Holland Friends of Art Kerstmarkt Announces 26th Season

HOLLAND, Michigan – Monday, November 6, 2023 – The Holland Friends of Art Kerstmarkt www.kerstmarktholland.org announces its 26th season.

Located at the 8th Street Marketplace, 150 W. 8th St, Holland, MI, this outdoor European-style Christmas market allows visitors to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday while shopping for unique, locally-produced, handcrafted gifts from 21 vendors each weekend. In addition, traditional holiday glühwein and authentic Dutch foods will be available for purchase.

The market is open the following dates and time:

Saturday, November 18, 9 - 6

Friday, November 24, 11 – 8

Saturday, November 25, 9 - 6

Friday, December 1, 3 – 8

Saturday, December 2, 9 - 6

Friday, December 8, 3 – 8

Saturday, December 9, 9 - 6

Friday, December 15, 3 - 8

Saturday, December 16, 9 - 6

And includes the following special events:

Ribbon Cutting & Opening Ceremony   November 18 · 10am

Hand Bell Concerts  - November 24 · 5pm - 7pm and December 8 · 5pm - 7pm

Dog Sled Visits - November 25 · 1pm - 3pm and December 2 · 1pm - 3pm

Dickens Carolers - December 1 · 5pm - 7pm and December 15 · 5pm - 7pm

Sinterklaas Visits - December 8 · 4pm - 6pm and December 9 · 4pm - 6pm

Santa Visits - December 15 · 4pm - 6pm and December 16 · 4pm - 6pm 

The Kerstmarkt history began with a dream. The Holland Visitors Bureau envisioned a new way to experience the award-winning downtown in its most magical season: Christmas. In keeping with Holland’s Dutch heritage, they researched European Christmas markets and a sponsor funded an exploratory excursion to Europe during the holidays.

When representatives returned, they were both enthusiastic about building such a market and had the booth blueprints needed to do so. The Holland Friends of Art Kerstmarkt was born. In 1997, the first Kerstmarkt had just 10 booths. Today it is an annual event at the 8th Street Market Place and has grown to 21 booths.

Vendors report customers visiting from all over the United States and many other countries as well. In 2022, the Kerstmarkt placed 9th in the USA Today Readers Choice Poll of the 10Best Holiday Markets.

Contact: Lona Bronkema 

Holland Friends of Art Kerstmarkt 

hello@kerstmarktholland.org