International Resource Centre

A special week of celebration: Sinterklaas day is finally coming! In The Netherlands this special family day is celebrated on December 5th, St. Nicholas' Eve, where members of families get together to party and exchange gifts.

To have more information on what is happening in the region  look at the following link. And also :

• Until 4th Dec., from 13.30 to 16.30 Sint-Nicholaas will be at Historic Cellars in Arnhem. Children and parents can go there on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday to see how Sint-Nicholaas lived and worked. There will be also different activities for children. To know more look here.

For those who decide to spend their Christmas holidays in Gelderland, there are many activities and events during the season to enjoy and experience:

• Christmas market & Sunday shopping, Bemmel on 6th Dec.  11.00-17.00. Also visit the large display of Christmas cribs from all over the world in the DA chemists (normal shop hours, 6th – 24th Dec.). For more info look here.
• Mariken Winterfeesten, Nijmegen,  Dec. 6th - Jan. 3rd. Skating rink under the fairy lights of the trees in the Valkhof Park. Crib with live animals, Christmas specialities on Koningsplein, Dec. 17th-27th (shop hours). For more info click here. Children’s activities on the Waalkade, 11-16.00 (see www.waalkade.nl).
• Ave Maria Christmas Concert 9th - 23 December in different Cathedral and Churches in Holland with the New Romanian Chamer Orchestra dn  Choir directed by Raymond Janssen. 18 concerts in 12 cities of The Netherlands. For more information here.
• Ravenstein by Candlelight, Sat. 12th Dec., 19.00 – 21.00. The whole of the historic village of Ravenstein , will be lit only by millions of candles, with choirs in the streets for a special Christmas atmosphere. Mass carol singing at 21.00. Christmas market from 15.00, garden of vicarage lit from 18.00.More info here.
• Warm Winter Weekend : on 12 and 13 December, winter events in the Centrum of Arnhem with Netherlands ice-carving champions, christmas market and ice rink at the Korenmarkt. For more info look here.
• Christmas market, shopping by candlelight, Elst. 12 h & 13th Dec. Saturday 14.00-22.00, Sunday 13.00-18.00. Ice-skating rink opens on Sunday afternoon.  For more info here.
• Christmas market, shops open, Wijchen. 12th Dec. 9.00-17.00, 13th Dec. 13.00-17.00. Free.
• Christmas in the Historic Cellars in Arnhem on 12 and 13 December from 13.00  to 1700. Many activities for old and young including a Christmas Choir.
• Rijnhal Arnhem Dec. 11th - 13th, Fri. & Sun. 10.00-17.30, late night opening Dec. 13th until 10pm. Large indoor Christmas market with choirs on the podium, children's activities and workshops.  For more info look here.
• Kleef, Germany, Christmas market in illuminated park. Nov. 27th - Dec. 6th, weekdays 15.00-21.00, Sat. & Sun 11.00-21.00. Beautifully lit park, stalls selling decorations, glühwein, pancakes and other goodies, plus choirs and Christmas music. On Dec. 6th Saint Nicholas will arrive at 17.00 to hand out bread figures, "Weckmänner" to the children. More info here.
• Kasteel Middachten, de Steeg (near Arnhem). Dec. 8th - 13th, 11.00 - 19.00. The stately home is beautifully decorated for Christmas, and there is a small but good-quality Christmas market with handmade products. Dec.12th - Christmas carols in the afternoon; Dec.13th - midwinter horn blowers. More info here (site in English).
• Winterland, Maastricht. Nov. 28th - Jan. 3rd. A large market square, partly covered over, will be transformed into a winter landscape with a skating rink, ferris wheel and carrousel. Market stalls, craft demonstrations, a living crib, life-size polar bears, a sleigh and countless Christmas trees. Santa's house (a copy of the one in Finland) will be open to visit from Dec. 7th. See here.
• Fluweelengrot (Velvet Caves), Valkenburg. Nov. 20th - Dec. 22nd. If the weather's bad, why not visit the caves under the castle (not for the claustrophobic), where there is a market with the theme of ‘A Christmas Carol’.  More info here.
• Orientalis (the former Open-air Bible Museum) is shut for restoration from 16th Nov. 2009, and will not be reopened to the public until the middle of 2011. However, it will be open for the traditional crib exhibition. Check their website for details nearer  Christmas, here (in English).
• Afrika Museum, Postweg 6, Berg en Dal. (see their agenda here). Open Tues.-Fri. 10.00-17.00 / Sat., Sun. & public holidays 11.00-17.00 / Dec. 24th & 31st shut at 16.00/ shut all day Jan. 1st. Special children’s activities on Sundays and in the Christmas holiday (see the website for exact details), including storytelling sessions, and making a wish boat, a Brazilian New Year tradition, the Festa de Yemanjá.  The museum is open on Dec. 25th, 26th & 27th with performances by various choirs.
• Winter Efteling, one of Europe's best theme parks for children is decorated for winter and open on Dec. 12th - Jan. 31st (New Year's Day shut). Open 11.00-20.00 (Dec. 31st 11.00-18.00). Several bigger rides are not open (Python, Pirana, rowing lake), and several others if it is too cold. More details here including a diary showing which days they expect to be the busiest. Tip: Buy your ticket in advance (ANWB Entreebewijs, Albert Hijn)
• Christmas Circus in Arnhem Rijnhal for more info look here

Sources: Evenementen 2009, Made in Arnhem and ICON Nijmegen, expats group in Nijmegen

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