Christmas in Delft: the Festival of Lights

On Tuesday 8 December 2026, Delft switches on its lights. The Lichtjesavond, the evening of lights, is in its 29th year: the lighting of the Christmas tree, the Lichtjesmarkt, choirs and food stalls throughout the historic centre. The same evening opens Delft Verlicht, the city’s winter season, which runs until 3 January 2027. The Delft Christmas market therefore takes the form of a one-night market, the Lichtjesmarkt, in the historic centre; the organiser describes the Lichtjesavond as “one of the biggest Christmas events in the Netherlands”.

The 29th Lichtjesavond, from the tree to the Lichtjesmarkt

The evening is run by the creative agency De Burgemeesters and the Stichting Delft Verlicht, together with the municipality of Delft, Delft Marketing and dozens of cultural partners. The idea fits in a few words: the tree lights up, choirs sing in the centre, the Lichtjesmarkt sets out its stalls, and there is food to be found in the streets. The times for the 2026 evening have not been published; in 2025, the Lichtjesavond took place on Tuesday 9 December.

Delft Verlicht, from 8 December 2026 to 3 January 2027

The Delft Verlicht season stretches the evening out over almost a month, with a programme spread across the city; the general presentation announces an ice rink, with no location or dates for 2026. The details of the 2026 edition are not yet online at indelft.nl. No large Christmas market running for several weeks is announced by any official source in Delft: the city relies on this one evening and on winter markets listed in the Delft Verlicht programme.

Delft Christmas market: practical details and getting there from France

• When: Tuesday 8 December 2026; evening times to be confirmed on lichtjesavond.nl.
• Where: the whole historic centre of Delft; the Markt (2611 Delft) is the landmark to aim for.
• Delft Verlicht: from 8 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, programme to be published on indelft.nl.
• Train: Eurostar from Paris-Gare du Nord to Rotterdam Centraal in about 2h37, up to 13 departures a day, from €35 in Standard, then an NS train to Delft.
• Car: 461 km and about 5h20 from Paris, 243 km and about 2h56 from Lille, without traffic.

Delft is about ten kilometres from The Hague, which makes it an easy stop to add to The Hague Christmas market; the Leiden Christmas market is a little further north, and the Antwerp Christmas market lies on the way from France. On a Tuesday evening in December, the train saves you the question of parking in the historic centre.