Will the REAL Valkenburg...please stand up, please stand up!

The Real Valkenburg

Saturday we decided to go to our first European Christmas market. Different markets make claims on being the oldest, the most "lit up" etc.  The one we chose was in a town called Valkenburg located in Holland.  It's claim to fame was "the largest and oldest Christmas market held underground."  That's right, it is held in a cave.  What isn't cool about that?  So, we plugged the address, or the part of the address we did know (Valkenburg, Holland) into our GPS and off we went. 

The drive was fairly uneventful. It is amazing what a few treats and a Ninetendo DS can do. Ahh, we had finally arrived, but we could see no signs pointing us to where the Christmas market was.  We stopped in at a gas station and asked the attendant.  "No idea, maybe the airfield?"  No, they are held in caves.  "Sorry, don't know."  We drove to the airfield thinking maybe someone there could help...but no.  We pulled into a gardening store and Brent the Brave asked the lady behind the cash register if she knew anything about the Valkenburg Christmas Market.  "Yes."  Yeah!!!!

"But you are in the wrong Valkenburg.  This Valkenburg is to close to the see to have caves.  The Valkenburg you need to go to is in the 'mountains'.  About a 2 hour drive from here."  What?!?!?  That's right the 'REAL' Valkenburg we wanted was only about an hour from our house to the east, not the north.  Nice.

Decision time.  Well, we could just take the 2 hour drive home or take the 2 hour drive to the 'REAL' Valkenburg and hang out, then go home.  So off we drove again to find the 'REAL' Valkenburg.

We arrived after the festive parade and pretty late in the evening.  We found parking, always seems to be an event in itself.  Walked to one of the two Christmas Markets held in caves and asked to go in. We walked up to pay (yes, it costs money to go shop..I think it is weird too) and the lady says, "We close in 15 minutes.  It probably won't be worth it.  I could sell you a child ticket and you could go in for 2 euro cheaper." Ok.  We did drive all that way.  "Oh, sorry.  My register won't allow me to sell you tickets."

So, the kids settled for a sausage dog as a consolation prize.  Never mind that we had eaten at McDonald's, the only place near the road, just an hour earlier.   Side Note- My children are going to look so old when we move back to the states.  They are growing like crazy.

We walked the streets for a little bit and found a souvenir shop that was still open.  We spent our time looking at everything and then came home.  Had to feel like the drive was worth it.

Next day:
Drove to the Christmas Market in the 'REAL' Valekenburg.  It took a little more than one hour.  Spent 12 euro on admission into the cave.  Checked out the vendor's wares.  Went back to the market we visited the night before, ate another sausage dog and came home.''

My review:
The cave was the coolest part about the whole Christmas Market.  It is enormous.  People hid in them during the World Wars.  They reminded me of something straight out of Lord of the Rings.  The Christmas Market itelf- kinda lame.  I was expecting more Christmas ambiance.  It ended up feeling like a swap meet in the wrong place.

I haven't given up hope just yet on all Christmas Markets.  Apparently there is a really amazing one in downtown Brussels.  I better make sure it is the'REAL' Brussels before I go.

©ColleenFisher