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Christmas in the Netherlands: these are the most wonderful spots in our country

It's almost that time of the year: Christmas, baby. And with only one weekend left to count down, we are more than ready to get into the Christmas spirit. And now I can imagine that in all the Christmas joy you'd prefer to visit the most beautiful Christmas market in Europe today, but if there's no time for that, then I have a perfect second option that takes place much closer to home (wherever you live). From a floating Christmas market in Leiden to the caves of Valkenburg; these are the most wonderful spots in the Netherlands.

The Winter Paradise and ICE Amsterdam

From Dam Square to Rembrandt Square and the Flower Market: Christmas is celebrated in the coziest way all over Amsterdam. You can skate on the Museumplein with the illuminated Rijksmuseum in the background, and the annual Amsterdam Light Festival is amazing to admire from the water. And stalls, cheese fondue, and glühwein are all over the place. We love it.

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Christmas City Valkenburg

One place you definitely need to have heard of around Christmas is Valkenburg. Every year, the farthest point of Limburg transforms itself into a next-level Christmas city. From countless Christmas stalls at various markets to a special Christmas walking route and a real Christmas Fairytales Parade: until January 5, Valkenburg is absolutely the place to be.

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Magical Maastricht
Maastricht is one of the most atmospheric cities during the cold winter months, made possible by one of the largest Christmas markets in the Netherlands, an amazing ice rink, Christmas chalets, and the illuminated Ferris wheel, this is definitely a must-visit until December 31.

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The floating Christmas market in Leiden

A little case right around the corner: the floating Christmas market in Leiden. Sounds just as cool as it is. This special Christmas market floats on the canals of the new Rhine in the heart of the city center. 86 chalets with lots of Christmas items, food, and warm drinks including Santa himself is what you can expect from this floating situation, and it is open until December 24.

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Royal Christmas Fair in The Hague

Another one in my hometown: at Lange Voorhout in The Hague, you can spot the Royal Christmas Fair again this year with a neat hundred Christmas chalets, thousands of lights, and liters of glühwein. Exactly what we needed, right?

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Enchanting Breda

Also at the Christmas market Enchanting Breda, there's a lot of Christmas to sniff out. From December 21 to January 1, the center of the Brabant city is filled with cozy wooden chalets. You'll find many stalls at the Grote Markt, the Kerkplein, and towards the Havermarkt filled with just about everything you can think of for Christmas and the winter cold.

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