It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas: Kerstmarkt begins

Holland’s annual Kerstmarkt is open again for the 2022 season. Kerstmarkt, or Christmas Market in Dutch, is a favorite Holland area tradition to celebrate the holiday season. This year’s market will be open on weekends from November 19 to December 10. The Kerstmarkt is located where the Holland Farmers Market is located, the 8th St. Marketplace at the end of 8th St. in front of the Civic Center, and it is run by Holland Friends of Art.

The market is inspired by classic European Christmas markets in the Netherlands and throughout Europe. Extensive research was conducted by the Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to prepare to start the event in Holland as a way to honor the city’s Dutch heritage. The signature feature of the event is wooden booths for food and holiday gifts, modeled after the booths in European markets.

The Kerstmarkt is a popular event, attracting visitors from across Michigan and even from the Chicagoland area and beyond. It first began in 1997 in Centennial Park, and ever since it has been a major staple of the holiday season. This year, special events include the Dogsled Demo on December 3 and 10, as well as Handbell Concerts throughout the seasons. Additionally, there is a Sinterklaas Procession on December 2. Sinterklaas is the Dutch name for Santa Claus.

For Hope students, the Kerstmarkt is a wonderful escape from the stress of final exams and a great way to get into the holiday spirit. For Junior Lindsey Schaffer, the Kerstmarkt sounds like a fun opportunity to spend time with friends and to celebrate the holiday season. “I would go. I think it would be a fun thing to do with friends. It is probably really good for families with kids too,” Schaffer said. Kerstmarkt is also a great place for students to get some Christmas shopping done before going home for winter break. Overall, the Kerstmarkt is a fun event for students to check out this winter.