The holiday spirit is high in Holland Michigan with a variety of holiday events, including the Holland Friends of Art Kerstmarkt! Join us on Friday, December 6 from 3pm – 8pm and again on Saturday, December 7 from 9am – 6pm to browse hundreds of unique and locally handcrafted items from over 40 rotating vendors! Starting in 1997 with just 10 booths, the Kerstmarkt is proud to have grown into a beloved annual holiday event going into its 27th season with 25 booths to shop from during each visit! The 2024 Kerstmarkt season will run weekends only with varying hours through Saturday, December 21.
Set up in the Marketplace outside of the Holland Civic Center Place (150 West 8th Street, Holland, MI 49423), shoppers can find 25 European style wooden booths, beautifully decorated for the holiday season, with local West Michigan vendors fully stocked up on goods that will be perfect to gift to everyone on your holiday gift giving list this season. You may even find a few items for yourself!
In addition to a wide variety of handcrafted goods, shoppers can also enjoy authentic Dutch foods that will be available for purchase, with traditional holiday glühwein, or hot mulled wine, available for guests 21 and older. When purchasing hot drinks such as glühwein, hot cocoa, or coffee, visitors will also have an opportunity to receive their beverages in a souvenir mug, that can only be purchased at the Kerstmarkt for the 2024 season. Quantities are limited, so be sure to grab yours as soon as you arrive!
If you are looking for even more holiday fun, shopping unique and handcrafted items and delicious food isn’t all you’ll find at the Holland Kerstmarkt! Every weekend is sure to be a new experience with several rotating vendors, special events, special guests, and more! Enjoy dog sled demonstrations, meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, listen to holiday carolers, enjoy the sounds of traditional handbell concerts, and even meet Sinterklaas (the Dutch Santa Claus) all while shopping for the perfect gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
This weekend, Kerstmarkt goers can meet the ‘Dutch Santa Claus’ Sinterklaas and hie favorite Piet on Friday, December 6 from 3pm – 4:30pm, and enjoy the sounds of traditional holiday songs sung by the Dickens Carolers dressed in their traditional Victorian attire from 5pm – 7pm. On Saturday, December 7, the dogs are back for live dog sled demonstrations! Watch as professional sled dogs show off their speed racing up and down the Marketplace, and meet them after.
The Kerstmarkt and special events are free to attend with free on-site parking and is located right at the end of Downtown Holland’s beautiful 8th street, where you can stroll up and down to enjoy the beautifully lit holiday atmosphere. We encourage those to make a weekend trip to Holland, Michigan to not only enjoy the Kerstmarkt, but to soak up the holiday cheer and other winter festivities, too!
The 2024 Kerstmarkt is made possible by the Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Autumn’s Harvest Soap with in-kind support from Route Homeschool, DeLeeuw Lumber, Gemmen’s Hardware, Stephen Foster Photography, Anchor Rock Construction, Blue Lake Public Radio, Town & Country Electric, Olive Engineering, Shady Side Farm, and Applied Innovations. Join us in thanking them for their generous support!
The Kerstmarkt is open on weekends only November 23 – December 21. For more details on the 2024 Kerstmarkt season, hours, and other upcoming special events, visit www.kerstmarktholland.org and follow us on Facebook at Kerstmarkt-Holland, and on Instagram at kerstmarktholland. We can’t wait to serve you this holiday season!
Upcoming Kerstmarkt Dates and Special Events:
Friday, December 6 – 3pm – 8pm
Sinterklaas Visit – 3pm – 4:30pm
Dickens Carolers – 5pm – 7pm
Saturday, December 7 – 9am – 6pm
Dog Sled Demonstrations – 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Friday, December 13 – 3pm – 8pm
Mr & Mrs. Claus Visit – 3pm – 5pm
Dickens Carolers 5pm – 7pm
Saturday, December 14 – 9am – 6pm
Mr & Mrs Claus Visit – 3pm – 5pm
Friday, December 20 – 3pm – 8pm
Mr & Mrs Claus Visit – 3pm – 5pm
Dickens Carolers – 5pm – 7pm
Saturday, December 21 – 9am – 6pm
Mr & Mrs Claus Visit – 3pm – 5pm
Kerstmarkt Vendors on Friday, December 6 & Saturday, December 7, 2024:
1: Osman’s Flowers & Firs
2: Wooden Toys & Boxes
3: Marguerite’s
4: Two Bears Trading
5: Autumn’s Harvest
6: Balladeer (Different every weekend!)
7: Cadz Creations
8: JEM Macarons (Different every weekend!)
9: Bear Clan Forge
10: Puddingstone
11: Bubs’ and Betty’s (Different every weekend!)
12: Little Orange Scooter
13: Crepes by the Lakes
14: Shady Side Farm
15: Gatehouse Collection (Different every weekend!)
16: Marzec Chocolates
17: Flagel’s Sugar House
18: Gluhwein & Coffee
19: The Poppy Peach
20: St Steve’s Cordials
21: The Nativity (Different every weekend!)
22: Faecreate (Different every weekend!)
23: Wilder Creek Workshop
24: Writesmiths
25: The Beard & The Gal
