the tower, including an adventure mini golf course and toboggan runs.
Every Christmas MergelRijk (an underground cavern) is transformed into yet another Christmas spectacle.
The cave is home to a 30m miniature village, with tiny sculptures that depict winter landscapes.
Other features include the Christmas parade, which runs every Wednesday and Saturday between November 18 and December 30, 2023.
There’s also a Santa’s Village, and an outdoor street theatre, as well as several light shows.
The Christmas market will be open from November 17, 2023, and will run for 51 days until January 7, 2024.
Tickets must be purchased individually for several of the Christmas attractions, including the Velvet Cave Christmas market, the Christmas Market in the Municipal Cave, the miniature village, and the amusement park.
Tickets should also be booked in advance online, with prices starting from €8 (£6.97) per ticket.
Ryanair operates direct flights from London Stansted to Maastricht in the Netherlands, with prices starting from £20 for a one-way ticket in November.
Valkenburg is a 20-minute drive from Maastricht, and can also be reached on a 10-minute train from the city centre.
Hotels in the town are extremely affordable in November.
Sun Online Travel have found an overnight stay at Kasteel Schaloen – a three-star hotel that’s situated next to a castle.
Prices start from £53 for a double room, based on two people sharing a room.
For those holidaymakers who don’t fancy heading abroad to visit a Christmas market, then you’ll be relieved to know that there are some great festive attractions in the UK.
One of those is The Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham, which is said to be the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany.
Meanwhile, this travel writer thinks their hometown has the best Christmas attraction in the UK.