Groningen Christmas Market

On the Grote Markt in Groningen, in the far north of the Netherlands, the Groningen Christmas market takes the form of Winterstad Groningen: a winter market with an ice rink, a Ferris wheel, a winter café and a little train, open every day for more than a month, from late November to early January. On the second weekend of December, WinterWelVaart also lights up around twenty historic boats on the A quays, with a winter market linking that quarter to the Grote Markt. The 2026 dates for Winterstad have not yet been published by the organiser; those for WinterWelVaart have, from 11 to 13 December 2026.

Winterstad Groningen on the Grote Markt

Winterstad takes up the Grote Markt, the city’s central square. The organiser announces an ice rink, a Ferris wheel (reuzenrad), a winter café with live music, the Christmas Ride, a little Christmas train, activities for children and fire pits to warm up between two rides. Entry is free; the ice rink and the Ferris wheel are paid, at prices the organiser has not published; the local newspaper Regiokrant Groningen gives an order of magnitude, about €6 for the ice rink, €5 for skate hire and €7 for the Ferris wheel. On the food side, the stalls serve hot chocolate, grilled sausages (braadworsten) and glühwein, whose recipe and cousins are detailed in mulled wine and its variants.

In 2025, Winterstad opened from 28 November to 4 January 2026, every day: ice rink from 11am to 10pm, market from 11am to 9pm (sometimes until midnight), food and Ferris wheel from 11am to midnight, attractions from 11am to 10pm. For 2026, the official website still shows the previous edition; the local newspaper Regiokrant Groningen announces 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, after checking with the organisation on 23 September 2026. Check the dates and opening hours on winterstadgroningen.nl before you leave.

WinterWelVaart: the illuminated boats of the A quarter

From Friday 11 to Sunday 13 December 2026, WinterWelVaart celebrates its 19th edition. Around twenty historic boats, lit up for the occasion, moor along the Hoge der A, Lage der A and Kleine der A quays and the Pottebakkersrijge. The programme, music, theatre, poetry and workshops, is spread between the Museum Café Het Pomphuis, the Akerk and the A-Theater. WinterWelVaart also exists in other municipalities of the province, on other dates; in Groningen itself, it is from 11 to 13 December.

That weekend, a winter market links the A quarter to the Grote Markt across six sites: the A quays, the Turftorenstraat, the Akerkhof on the theme of “Goud Eten”, the Kromme Elleboog and the Akerkstraat, the Broerplein and the Oude Boteringestraat, then Winterstad’s Grote Markt. The chalets and stalls open on Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 10pm, on Sunday from 12pm to 8pm.

• Winterstad Groningen (Grote Markt): 2026 dates to be confirmed; in 2025, from 28 November to 4 January.
• Winterstad 2025 opening hours: market 11am-9pm, ice rink 11am-10pm, Ferris wheel and food until midnight.
• WinterWelVaart: from 11 to 13 December 2026, illuminated boats on the A quays.
• WinterWelVaart winter market: Friday and Saturday 12pm-10pm, Sunday 12pm-8pm, across six sites.
• Free entry; ice rink and Ferris wheel paid.

Getting to Groningen from France

Groningen lies in the far north of the Netherlands, and the journey takes some planning. By train, the Eurostar links Paris-Nord to Amsterdam Centraal in 3h20, with around ten direct departures a day; from Amsterdam or Schiphol, an NS train continues to Groningen. The station is about ten minutes’ walk from the Grote Markt. By car, allow 654 km and nearly 8 hours from Paris, 438 km and about 5h20 from Lille, without traffic. The local newspaper recommends cycling or the bus to reach the centre during Winterstad, because of the crowds.

Such a long journey makes more sense with a stopover. The Zwolle Christmas market and the Dickens Festijn in Deventer are on the way up from the south, and the Efteling park also opens its winter season.