WinterGlow Valkenburg
50°52′ N 5°50′ EValkenburgfrom Nov 13Seasonal
WinterGlow Valkenburg is the free open-air part of Kerststad Valkenburg on the Walramplein, and it suits families who want Santa, a carousel and a pavilion with shows between cave visits, though it is a first edition in 2026 with no track record yet. It runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and stays open later than the caves, until 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
WinterGlow Valkenburg runs November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027 · confirmed by the organizer (source)
Advent SundaysGaudete, 13 DecemberChristmas Eve
Dates and hours
- November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027Confirmedsourcechecked Oct 10, 2026
Hours · Mon–Thu 12:00–21:00; Fri 12:00–22:00; Sat 11:00–22:00; Sun 11:00–21:00
- Dec 24, 2026 · 12:00–18:00 (Christmas Eve)
- Dec 25, 2026 · closed (Christmas Day)
- Dec 31, 2026 · 12:00–18:00 (New Year's Eve)
Access and crowds
- Busiest
- Weekends, when Kerststad Valkenburg says the whole town gets very busy.
- Quieter
- Weekday afternoons from the 12:00 opening.
Kerststad Valkenburg added WinterGlow for 2026, and it fills the gap the cave markets leave once their last slot is gone. You get a row of Christmas chalets on the Walramplein, a pavilion with performances and something hot to drink, plus Santa's house and a carousel for the children. Entry costs nothing. Because it runs to 3 January, its stalls stay open after both caves shut on 30 December.
Worth knowing
- Use it as the evening stop after a cave slot; it keeps going until 21:00 or 22:00 while the caves close at 19:00.
Quick answers about WinterGlow Valkenburg
Is WinterGlow Valkenburg free?
Yes. Entry to WinterGlow Valkenburg on the Walramplein is free in 2026, and you pay only for food, drink and rides.
What are WinterGlow Valkenburg's opening hours?
WinterGlow opens from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027: 12:00 to 21:00 Monday to Thursday, 12:00 to 22:00 on Friday, 11:00 to 22:00 on Saturday and 11:00 to 21:00 on Sunday. It closes at 18:00 on 24 and 31 December and stays shut on Christmas Day.
In the journal and guides
Read more about WinterGlow Valkenburg
Guide · 12 min read
What's open in Europe on Christmas Eve?
Seventy-nine markets open on 24 December 2026, and most of them close by 18:30, so do your last shopping before dark.
Guide · 23 min read
When do Europe's Christmas markets open and close in 2026?
Vienna and Copenhagen open first, on 6 November 2026, and Cologne's Heumarkt keeps its stalls up until 10 January 2027. Every row below names who published the date.
Guide · 12 min read
Which Christmas markets are open after Christmas?
Prague, Salzburg, Dresden and Cologne keep their markets going through the week after Christmas, and Colmar runs to 29 December.
Guide · 12 min read
Which Christmas markets stay open until New Year and Epiphany?
Budapest stays up until 03:00 on New Year's Eve, and 15 markets with confirmed dates are still open on Epiphany, 6 January 2027.