What makes German Christmas markets special

Whenever people ask me “How do you like living in Holland?” part of my answer has to do with travel.

You see, living in the Netherlands means I can travel to other European countries very easily. In fact, I can drive into Germany in about a half hour. Belgium is about two or three hours away. In seven hours I can reach Paris.

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It never ceases to amaze me, though, this hop to another country. That half-hour drive into Germany takes me to a place that looks pretty much exactly like here – flat-as-a-pancake farmland – yet isn’t at all like here. People speak German, of course, rather than Dutch. And they have an entirely different culture: different foods, different ways of celebrating holidays, a different school system, different traditions.

Lots of Dutch people take advantage of being so near to other countries. They spend summer vacations in warm places like the south of France or the coast of Spain. In the winter, they ski in the Austrian, French or Swiss Alps.

Europeans take this ease of travel for granted. I don’t. Even after more than 25 years in the Netherlands, I get a thrill just crossing a border.

Christmas markets in Germany

In the lead-up to Christmas, many Europeans visit Germany for the Christmas markets. Germany is near enough that, for many of us, it’s just a day trip.

My friend Kate and I went to the Christmas market in Oldenburg, less than two hours from my home in Groningen. It’s a small city, so the market is small. If you went to Köln, for example, or Munich or Berlin, you’d get many more stalls to explore. In Hamburg there are more than 20!

It’s funny: most countries in Europe have Christmas markets of some sort. Yet Europeans travel to visit the ones in Germany.

So what makes German Christmas markets so special?

1. Christmas market atmosphere

The Christmas market stalls twinkle with lights and color, especially when it gets dark: mid-afternoon this time of year. In most cities the market is in the center of town, often ringed by charming historic buildings.

In Oldenburg, the lovely St. Lamberti church sits in the middle of all the market activities. The Lamberti Market square, on one side, is filled with Christmas market stalls. On the other side, the stalls and childrens’ attractions extend to Schlossplatz, which faces the Oldenburger Schloss (castle). A beautiful 16th-17th century building, it was once the home of the Dukes, Grand Dukes and Earls of Oldenburg. Now it’s a museum of art and cultural history.

Everyone at the Christmas market is in a good mood. Even the people working in the stalls are friendly and smiling, despite the cold. (I suspect many have space heaters hidden under the displays.) Children drag parents along, over-excited by the lights and colors. And the visitors are happy to be there, drinking in the Christmassy atmosphere.

2. Glühwein

Another thing they drink is glühwein. Quite a few of the stalls are essentially outdoor bars. Glühwein is the traditional drink at German Christmas markets. It is a heated, sweet, spiced wine, available in white or red. You’ll be charged extra for the mug (usually 2-3 euros), which you can get back if you return the mug. If you like it, keep it.

The same goes for hot chocolate, served in the same mugs with whipped cream on top. Either way – glühwein or hot chocolate – a hot drink may be necessary depending on the weather. You’ll be outside wandering the market for hours, and your hands need warming!

A bit of a warning about the drinking: as evening progresses, the crowds get louder and drunker, but they stay cheerful. Don’t be surprised if your drink gets jostled and spilled. Most years I leave before it gets too cheerful.

3. The food

Germans do heavy comfort food really well. This visit, we enjoyed a hot roast pork sandwich, with pork cut from the rotisserie as it turned, served with mayonnaise and sautéed onions. Kate’s had sauerkraut as well. It was delicious.

Later we tried a dampfnudel. We felt we had to try it because dampfnudeln were featured on the Great British Bake-Off, and they’re hard to bake. That’s mostly because they aren’t baked, but steamed. It’s more like steamed bread than cake, but has a sweet fruit filling. Then it’s topped with vanilla sauce and fruit sauce: in our case, cherries.

We bought one and shared it. Much larger than the ones featured on the BBC, it was so filling it spoiled any chance of eating dinner at the market.

You’ll find plenty of other food choices, though. One stall specializes in mushrooms, while another serves crepes and another serves poffertjes (a small, sweet, Dutch pancake). The emphasis, though, is on meat, and you’ll find lots of different takes on meat dishes, predominantly pork.

You might also enjoy reading about spending Christmas away from home, or a comparison of US and Dutch Christmas.

4. Shopping

While many of the stalls sell food or drink, the rest stock all sorts of items, often handcrafted. You can buy candles and crystal and artisanal candy and woodwork and winter hats and mittens. And it’s all prettily displayed, lit by strings of Christmas lights. The proprietors are not at all pushy, so feel free to browse.

5. The kids

German Christmas markets are very child friendly, at least before the drinking takes off. At this little market in Oldenburg, we went on the small Ferris wheel (and got some amused smiles when people in line realized we were without kids). We also saw a merry-go-round, a storytelling booth (presumably only in German), and pony rides. Candy stalls around every corner provide plenty to bribe your kids with so you can enjoy your glühwein. Buy them a candy apple and it will keep them happy and busy long enough for a drink.

The German version of Santa Claus (who, this year, looked just like Santa Claus) meets and talks to the kids one by one, just like in the US. However, if your kid doesn’t speak German, you might risk encountering a Santa Claus who doesn’t speak English.

6. Christmas at German Christmas markets

For those of a religious bent, you can find actual Christmas in Christmas markets as well. There’s always a nativity stall, sometimes even with live animals. And, because the markets are often next to a church on a central market square, you can attend a service or hear traditional music being performed.

So add this to the things I like about Holland: visiting Christmas markets in Germany.

Go to Hamburg if you want lots of Christmas markets to choose from – ranging from very child-oriented to very naughty. If this small market in Oldenburg is more your thing, the best way to do this – and be able to enjoy your glühwein – is to stay at least a night, preferably two. Look for accommodations in Hamburg or in Oldenburg.

Does your hometown do a Christmas market? What’s it like?