7 Christmas Markets 2025 in Europe — Belgium, Netherlands

Par Gabriel Goldberg 5 December 2025 2 min read

The holiday season is approaching — it's the perfect time to rediscover Europe under its blanket of lights, garlands, and Christmas trees. If you're looking for an authentic, warm, and magical Christmas without breaking the bank, here are 7 perfect Christmas markets for 2025. I've spent the last ten years exploring European Christmas markets. Some have become tourist factories, others have preserved their soul. Here's my selection — the markets where the magic still works. 1. Winter Wonders — Brussels, Belgium Just 30 minutes from home, Winter Wonders transforms the capital into a Christmas fairytale: Ferris wheel, ice rink, artisan chalets on the Grand-Place, electro-folk vibes. It's my "home" market — the one I return to every year. The secret: come on weekdays, after 8pm. The crowd thins, the lights shine brighter, and the mulled wine truly warms. Official website — book early for the Ferris wheel entrance. 2. Magical Maastricht — Maastricht, Netherlands Cobblestone streets, historic facades, gourmet chalets and local crafts — Maastricht becomes a Christmas village straight out of a novel. Dutch products, stroopwafels and mulled wine, all just 1.5 hours from Brussels. Don't miss the Vrijthof, the main square transformed into a giant ice rink under the stars. Practical info 3. Weihnachtsmarkt — Cologne, Germany A timeless classic: the gothic cathedral as backdrop, hundreds of chalets, carved wooden decorations, the quintessential Glühwein. Ideal for a 48-hour trip. Cologne…